Methods and apparatus to stimulate heart atria
AssigneeBackBeat Medical, Inc.
InventorsHoward Levin, Mark Gelfand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing vagal tone and secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by excitory pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in atrial contraction against closed AV valves, and atrial contraction rate that is higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing results in the increased atrial wall stress. An implantable device is used to monitor ECG and pace the atria in a nonphysiologic manner.
Claims20
A method for treatment of heart failure, the method comprising:
- artificially pacing an atrium of a heart of a patient during a period between an end of an atrial refractory period and an end of a ventricular refractory period,
- wherein the artificial pacing causes the atrium of the heart to contract against an already closed heart valve of the atrium that has stopped blood flow from the atrium to a ventricle associated with the atrium, such that the contraction distends a wall of the atrium with blood, and
- wherein the distention of the wall results in an increased secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide and/or brain natriuretic peptide, which limits vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention.
A method for pacing a heart of a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:
- delivering an excitatory stimulation to an atrium of the heart during a period between an end of an atrial refractory period and an end of a ventricular refractory period;
- causing, with the excitatory stimulation, the atrium of the heart to begin contracting against a closed heart valve of the atrium after the heart valve has closed and stopped blood flow from the atrium to a ventricle associated with the atrium;
- causing, with the contraction of the atrium, a pressure rise within the atrium that distends a wall of the atrium;
- causing, with the distention of the wall of the atrium, stress of muscle of the wall of the atrium;
- and
- causing, with the stress of the muscle of the wall of the atrium, release of an atrial hormone that reduces vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention.
A system for treatment of heart failure, the system comprising:
- a programmable implantable pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient,
- wherein the pacemaker is programmed to artificially pace, through the at least one electrically conductive lead, an atrium of the heart of the patient during a period between an end of an atrial refractory period and an end of a ventricular refractory period,
- wherein the artificial pacing causes the atrium of the heart to contract against an already closed heart valve of the atrium that has stopped blood flow from the atrium to a ventricle associated with the atrium, such that the contraction distends a wall of the atrium with blood, and
- wherein the distention of the wall results in an increased secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide and/or brain natriuretic peptide, which limits vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.