Electrical muscle controller and pacing with hemodynamic enhancement
US8321013B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36564
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber is provided. A non-excitatory electric field of given duration is applied, at a delay after an activation of the heart, which increase the force of contraction by at least 5%. Apparatus is also provided for pacing with hemodynamic improvement. Circuitry applies an extended pacing signal to electrodes to pace the heart, the extended pacing signal having an overall duration greater than 8 ms from a time of initiation of application of that portion of the signal that initiates action potential propagation. The signal includes a train of biphasic pulses having pulse durations of at least 1 ms, and the signal has an amplitude that is at least three times as great as a threshold for pacing the heart and that is sufficient neither for cardioversion nor for defibrillation. Other embodiments are also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.