Methods and systems for heart failure prevention and treatments using ultrasound and leadless implantable devices
AssigneeEBR Systems, Inc.
InventorsDebra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
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Abstract
The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.
Claims20
A system for the delivery of electrical current to a patient's heart to improve and/or prevent deterioration of heart function, comprising:
- one or more acoustic receiver-stimulators having an electrode assembly wherein at least one of the electrodes is adapted to be implanted in direct contact with cardiac tissue;
- and
- an acoustic controller-transmitter, wherein the acoustic controller-transmitter is adapted to transmit acoustic energy into a patient's body and which provides both energy and signal information to the receiver-stimulator and the receiver-stimulator further comprises an acoustic receiver which receives the acoustic energy and generates alternating current, means for converting the alternating current to a direct current or waveform to provide a non-excitatory electrical current to the electrodes adapted to deliver the direct current or waveform to the cardiac tissue,
- wherein the implantable receiver-stimulator is adapted to be placed and secured at a location in the heart sufficient to deliver electrical energy to the cardiac tissue and wherein the controller-transmitter is adapted to transmit acoustic energy such that the receiver-stimulator delivers non-excitatory electrical current which prolongs action potential duration.
A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure (HF) by prolonging action potential duration in cardiac tissue, said method comprising:
- transmitting from a controller-transmitter an acoustic signal in a patient's body to a receiver-stimulator implanted in a patient's heart,
- receiving the acoustic signal using the implantable receiver stimulator, wherein the receiver-stimulator generates an alternating current in response to the acoustic signal and converts the alternating current to a direct current and/or waveform to stimulate cardiac tissue,
- delivering the direct current to cardiac tissue, wherein the acoustic signal provides both energy and signal information to deliver non-excitatory electrical current to cardiac tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.