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US 2004/0167581 A1Published application
System and method for breaking reentry circuits by cooling cardiac tissue
AssigneeMR3 Medical, LLC
InventorMorton M. Mower
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods to inhibit the conduction of certain spurious electrical impulses in the heart. Inhibition of spurious electrical impulses in the heart is accomplished by cooling one or more targeted portions of the heart. Optionally, inhibition of spurious electrical impulses may be accomplished by cooling of cardiac tissue in combination with pacing of the heart.
Claims77
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- sensing the onset of arrhythmia;
- determining the temperature of the cardiac tissue at the time of onset of arrhythmia;
- and
- applying a temperature decrease to the cardiac tissue via a cooling selected from the group consisting of:
- applying a cooling fluid to the cardiac tissue, electrically cooling the cardiac tissue, mechanically cooling the cardiac tissue, and an endothermic chemical reaction.
2 more elements
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- sensing the onset of arrhythmia;
- determining the temperature of the cardiac tissue at the time of onset of arrhythmia;
- applying a temperature decrease to the cardiac tissue;
- and
- applying a pacing pulse to cardiac tissue.
2 more elements
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- targeting one or more portions of the heart affected by one or more reentry circuits;
- and
- in response to detection of the symptom, transferring heat away from the one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a heat-transfer operator located at each of the one or more targeted portions;
- wherein transferring heat away from one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a heat-transfer operator located at each of the one or more targeted portions comprises transferring heat away from one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a Peltier cooler located at each of the one or more targeted portions.
2 more elements
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- targeting one or more portions of the heart affected by one or more reentry circuits;
- and
- in response to detection of the symptom, transferring heat away from the one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a heat-transfer operator located at each of the one or more targeted portions;
- wherein transferring heat away from the one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a heat-transfer operator located at each of the one or more targeted portions comprises transferring heat away from the one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into heat sink located at each of the targeted portion and thermally coupled to a Peltier cooler enclosed in a housing that is implanted in the patient's torso.
2 more elements
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- targeting one or more portions of the heart affected by one or more reentry circuits;
- in response to detection of the symptom, transferring heat away from the one or more targeted portions in the heart by absorbing heat into a heat-transfer operator located at each of the one or more targeted portions;
- and
- applying a pacing pulse to cardiac tissue.
2 more elements
A method for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- implanting a heat-transfer operator in contact with each of one or more targeted portions of the patient's heart;
- and
- suppressing the arrhythmia by operating at least one heat-transfer operator implanted at the one or more targeted portions to cool at least one targeted portion of the heart;
- wherein implanting a heat-transfer operator in contact with each of one or more targeted portions of the patient's heart comprises implanting a Peltier cooler on one or more targeted portions each selected from the group consisting of a right anterior-lateral atrial surface, a left anterior-lateral atrial surface, a right postero-lateral atrial surfaces, and a left postero-lateral atrial surface.
1 more element
A method for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- implanting a heat-transfer operator in contact with each of one or more targeted portions of the patient's heart;
- suppressing the arrhythmia by operating at least one heat-transfer operator implanted at the one or more targeted portions to cool at least one targeted portion of the heart;
- implanting a heat sink on one or more targeted portion each selected from the group consisting of a right anterior-lateral atrial surface, a left anterior-lateral atrial surface, a right postero-lateral atrial surfaces, and a left postero-lateral atrial surface;
- and
- thermally coupling the heat sink implanted on each of the one or more targeted portions to a Peltier cooler enclosed in a housing that is implanted in the patient's torso.
2 more elements
A method for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- implanting a heat-transfer operator in contact with each of one or more targeted portions of the patient's heart;
- suppressing the arrhythmia by operating at least one heat-transfer operator implanted at the one or more targeted portions to cool at least one targeted portion of the heart;
- and
- applying a pacing pulse to cardiac tissue.
1 more element
A method for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- sensing the onset of arrhythmia;
- evaluating the sensed arrhythmia;
- determining the temperature of the cardiac tissue at the time of onset of arrhythmia;
- based on the evaluation of the sensed arrhythmia and cardiac tissue temperature, selecting one or more remedial measures from the group consisting of applying a temperature decrease to the cardiac tissue and applying a pacing pulse to the cardiac tissue;
- and
- applying the selected remedial measures.
3 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensing means for sensing the onset of arrhythmia;
- and
- a cooling means responsive to the sensing means for applying a cooling stimulus to the cardiac tissue;
- wherein the cooling means is selected from the group consisting of:
- a means for applying a cooling fluid to the cardiac tissue, an electrical cooling apparatus, a mechanical cooling apparatus, and an endothermic chemical reaction.
2 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensing means for sensing the onset of arrhythmia;
- a cooling means responsive to the sensing means for applying a cooling stimulus to the cardiac tissue;
- a cardiac stimulation generator;
- and
- one or more electrodes in contact with cardiac tissue, wherein the electrodes are connected to the cardiac stimulation generator;
- wherein the cardiac stimulation generator is adapted to apply a pacing pulse to the cardiac tissue.
3 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart;
- wherein the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to respond to the sensor to remove heat from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator;
- and
- wherein the heat-transfer operator is selected from the group consisting of:
- a means for applying a cooling fluid to the cardiac tissue, an electrical cooling apparatus, a mechanical cooling apparatus, and an endothermic chemical reaction.
4 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart;
- wherein the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to respond to the sensor to remove heat from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator;
- and
- wherein the heat-transfer operator is a Peltier cooler.
3 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart;
- wherein the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to respond to the sensor to remove heat from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator;
- and
- wherein the heat-transfer operator comprises a heat sink thermally coupled to a Peltier cooler enclosed in a housing that is implanted in the patient's torso.
3 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythrnia;
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart, wherein the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to respond to the sensor to remove heat from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator;
- a cardiac stimulation generator;
- and
- one or more electrodes in contact with cardiac tissue, wherein the electrodes are connected to the cardiac stimulation generator, and wherein the cardiac stimulation generator is adapted to apply a pacing pulse to the cardiac tissue.
2 more elements
An apparatus for inhibiting the conduction of spurious electrical impulses in cardiac tissue comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart, wherein the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to respond to the sensor to remove heat from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator;
- a cardiac stimulation generator;
- and
- one or more electrodes in contact with a cardiac blood pool, wherein the electrodes are connected to the cardiac stimulation generator;
- and wherein the cardiac stimulation generator is adapted to apply a pacing pulse to the cardiac blood pool.
3 more elements
An apparatus for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart;
- wherein in response to the detection of arrhythmia, the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to transfer heat away from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator such that each of the one or more targeted portions is cooled and the arrhythmia is suppressed;
- and
- wherein the heat-transfer operator is selected from the group consisting of:
- a means for applying a cooling fluid to the cardiac tissue, an electrical cooling apparatus, a mechanical cooling apparatus, and an endothermic chemical reaction.
4 more elements
An apparatus for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart;
- wherein in response to the detection of arrhythmia, the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to transfer heat away from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator such that each of the one or more targeted portions is cooled and the arrhythmia is suppressed;
- wherein the heat-transfer operator is a Peltier cooler.
2 more elements
An apparatus for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- and
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart, wherein in response to the detection of arrhythmia, the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to transfer heat away from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator such that each of the one or more targeted portions is cooled and the arrhythmia is suppressed;
- wherein the heat-transfer operator comprises a heat sink thermally coupled to a Peltier cooler enclosed in a housing that is implanted in the patient's torso.
1 more element
An apparatus for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart, wherein in response to the detection of arrhythmia, the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to transfer heat away from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator such that each of the one or more targeted portions is cooled and the arrhythmia is suppressed;
- a cardiac stimulation generator;
- and
- one or more electrodes in contact with cardiac tissue, wherein the electrodes are connected to the cardiac stimulation generator, and wherein the cardiac stimulation generator is adapted to apply a pacing pulse to the cardiac tissue.
2 more elements
An apparatus for suppressing arrhythmia in a patient comprising:
- a sensor for detecting a symptom associated with an arrhythmia;
- a heat-transfer operator situated at each of one or more targeted portions in the heart, wherein in response to the detection of arrhythmia, the heat-transfer operator at each of the one or more targeted portions is adapted to transfer heat away from the targeted portion served by that heat-transfer operator such that each of the one or more targeted portions is cooled and the arrhythmia is suppressed;
- a cardiac stimulation generator;
- and
- one or more electrodes in contact with a cardiac blood pool, wherein the electrodes are connected to the cardiac stimulation generator, and wherein the cardiac stimulation generator is adapted to apply a pacing pulse to the cardiac blood pool.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.