Method and apparatus for delivering combined electrical and drug therapies

• US 8,805,492 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/491,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 607/36
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers combined electrical and drug therapies. The implantable medical device includes a drug reservoir that is refillable after implantation. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device includes an implantable housing encapsulating a pulse generator circuit and a drug delivery device. In another embodiment, the implantable medical device includes an implantable pulse generator and an implantable drug delivery device fastened to each other.

Claims

1. A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator to deliver electrical pulses, the implantable pulse generator including;

a pulse generator circuit including;

a pulse output circuit to deliver cardiac pacing pulses;

a sensor circuit to sense one or more signals indicative of a need for and an effect of the delivery of the electrical pulses and the delivery of the drug; and

an implant controller including a sensor processing circuit adapted to process the one or more signals and a therapy controller adapted to control the delivery of the cardiac pacing pulses and the delivery of the drug using the processed one or more signals; and

a first implantable housing configured to encapsulate the pulse generator circuit; and

an implantable drug delivery device to deliver a drug, the implantable drug delivery device including;

a drug reservoir to contain the drug;

a second implantable housing configured to encapsulate portions of a structure of the implantable drug delivery device including the drug reservoir, the second implantable housing fastened to the first implantable housing; and

a reservoir filling port constructed on the second implantable housing, the reservoir filling port including a self-resealable portion adapted to allow filling of the drug reservoir through a hollow needle,

wherein the therapy controller is adapted to control the delivery of the cardiac pacing pulses by alternately executing a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) algorithm adapted to maximize a measure of hemodynamic performance and a remodeling control (RCT) algorithm adapted to alter a cardiac remodeling process.