System for delivering mechanical waves
First Claim
1. An implantable system for delivery of mechanical waves to at least of a part of a patient area comprising the patient'"'"'s heart and lungs, the system comprising:
- signal means for generating low frequency electrical signals;
detection means for detecting a patient arrhythmia;
wave means for converting said electrical signals to mechanical waves, and for delivering said mechanical waves to a selected location of said patient area; and
control means for coordinating said wave means to deliver said mechanical waves in response to a said detected arrhythmia.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an implanted system and method for delivering subsonic mechanical waves to one or more selected patient areas, said areas including the patient'"'"'s heart and/or lungs. The mechanical waves are delivered for the purpose of treating fibrillation or like arrhythmias, for enhancing lung gas exchange, enhancing cardiac muscle fiber relaxation, and enhancing coronary perfusion. Mechanical waves are generated in a frequency range of about 1,100,000 Hz, and preferably 1-50,000 Hz. The waves may be delivered continuously for short or long time periods, or may be controlled in timing either with respect to detected portions of a patient'"'"'s heartbeat signal or in response to a detected event such as fibrillation. In one preferred embodiment, the implantable system includes a defibrillation shock generator and control for responding to a defibrillation event by first delivering a sequence of mechanical waves and then delivering an electrical defibrillation shock. In another embodiment, the system and method treat incipient fibrillation or arrhythmia by delivering mechanical waves of predetermined timing to the patient'"'"'s heart and/or lungs. In a specific embodiment, mechanical waves are delivered through an array of transducers to the patient'"'"'s atrial wall, to treat atrial fibrillation.
80 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An implantable system for delivery of mechanical waves to at least of a part of a patient area comprising the patient'"'"'s heart and lungs, the system comprising:
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signal means for generating low frequency electrical signals;
detection means for detecting a patient arrhythmia;
wave means for converting said electrical signals to mechanical waves, and for delivering said mechanical waves to a selected location of said patient area; and
control means for coordinating said wave means to deliver said mechanical waves in response to a said detected arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification