4871results about "Heart stimulators" patented technology

An actuation mechanism for assisting the operation of the natural heart has a varying shape for deforming the heart. In one embodiment, a plurality of links articulates with respect to each other for varying the shape of the actuation mechanism. The plurality of links is configured for being positioned proximate to an outer surface of the heart for deforming the heart by varying the shape of the actuation mechanism. In another embodiment, a jacket for coupling with an outer surface of the heart has a tether coupled to successive sections of the jacket. The tether is operable to be translated with respect to the jacket sections to vary the shape of the jacket for deforming the heart. In another embodiment, a plurality of concentric ring structures are coupled together to move with respect to each other in a concentric fashion. A movement mechanism coupled to the rings is operable to vary their positions with respect to each other to vary the overall shape for deforming the heart.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) having sense amplifiers for sensing physiologic signals and parameters, RF telemetry capabilities for uplink transmitting patient data and downlink receiving programming and interrogation commands to and from an external programmer or other medical device are disclosed. At least one IC chip and discrete components have a volume and dimensions that are optimally minimized to reduce its volumetric form factor. Miniaturization techniques include forming notch filters of MEMS structures or forming discrete circuit notch filters by one or more of: (1) IC fabricating inductors into one or more IC chips mounted to the RF module substrate; (2) mounting each IC chip into a well of the RF module substrate and using short bonding wires to electrically connect bond pads of the RF module substrate and the IC chip; and (3) surface mounting discrete capacitors over IC chips to reduce space taken up on the RF module substrate. The IC fabricated inductors are preferably fabricated as planar spiral wound conductive traces formed of high conductive metals to reduce trace height and width while maintaining low resistance, thereby reducing parasitic capacitances between adjacent trace side walls and with a ground plane of the IC chip. The spiral winding preferably is square or rectangular, but having truncated turns to eliminate 90° angles that cause point-to-point parasitic capacitances. The planar spiral wound conductive traces are further preferably suspended over the ground plane of the IC chip substrate by micromachining underlying substrate material away to thereby reduce parasitic capacitances.

Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve. A cathode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a cathodic longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply, a cathodic current to the nerve. A primary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a primary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a primary anodal current to the nerve. A secondary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a secondary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a secondary anodal current to the nerve, the secondary anodal longitudinal site being closer to the primary anodal longitudinal site than to the cathodic longitudinal site.

An impeller includes a hub and at least one blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.

Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.