811results about How to "Improve heart function" patented technology

A method and apparatus are provided for protecting cardiac tissue from insult. The method comprises identifying the occurrence of an insult, such as a heart attack, and delivering electrical stimulation to one or more predetermined nerves in a patient's body in response to identifying the occurrence of the insult. The stimulation may be provided at the spinal canal or on the chest wall of the patient through cutaneous electrodes.

A method and apparatus to provide therapy to a patient for protecting cardiac tissue from insult is disclosed. The method comprises delivering closed loop electrical stimulation to one or more predetermined portions of a portion of excitable tissue of the spinal cord of a patient; and monitoring one or more physiologic indices of the body. That is, a closed-loop feedback controller is used to apply electrical stimulation to preselected regions of the spinal cord of a patient's body based upon one or more aspects of the physiologic indices.

A method of placing a pacing lead in the heart includes moving an electrode catheter successively to a plurality of possible placement sites. The viability of the tissue at each site is determined. If the tissue at the site is viable, a pacing signal is applied to the tissue at the site, and the effectiveness of the pacing from the site is measured. After the area has been mapped in this fashion, at least one pacing lead is placed from at least one of the sites which exceeded a predetermined level of pacing effectiveness.

A splint assembly for placement transverse a heart chamber to reduce the heart chamber radius and improve cardiac function has a tension member formed of a braided cable with a covering. A fixed anchor assembly is attached to one end of the tension member and a leader for penetrating a heart wall and guiding the tension member through the heart is attached to the other end. An adjustable anchor assembly can be secured onto the tension member opposite to the side on which the fixed pad assembly is attached. The adjustable anchor assembly can be positioned along the tension member so as to adjust the length of the tension member extending between the fixed and adjustable anchor assemblies. The pad assemblies engage with the outside of the heart wall to hold the tension member in place transverse the heart chamber. A probe and marker delivery device is used to identify locations on the heart wall to place the splint assembly such that it will not interfere with internal heart structures. The device delivers a marker to these locations on the heart wall for both visual and tactile identification during implantation of the splint assembly in the heart.

A method of causing cardiomyocyte growth and / or differentiation, the method comprising exposing a cardiomyocyte to neuregulin (NRG) thereby activating the MAP kinase pathway in the cardiomyocyte and causing growth and / or differentiation of the cardiomyocyte. Use of neuregulin, neuregulin polypeptide, neuregulin derivatives, or compounds which mimic the activities of neuregulins in the treatment or management of heart disease and heart failure in a mammal.