Abstract:
A catheter introduction apparatus provides an optical assembly for emission of laser light energy. In one application, the catheter and the optical assembly are introduced percutaneously, and transseptally advanced to the ostium of a pulmonary vein. An anchoring balloon is expanded to position a mirror near the ostium of the pulmonary vein, such that light energy is reflected and directed circumferentially around the ostium of the pulmonary vein when a laser light source is energized. A circumferential ablation lesion is thereby produced, which effectively blocks electrical propagation between the pulmonary vein and the left atrium.
Abstract:
A signal reading and charging device for use with an implantable telemetric medical sensor comprises a casing and a circuit within the casing comprising a logic control unit and a processing unit. The logic control unit sends a powering signal to the telemetric medical sensor for remotely powering the sensor. The logic control unit also receives a transmitted signal from the sensor. The processing unit is operatively connected to the control unit for converting the transmitted signal by the sensor into a measured parameter. An antenna coil is used for sending the powering signal and receiving the transmitted signal from the sensor. The device also includes a display for displaying the measured parameter.
Abstract:
A method for telemetrically measuring a parameter in a patient's heart comprises the steps of imaging the heart and identifying an implantation site in the heart. An opening is created in the tissue at the implantation site. A sensor comprising a housing, a membrane at one end of the housing wherein the membrane is deformable in response to the parameter, and a microchip positioned within the housing and operatively communicating with the membrane for transmitting a signal indicative of the parameter is provided. The sensor is placed in the opening and the parameter is telemetrically measured from outside of the patient's body based on the transmitted signal by the sensor. The sensor is also telemetrically powered from outside of the patient's body. A signal charging and reading device is placed outside of the patient's body for telemetric powering and signal reading with respect to the sensor. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor has a tapered distal end and a tissue piercing tip for direct implantation into tissue. Alternative embodiments of this sensor include helical threads on the tapered distal end for threading the sensor into tissue and a plurality of tissue barbs for direct and firm anchoring of the sensor in tissue.
Abstract:
A method for treating tissue comprising the steps of providing a probe including a body having a distal tip, a position sensor for determining a position of the distal tip and a hollow needle movable from the distal tip of the body. The probe is brought into contact with a tissue portion and the hollow needle is moved out of the distal tip of the body and into the tissue portion whereby a therapeutic agent is injected into the tissue portion through the hollow needle.
Abstract:
A catheter for measuring physiological signals in a heart comprises a structure at a distal end of the catheter wherein the structure has a plurality of arms, an electrode fixed to each arm and a device for generating position information located on each arm. The arms are located near the long axis of the catheter during insertion of the catheter within a heart and the arms are spreadable apart and away from the long axis of the catheter when the structure is within the heart.
Abstract:
A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by at least 5%.
Abstract:
Apparatus for intracardiac drug administration, including a catheter which is inserted into a chamber of the heart and brought into engagement with a site in the heart wall. The catheter includes at least one position sensor, which generates signals responsive to the position of the catheter within the heart, and a drug delivery device, which administers a desired dose of a therapeutic drug at the site determined responsive to the signals from the position sensor.
Abstract:
This invention is an apparatus for modifying cardiac output of the heart of a subject, including one or more sensors which sense signals responsive to cardiac activity, and a stimulation probe including one or more stimulation electrodes which apply non-excitatory stimulation pulses to a cardiac muscle segment. Signal generation circuitry is coupled to the one or more sensors and the stimulation probe, which circuitry receives the signals from the one or more sensors and generates the non-excitatory stimulation pulses responsive to the signals.
Abstract:
A method of constructing a cardiac map of a heart having a heart cycle including; bringing an invasive probe into contact with a location on a wall of the heart; determining, at at least two different phases of the heart cycle, a position of the invasive probe; and determining a local non-electrical physiological value at the location. The method is repeated for a plurality of locations in the heart The positions are combined to form a time-dependent map of at least a portion of the heart and local relationships between changes in positions of the invasive probe and determined local non-electrical physiological values are determined. Preferably, local electrical activity at the plurality of locations is also acquired.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises circuitry for creating a non-excitor electric potential between at least two points located in the vicinity of a muscle. A method is provided which employs the apparatus for reducing the contraction force of a muscle.