Hemodynamic performance enhancement through asymptomatic diaphragm stimulation

US9498625B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VisCardia, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Peter Bauer · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2013
• Grant date: Nov 22, 2016
• Expiry date: May 18, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2562/063
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An implantable system, and methodology, for improving a heart's hemodynamic performance featuring (a) bimodal electrodes placeable on the diaphragm, out of contact with the heart, possessing one mode for sensing cardiac electrical activity, and another for applying cardiac-cycle-synchronized, asymptomatic electrical stimulation to the diaphragm to trigger biphasic, diaphragmatic motion, (b) an accelerometer adjacent the electrodes for sensing both heart sounds, and stimulation-induced diaphragmatic motion, and (c) circuit structure, connected both to the electrodes and the accelerometer, operable, in predetermined timed relationships to the presences of valid V-events noted in one of sensed electrical and sensed mechanical, cardiac activity, to deliver diaphragmatic stimulation. The circuit structure includes accelerometer-linked computer structure for enabling selective review, for later operational modifications, of stimulation-produced diaphragmatic motions, and in a modified form, may additionally include timing-adjustment substructure capable of making adjustments in the mentioned timed relationships.