摘要:
A method and system is provided for responding, from internally within a patient, to an atrial arrhythmia in a heart including measuring from within the patient at least one electrocardiogram characteristic indicative of the atrial arrhythmia, and controlling from within the patient drug therapy delivery to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. Drug therapy is initiated to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to one aspect of the present invention, the drug therapy is staged within the patient prior to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to another example embodiment, the heart is paced from within the patient at a predefined rate responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic, pacing occurring alone, or in combination with drug therapy.
摘要:
This invention relates to microparticles and/or nanoparticles containing a delivery agent and/or an active agent. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and solid dosage forms, including controlled release solid dosage forms of active agent and a delivery agent.
摘要:
A cryocatheter for treatment of tissue has a tip adapted to provide a signal indicative of the quality and/or orientation of the tip contact with surrounding tissue. In one embodiment, a signal conductor extends through the catheter to the tip and connects to a thermally and electrically conductive shell or cap that applies an RF current to the region of tissue contacted by the tip. The tissue impedance path between the signal lead and a surface electrode mounted on the patient's skin is monitored to develop a quantitative measure of tissue contact at the distal tip, which is preferably displayed on the screen of a catheter monitoring console. In yet a further embodiment, the catheter is provided with a split tip having temperature monitoring sensors, such as thermistors, mounted on opposed halves of the tip so as to sense temperature on two sides of the catheter axis. The thermistor signals are processed to determine and display differential temperature between the two sides of the tip, thus revealing which side lies in contact. In yet a further aspect of the first embodiment, two separate and distinct high frequency electrical signals are applied to the two halves of a split metal shell or cap at the tip. Signals received at the surface electrode are filtered into first and second frequency components, and these are processed to determine the relative magnitude of the signal or the impedance of the path for each of the injected signals to determine and display the tissue contact orientation of the catheter. The catheter preferably has two separate cooling chambers within the cooling tip, positioned with one chamber on each side of the axis, and a separate cooling inlet to each chamber is switched on by a valve which directs the flow of coolant to the contact side during active cryotreatment. In another embodiment, the cap provides an RF electrode that may be opposed to the cooling side so that either the cryogenic or the RF ablation side may be rotated into contact to selectively heat or cool, or in representative protocol treat, then thaw, the same tissue site.
摘要:
The present invention advantageously provides a method and system for cryogenically ablating large areas of tissue within the left atrium. In an exemplary embodiment a cryotherapy device includes a catheter body having a substantially fixed diameter, a proximal end and a distal end; a first lumen for permitting passage of a cooling fluid from the proximal end to the distal end; a second lumen permitting return of the cooling fluid from the distal end to the proximal end; and an ablation element expandable from a first diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the catheter body to a second diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the catheter body, the ablation element having a surface portion that conforms to the uneven surface topography of the cardiac tissue. The ablation element can include one or more balloon and/or a flexible element that is deformed by moving the distal end of the catheter toward the proximal end of the catheter. The surface of the balloon can further be shaped by regulation of pressure within the one or more balloons. In an exemplary method a tissue ablation device is provided and tissue in the antrum of the left atrium is ablated with the device. In an exemplary method, only tissue in the antrum is ablated, and the ablation is created by freezing tissue.
摘要:
The present invention provides improved catheters for ablative procedures for biological tissue, e.g., in the heart. The catheters allow active fixation to the tissue using a pair of jaws, and a sheath actuates the jaws, simplifying actuation. In particular embodiments, the pair of jaws provides additional stability in attachment to difficult ablation sites, e.g., along the ridges of cardiac structures.
摘要:
In general, the invention provides improved sheaths for enhanced control over the relative position of the sheath or inserted catheter relative to a biological tissue. The invention also provides improved sheaths for controlling the longitudinal and axial movement of inserted catheters relative to the sheath. The sheaths include an active anchor at the distal end capable of reversibly adhering the sheath to a tissue. Exemplary active anchors include a reversibly inflatable balloon, a deflectable tip, a suction cup, a screw, and a barb.
摘要:
An atrial defibrillator includes a portable, non-implantable housing, a pair of defibrillator pads, a shock generator, and an analyzer. The pads are applied to the outside of a patient's body, and the shock generator delivers a shock to the patient via the pads. The analyzer receives a cardiac signal from the patient, determines from the signal whether the patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation, and enables the shock generator if the patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation. Unlike conventional external atrial defibrillators, such an atrial defibrillator can be used by a layperson in the comfort of a patient's own home. Furthermore, such a defibrillator does not cause the surgery-related problems associated with implantable atrial defibrillators. Moreover, because the patient can choose when to receive a shock, such a defibrillator is less likely to surprise and embarrass the patient than automatic implantable defibrillators are.
摘要:
A cryocatheter for treatment of tissue has a tip adapted to provide a signal indicative of the quality and/or orientation of the tip contact with surrounding tissue. In one embodiment, a signal conductor extends through the catheter to the tip and connects to a thermally and electrically conductive shell or cap that applies an RF current to the region of tissue contacted by the tip. The tissue impedance path between the signal lead and a surface electrode mounted on the patient's skin is monitored to develop a quantitative measure of tissue contact at the distal tip, which is preferably displayed on the screen of a catheter monitoring console. In yet a further embodiment, the catheter is provided with a split tip having temperature monitoring sensors, such as thermistors, mounted on opposed halves of the tip so as to sense temperature on two sides of the catheter axis. The thermistor signals are processed to determine and display differential temperature between the two sides of the tip, thus revealing which side lies in contact. In yet a further aspect of the first embodiment, two separate and distinct high frequency electrical signals are applied to the two halves of a split metal shell or cap at the tip. Signals received at the surface electrode are filtered into first and second frequency components, and these are processed to determine the relative magnitude of the signal or the impedance of the path for each of the injected signals to determine and display the tissue contact orientation of the catheter. The catheter preferably has two separate cooling chambers within the cooling tip, positioned with one chamber on each side of the axis, and a separate cooling inlet to each chamber is switched on by a valve which directs the flow of coolant to the contact side during active cryotreatment. In another embodiment, the cap provides an RF electrode that may be opposed to the cooling side so that either the cryogenic or the RF ablation side may be rotated into contact to selectively heat or cool, or in representative protocol treat, then thaw, the same tissue site.
摘要:
A cryocatheter for treatment of tissue includes a coolant line communicating with a cryochamber having a coolant receiving interior and a thermally conductive wall for contacting and conductively treating tissue. A return line returns spent coolant, and an insert or partition in the cryochamber conditions flow or channels fluid from the coolant line to the return line to enhance the rate or uniformity of cooling. The partition may extend axially to define an elongated sub-chamber which is preferentially cooled, or it may isolate one side to define an uncooled side of the cryochamber. The partition may extend axially to define a sub-chamber extending along a segmented length around a partial circumference of the catheter tip, or may channel the coolant from a central region outwardly against the peripheral wall of the cryochamber. The return line may be a vacuum return line. The catheter may include a means for warming the catheter tip to warm up or accelerate thawing of treated tissue, and the heating may be implemented by a heater in thermal contact with a fluid supply line, which may, moreover, be the coolant supply line. Alternatively, the warming fluid supply line may be distinct from the coolant line. In one embodiment, the device may connect the warming line as an additional coolant return line during cryotreatment, and switch its connection to supply warming fluid after the tissue has been cooled. The catheter may further include sensors such as thermal or impedance sensors for sensing contact orientation of the catheter against adjacent tissue. Electrodes may apply signals of two different frequencies to the two sides, and a processor may determine frequency, impedance or a differential temperature to indicate the tip contact orientation.
摘要:
An improved bulkhead assembly intended for use in connection with the transportation of materials on a flat rack container, and an improved material transport system employing such bulkhead assembly is shown. The improved material transport system is of the type which includes a flat rack container having at least one open ended rail mounted on the flat rack which includes at least a pair of opposed flat bars mounted in spaced apart relation extending along the length of the rack container. The improved bulkhead assembly is formed by a base including an upper plate which rides along the upper support surface of the rail, and a lower locking plate adapted for riding along the lower surface of the rail. Devices are interposed between the upper plate and the lower locking plate for lockingly engaging the base onto the rail at any fixed position along the length thereof. The upper plate of the bulkhead includes a bulkhead support member which is mounted thereon and extends upwardly therefrom and positioned to be in support relationship with respect to a material load carried on the flat rack container. One or more of the bulkheads may be slidingly positioned along the rails on the flat rack in order to hold a material load thereon. The system is further improved by providing a material support arm device adapted for overlying the material load and interposed between a pair of opposed bulkheads which are lockingly engaged on either side of the material load and which may be secured to each of the two bulkheads in order to tie down the material load during transport.