Wireless cardioresonance stimulation

• US 8,812,118 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTI Vascular AG
• Original Assignee: Cardiola Ltd.
• Inventors: Stuerzinger, Christian, Lapanashvili, Larry, Zimmermann, Thomas, Eggli, Armin, Piguet, Christian, Perotto, Jean-Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US14/032,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An apparatus for the cardio-synchronized stimulation of skeletal or smooth muscle, but excluding the heart muscles, in a counterpulsation mode of a patient. The apparatus comprises an active and a passive electrode for attachment to said patient, a signal processor having a configuration input for varying a time delay associated with counterpulsation mode stimulation, and a sensing system for sensing information relating to the performance of the patient'"'"'s heart and for transmission of information signals to said signal processor, said signal processor producing control signal information relating to stimulation signals to be applied to said active electrode in a counterpulsation mode, a stimulation signal generator Associated with said active electrode for generating stimulation signals, wireless transmission means for transmitting said control signal information from said signal processor to said stimulation signal generator whereby said stimulation signal generator applies stimulation signals to said active electrode in accordance with said signal information.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured for cardio-synchronized stimulation of skeletal or smooth muscle, but excluding heart muscles, in a counterpulsation mode of a patient having a heart and a cardiovascular system having a heart rate, the apparatus comprising:

at least one active electrode and at least one passive electrode configured for attachment to said patient at positions at which the electrodes are in communication with said skeletal or smooth muscle when said skeletal or smooth muscle is in its original, natural position within the patient;

a signal processor configured to produce control signal information relating to stimulation signals to be applied to said at least one active electrode in the counterpulsation mode;

a sensing system configured to sense information relating to performance of the patient'"'"'s heart, the information comprising at least the heart rate, and to transmit information signals by wireless transmission to said signal processor;

at least one stimulation signal generator associated with said active electrode and configured to generate the stimulation signals, the stimulation signals being provided at the active electrode in synchronization with the heart rate in the counterpulsation mode to thereby stimulate the skeletal or smooth muscle when the skeletal or smooth muscle is in the original, natural position within the patient; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit said control signal information from said signal processor to said at least one stimulation signal generator, whereby said stimulation signal generator applies the stimulation signals to said active electrode in the counterpulsation mode in accordance with said control signal information.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said information relating to the performance of the heart is selected from the group consisting of heart rate information, electrocardiogram (ECG) information, ECG derived information, ECG information and information resulting from electrical stimulation, ECG derived trigger signals, R-R information, end of T-wave information, blood pressure information, and blood pressure derived information.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensing system comprises at least one of an invasive sensor, an intercavity sensor, a non-invasive sensor, a body surface sensor, and a remote sensing system detached from the patient'"'"'s body.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a remote sensing system, wherein said signal processor is integrated into said remote sensing system.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a medical evaluation unit.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, said signal processor being adapted to transmit said information to the medical evaluation unit by one of wireless transmission and a wired connection.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, said medical evaluation unit being adapted to transmit signal configuration information to said signal processor by one of wireless transmission and a wired connection and said signal processor being adapted to take account of said signal configuration information when generating said control signal information.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said medical evaluation unit has an associated printer for printing said data.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said medical evaluation unit comprises a member of the group consisting of a personal computer, a mainframe computer, a series of interlinked computers, any of the foregoing with an inbuilt transceiver, a personal digital assistant with phone function, and any dedicated or standard piece of equipment comprising a transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory for storing software and data, a battery or other source of power, and a clock.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one of active electrode comprises a plurality of active electrodes and said at least one stimulation signal generator comprises a respective stimulation signal generator for each active electrode, said signal processor being configured to transmit a respective control signal uniquely associated with a respective one of said active electrodes to each said stimulation signal generator.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal processor is configured to transmit control signal information for a train of stimulation signals applied to one of the active electrodes, said control signal information being selected from the group consisting of:

amplitude of the stimulation signals,

frequency of the stimulation signals,

duration of the train of the stimulation signals,

width of the individual stimulation signals of the train

delay of the train of the stimulation signals relative to a reference selected for counterpulsation stimulation, and

a recognition code by which said stimulation signal generator recognizes that said control signal information is intended for it.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a means provided at said signal processor for receiving and storing at least one of a program for processing said control signal information, any subsequent changes to said program, and a new program for processing said control signal information.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the or each said stimulation signal generator includes at least some of the following items:

its own controller,

its own clock,

its own receiver antenna (RX),

a power circuit,

a battery,

a transmitter (RX),

means for data storage,

means for program storage and

a signal generator trigger.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a display is provided at at least one of said signal processor, said configuration input associated with the signal processor, said stimulation signal generator and a medical evaluation unit associated with said apparatus, said display being for the display of at least said control signal information.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said display is adapted to display data representing an image of the electrical stimulation applied to said patient.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said display is adapted to display one of an actual ECG-trace and a representation of an ECG-trace with said image superimposed thereon.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a code is uniquely associated with said sensing system, said signal processor, and said electrical stimulation signal generator.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises a member of the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant with phone function, and any dedicated or standard piece of equipment comprising a transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory for storing software and data, a battery or other source of power, a clock, and necessary interface(s) for connection to the active and passive electrodes.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal processor comprises a member of the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant with phone function, and any dedicated or standard piece of equipment comprising a transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory for storing software and data, a battery or other source of power, and a clock.