Electrical muscle controller

• US 8,958,872 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Darvish, Nissim, Fenster, Maier, Mika, Yuval
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US14/181,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/4, 607/9, 607/119
• US Class Current: 607/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/14 Leading-off electric charges, e.g. by earthing carrying-off electrostatic charges, in general H05F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3628 using sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Claims

1. A method of treating a heart of a patient using electrical therapy, comprising:

(a) setting a target of a change in at least one physiological parameter of the heart;

(b) applying electrical therapy to the heart for a period of time of at least a day, said therapy selected to at least approach said target;

(c) detecting or assuming a change in said at least one physiological parameter over time due to said applying, wherein said change represents a change in physiology of said heart; and

(d) modifying said applying in response to said detected or assumed change.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying includes applying an electrical field to tissue of said heart, at least a portion of which field is applied during a refractory period of said tissue.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises modifying to compensate for an adaptation of said heart to an effect of said applying.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises modifying in response to an increase in strength of said heart.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises modifying in response to an increase in efficiency of said heart.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises changing a target of said therapy and changing said applying to match said new target.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said setting a target comprises setting a plurality of targets.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises modifying in response to a reduction of an immediate response of said heart to said therapy.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said period of time comprises at least two weeks.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said period of time comprises a time for an infarct to heal.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said target comprises an increase in cardiac output.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying comprises applying using a first control sequence and wherein said modifying comprises changing at least one parameter of said first control sequence.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a frequency of beat skipping.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a frequency of application.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a strength of application.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a duration of application.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a time delay associated with application.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein said modifying comprises changing a waveform of application.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises applying during an arrhythmia.

20. A method according to claim 1, comprising identifying an activation profile state of the heart wherein said applying comprises applying according to said activation profile state.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying and said modifying are gradual enough to avoid an acute problem with the heart.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises learning a response of the heart and modifying said target and/or said applying in response thereto.

23. A method of controlling the heart comprising:

determining a desired range of values for at least one parameter of cardiac activity; and

controlling at least a local force of contraction in the heart to maintain the parameter within the desired range.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said controlling comprises applying an electrical field to cardiac tissue whose local force of contraction is being controlled.