Pressure-enhanced blood flow treatment

• US 9,386,991 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Primary Examiner(s): FISHBACK, ASHLEY LAUREN
• Application Number:
  US13/755,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00132 Setting operation time of a device A61B2017/00123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• 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 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided, including a sensor, configured to sense a cardiac cycle of a patient and to generate a signal in response thereto. A pressure mechanism is coupled to a site of an artery of the patient, and, in response to the signal, enhances blood flow of the patient in a downstream direction by compressing the artery. A valve is implanted upstream of the site, and inhibits blood flow in an upstream direction due to operation of the pressure mechanism. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

facilitating sensing of a cardiac cycle of a patient by coupling a sensor to the patient;

coupling a pressure mechanism, configured to respond to a signal from the sensor, to an artery of the patient; and

implanting a valve at an arterial location of the patient, downstream of a native aortic valve site of the patient, the coupling of the pressure mechanism and the implanting of the valve being such that the implanted valve is upstream of the pressure mechanism.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure mechanism includes one or more electrodes, and wherein coupling the pressure mechanism to the artery of the patient comprises placing the one or more electrodes in contact with the artery.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure mechanism includes a mechanical compressor, and wherein coupling the pressure mechanism to the artery of the patient comprises placing the mechanical compressor around the artery.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the valve upstream of the pressure mechanism comprises implanting the valve in the same artery to which the pressure mechanism is coupled.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the valve upstream of the pressure mechanism comprises implanting the valve in an artery other than the artery to which the pressure mechanism is coupled.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the valve upstream of the pressure mechanism comprises implanting a valve that is not physically coupled to the pressure mechanism.