Method for inducing ventricular arrhythmias in an animal model system
US6351668B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36114
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method is described for increasing the likelihood of the occurrence of an arrhythmia in a heart, particularly a ventricular arrhythmia of the type leading to Sudden Cardiac Death. The method includes the steps of creating an atrioventricular block in the heart of an animal test subject, inducing a myocardial infarction in the heart of the test subject, and then stimulating myocardial hyperinnervation the test subject. In a specific example described herein, the atrioventricular block is created by ablating the atrioventricular node of the heart using an ablation catheter. The myocardial infarction is induced by ligating the left anterior descending portion of the coronary artery. Myocardial hyperinnervation is stimulated by application of Nerve Growth Factor or other neurotrophic vectors to the left stellate ganglion. The test subject is an adult canine. By creating an atrioventricular block and a myocardial infarction within the heart of an adult canine test subject, then stimulating nerve growth within the left stellate ganglion of the subject using Nerve Growth Factor, it has been found that there is a significant increase in the likelihood of Sudden Cardiac Death arising from…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.