Patent · US Expired

System for preventing sudden cardiac death by nerve sprouting from right stellate ganglion

US6824538B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
12References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 2002
Grant dateNov 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/36114
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system or apparatus is described for reducing the likelihood of the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in the heart of a patient having a myocardial infarction and an atrioventricular block, particularly a ventricular arrhythmia of the type potentially leading to Sudden Cardiac Death. The likelihood of the occurrence of the ventricular arrhythmia is reduced by stimulating myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle of the heart of the patient. Myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle is stimulated by applying electrical stimulation to the right stellate ganglion of the patient or by applying Nerve Growth Factor or other neurotrophic substance to the right stellate ganglion. The apparatus can also be advantageously exploited for use with patients having myocardial infarction but no atrioventricular block and for patients have other heart conditions such as Brugada syndrome.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.