摘要:
Thrombolytic and/or anticoagulation therapy of the present invention includes implantation of the discharge portion(s) of a catheter and, optionally, one or more electrodes on a lead, adjacent tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, i.e., drug infusion pulses and optional electrical pulses, are supplied by a stimulator implanted remotely, and through the catheter or lead, which is tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. Stimulation sites include the coronary arteries, coronary veins, cerebral arteries, other blood vessels, chambers of the heart, mesenteric vessels, deep vessels of the leg, and other locations. Disclosed treatments include drugs used for chronic treatment and/or prevention of thromboembolic disease, for acute treatment of thromboembolic disease, for acute treatment of thrombosis, and combinations of these. The invention reduces or eliminates the incidence of thromboembolic disease and related morbidities, improve symptoms resulting from thromboembolic disease, and improve patient quality of life.
摘要:
Treatment of hypertension includes implantation of the discharge portion(s) of a catheter and/or electrical stimulation electrode(s) adjacent the tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, i.e., drug infusion pulses and/or electrical pulses, are supplied by one or more implanted stimulators, through the catheter and possibly also a lead, tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. A microstimulator(s) may also/instead deliver electrical stimulation pulses. Stimulation sites include the carotid sinus and carotid body, among other locations. Treatments include drugs used for acute and/or chronic treatment of hypertension. In a number of embodiments, a need for or response to treatment is sensed, and the electrical and/or infusion pulses adjusted accordingly.
摘要:
An implantable system control unit (SCU) includes means for measuring tissue impedance or other condition to determine allograft health, in order to predict or detect allograft rejection. The SCU also includes at least two electrodes coupled to means for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient within whom the device is implanted, and may also include a reservoir for holding one or more drugs and a driver means for delivering the drug(s) to the patient. In certain embodiments, the system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one SCU includes a sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters. Alternatively, this sensory “SCU” sounds an alarm, communicates an alarm to an external device, and/or is responsive to queries regarding sensed information, such as tissue impedance.
摘要:
Method and systems of treating a patient with at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism include providing a stimulator coupled to at least one electrode and a catheter, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, delivering with the stimulator via the catheter at least one drug to at least one tissue in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and limiting perfusion of the at least one tissue by delivering electrical stimulation with the stimulator via the at least one electrode to the at least one tissue.
摘要:
An atrial, anti-arrhythmia system and method are provided. The system comprises: at least two electrodes attached to the atrium for providing independently controlled stimulus through each electrode; detection circuitry that can sense atrial fibrillation or the cardiac cycle; and stimulus generator that can deliver stimulation through at least two electrodes to stop atrial fibrillation. The method for treating atrial fibrillation has three possible modes: a first mode for detecting ongoing atrial fibrillation and stopping it; a second mode for detecting the cardiac cycle and delivering stimuli to the atrium after it has already begun to contract in order to suppress the onset of atrial fibrillation; and a third mode which applies pacing pulses to the atrium in a timed sequence to pace and contract the atrium faster than the native rate to preempt the initiation of atrial fibrillation.
摘要:
An implantable microminiature infusion device includes a reservoir for holding a therapeutic fluid or other substance and a driver, e.g., a pump, that delivers the therapeutic fluid or substance to a patient within whom the device is implanted. The device further includes at least two electrodes coupled to pulse generation circuitry, thereby allowing therapeutic electrical stimulation to also be delivered to the patient.
摘要:
Introducing one or more stimulating drugs to the brain and/or applying electrical stimulation to the brain is used to treat movement disorders. At least one implantable system control unit (SCU) produces electrical pulses delivered via electrodes implanted in the brain and/or drug infusion pulses delivered via a catheter implanted in the brain. The stimulation is delivered to targeted brain structures to adjust the activity of those structures. In some embodiments, one or more sensed conditions are used to adjust stimulation parameters.
摘要:
Communication between an implantable device(s), such as a neural stimulator, and an external remote device(s), e.g., a computer in a clinician's office, a computer in a patient's home, or a handheld patient remote control, is performed entirely via an RF link. In order to conserve power, the RF telemetry system of the implant is only activated periodically; with the period of activation being sufficiently short so as to allow a reasonably prompt response of the implant to a request for a communication session by the external device. In order to assure reliable communication, the RF information may be encoded, as appropriate, with error correction codes.
摘要:
A fixation device fixes the position of an implantable microminiature device residing proximally to a target site such as a nerve or a muscle. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sheath and a means for attaching the device to adjacent tissue. The means for attaching may be any one of several embodiments including one or more grasping members, a combination of grasping members and one or more helices, or an extension adapted to accept a suture. In another embodiment, the fixation device comprises an assembly residing in the implantation pathway, behind the stimulation device, thus preventing retreat of the stimulation device in the pathway. In a preferred use, the fixation device fixes the position of a microstimulator component of a Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) system.
摘要:
A method of using a small implantable stimulator(s) with at least two electrodes small enough to have the electrodes located adjacent to the vagus nerve. The small stimulator provides a means of stimulating the vagus nerve when desired, and may be implanted via a minimal surgical procedure.