Anti-arrhythmia devices and methods of use

• US 8,579,955 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syntach AG
• Original Assignee: Syntach AG
• Inventors: Schwartz, Robert S., Van Tassel, Robert A., Holmes, David R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prone, Christopher D
• Application Number:
  US11/551,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,580 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 128/898
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

An apparatus and method of use are disclosed for treating, preventing and terminating arrhythmias. In particular, the apparatus is implantable within or on various tissues and structures and is used to prevent or block conduction of aberrant impulses. A variety of methods of the present invention may be used to attack arrhythmias by short-circuiting impulses, inducing fibrosis, ablating tissue or inducing inflammation. In addition, the device and methods may also be used to treat aneurysms. The device may also be used to treat hypertension, and to function as a blood pressure regulator.

Claims

1. A method of treating cardiac arrhythmias comprising:

delivering a treatment device to a target site having a diameter, said treatment device being an implantable stent;

manipulating said device to conform a shape of said device to a shape of said target site;

overstretching said diameter of said target site into an overstretched state through expansion of said treatment device and thereby securing said device in place at said target site;

said overstretching inducing fibrosis in tissue at said target site that results in electrically decoupling said tissue

said treatment device substantially maintaining said diameter of said target site in said overstretched state and,

leaving said treatment device implanted at said target site;

wherein delivering a treatment device to a target site includes delivering said device to an ostium of a pulmonary vein.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein delivering a treatment device to a target site includes delivering said device to a pulmonary vein.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein manipulating said device further conforms said target site to said shape of said device, bringing said ostium into a lumen of said device.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein delivering a treatment device to a target site includes delivering said device to a left atrium.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising introducing a bioactive agent to said target site.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said bioactive agent comprises a metallic coating.

7. A method of inducing a material tissue response at a target site comprising:

delivering an implant to said target site having a diameter;

overstretching said diameter of said target site to an overstretched state by expanding a treatment component of said implant;

said overstretching exerting a controlled tension of wall tissue of said target site so as to induce a controlled fibrosis at said target site that causes electrical decoupling of said tissue;

said overstretching also securing said implant in place at said target site;

said implant substantially maintaining said diameter of said target site in said overstretched state; and

,

leaving said implant at said target site;

wherein an electrical decoupling resulting in the elimination of cardiac arrhythmias is achieved; and

;

wherein delivering a treatment device to a target site includes delivery to a region that at least includes a pulmonary ostium.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said overstretching includes ensuring contact of a drug with said tissue.