Intra Cardiac Device, System And Methods

• US 20090171408A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tor Peters
• Original Assignee: Tor Peters
• Inventors: Solem, Jan Otto
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• 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 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

An intra cardiac device is disclosed. The device comprises means for transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy in use, from which electrical energy information in respect of heart function is obtainable. Furthermore, a system is disclosed, comprising one such intra cardiac device and at least one receiver, wherein the intra cardiac device comprises means of communication, through which said at least one device communicates with the receiver(s) wirelessly. In this way energy from heart movement provides self contained intra cardiac devices for conveniently monitoring or stimulating a patient'"'"'s heart.

Claims

1. An intra cardiac device for heart function intervention,

characterized in that

said intra cardiac device comprises an energy conversion unit that is devised to provide a conversion signal from transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy in use, from which conversion signal an electrical energy power to operate said intra cardiac device is obtained in use, and from which conversion signal electrical energy information in respect of heart function is obtained in use for monitoring a heart muscle condition,

wherein said intra cardiac device is a leadless, batteryless, self-contained, and by said conversion signal self-powered device, and wherein

said intra cardiac device optionally comprises a communication unit for wireless communication with other intra cardiac devices or extracorporeal devices, and

wherein said information is information in respect of heart movement amplitude, or heart movement acceleration.

2. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said energy conversion unit comprises a magnet (52), movable relative a coil (50) for transforming said kinetic energy into said electrical energy.

3. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said energy conversion unit comprises a rotatable pendulum (46), communicating with a magnet (52), rotatable relative a coil (50) for transforming said kinetic energy into said electrical energy.

4. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said energy conversion unit comprises a piezo-electric energy converter for transforming said kinetic energy into said electrical energy.

5. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, further comprising an energy storage means, such as a capacitor, adapted to store said electrical energy for use by the intra-cardiac device.

6. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, said communication unit comprising a wireless transmitter or transceiver.

7. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, comprising fixation means, for attachment of said device in or at the heart (1), such as a stent (60), tines (56) or hooks, or a screw (58).

8. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, comprising elutionable steroids.

9. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said intra cardiac device is configured to provide device function related data, such as administrative data, programmed data like mode, cardiac stimulation pacing rate, defibrillation energy, power unit condition.

10. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said device is an electrical cardiac stimulator device, such as an implantable pacemaker (70), cardioverter defibrillator or defibrillator.

11. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, comprising at least one electronic circuit.

12. Intra cardiac device according to claim 11, wherein said electronic circuit comprises pacing algorithms and/or defibrillating algorithms.

13. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, comprising a positive and a negative electrode.

14. Intra cardiac device according to claim 13, wherein said positive and a negative electrode are configured to obtain electrical heart signals.

15. Intra cardiac device according to claim 13, wherein said electrical energy in use is stored in an energy storage means, and wherein said energy storage means is configured to provide energy stored therein for cardiac stimulation via said positive and negative electrode when electrical heart signals are not obtained via said positive and negative electrode.

16. Intra cardiac device according to claim 13, wherein said electrodes are made of good electrically conducting material.

17. Intra cardiac device according to claim 13, wherein said electrodes are made of copper or steel or a polymer.

18. Intra cardiac device according to any of claim 13, wherein at least one of said electrodes is covered with porous material.

19. Intra cardiac device according to claim 18, wherein said porous material is activated carbon, sintered platinum-iridium or sputtered titanium-nitride.

20. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said heart tissue is a heart muscle.

21. Intra cardiac device according to claim 1, wherein said intra cardiac device is a leadless and batteryless self-contained intra cardiac monitoring and/or intra cardiac stimulating heart device capable of wireless communication with other intra cardiac or extracorporeal devices.

22. A system, comprising at least one intra cardiac device according to claim 1 and at least one receiver,

characterized by

said at least one intra cardiac device comprising means of communication, through which said at least one device communicates with said at least one receiver wirelessly.

23. System according to claim 22, wherein said at least one receiver is an extracorporeal receiver located outside a patient'"'"'s body in use of said system having said at least one intra cardiac device implanted therein.

24. System according to claim 22, wherein said at least one receiver is located in a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone, a fix-net telephone, an intensive care monitor, a pacemaker (70), a defibrillator, an infusion pump, or a transceiver of a telemetry system.

25. System according to claim 22, wherein said system comprises a plurality of said intra cardiac devices and wherein a first intra cardiac device of said plurality of intra cardiac devices is configured to communicate with a receiver located in a second intra cardiac device of said plurality of intra cardiac devices.

26. System according to claim 22, wherein said intra cardiac device is configured to communicate information in respect of heart function derived from electrical energy information originated during conversion from kinetic heart movement energy to electrical energy to said receiver.

27. System according to claim 22, wherein said means of communication is wireless communication selected from the group comprising of wireless radio transmission including Bluetooth or ZigBee, and ultrasound communication, or combinations thereof.

28. A system according to claim 22, further comprising a delivery system (92) for an intra cardiac device, said delivery system (92) comprising

an intra cardiac device according to claim 1,

an introducer sheath (78),

a guide wire (76),

a diagnostic catheter (102), and

a delivery catheter (94).

29. A method of communication between a first intra cardiac device according to claim 1 and a receiver,

characterized in

transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy,

deriving information obtained from said transformed electrical energy related to said heart movement, and

communicating said information to said receiver wirelessly.

30. Method according to claim 29, further comprising using said information to electrically instruct a second intra cardiac device according to claim 1.

31. Method according to claim 29, further comprising using said information in an external data assembly equipment for monitoring said heart movement.

36. A method of treatment of heart blocks and arrhythmias,

characterized in

transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy, and

deriving information obtained from said transformed electrical energy related to said heart movement, by the use of at least one intra cardiac device according to claim 1;

and

obtaining electrical heart signals from said at least one intra cardiac device,

and stimulating the heart electrically by at least one intra cardiac device according to claim 1 with at least a part of said transformed electrical energy.

37. Method according to claim 36, wherein a first intra cardiac device communicates with at least a second intra cardiac device.

38. Method according to claim 37, wherein said first intra cardiac device acting as a master device and the at least second intra cardiac device acting as a slave device.

39. A method of monitoring congestive heart failure, characterized in

transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy by the use of at least one intra cardiac device according to claim 1,

deriving information obtained from said transformed electrical energy related to said heart movement, and

communicating said information to a receiver wirelessly.

40. A method for positioning a system of any of the intra cardiac devices according to claim 1, characterized by

positioning said intra cardiac device in the right ventricle (RV), in the middle cardiac vein (10) or in the coronary sinus (2),

positioning a second intra cardiac device inside the LV from the aorta (18), in the lateral marginal veins (6), in the great cardiac vein (4) or in the coronary sinus (2),

positioning a third intra cardiac device inside the wall of the right atrium (22) or right atrium appendage (12),

wherein each of these intra cardiac devices implemented as units in a system will communicate with each other.

41. The method according to claim 40, comprising positioning a fourth intra cardiac device, implemented as a defibrillator, inside the RV, the marginal veins, the great cardiac vein (4), the coronary sinus (2) or in the middle cardiac vein (10), which fourth intra cardiac device also will communicate with said first, second, and/or third intra cardiac device.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein said intra cardiac devices are attached to the heart surface directly for optimizing positioning.

32. A method for monitoring heart function, characterized in

said heart function being a heart muscle condition, said method comprising

providing a conversion signal, in an energy conversion unit of an intra cardiac device, from transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy,

obtaining electrical energy information from said conversion signal in respect of said heart function for monitoring a heart muscle condition, and

operating said intra cardiac device batteryless, self-contained, and with power from said electrical energy from said conversion signal self-powered device, and

wherein said information is information in respect of heart movement amplitude, or heart movement acceleration.

33. Method according to claim 32, further comprising wirelessly communicating said information related to said electrical energy to a receiver for interpretation.

34. Method according to claim 32, wherein said receiver is located in an external data assembly equipment outside of the patient body.

35. Method according to claim 34, wherein said external data assembly equipment is a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone, or a fix-net telephone line, an intensive care monitor, an infusion pump or a transceiver of a telemetry system.