Method and apparatus for providing ipselateral therapy

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided to control contraction of the heart. At least one sensing element receives signals indicating electrical activity of sinus rhythm of the heart. The electrical activity is monitored and analyzed to detect an event. In addition, the electrical activity is monitored to detect, for example, premature stimulation and contraction of a portion of the heart, such as the left ventricle. Contraction in the pre-excited portion of the heart is then suppressed using, for example, one or more anodal electrical pulses. The heart may then be allowed to contract naturally, or a stimulating pulse may be applied to assist the heart in contracting.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to medical devices, and in particular, to methods, devices, and systems for controlling contraction of a heart. [0003] 2. Background [0004] During a normal heart beat, the heart contracts in a coordinated fashion to pump blood. In particular, the heart contracts based on rhythmic electrical impulses, which are spread over the heart using specialized fibers. These rhythmic electrical pulses are initiated by the heart's natural pacemaker called the sino-atrial node (SA node). In a normal heart there is a main pathway for the electrical current, which passes from the upper part of the heart (the atria) to the lower part (the ventricles). First, the SA node initiates electrical impulses to cause the right and left atria to contract. As the atria contract, the electrical impulses from the SA node propagate to the atrial-ventricular node (“AV node”). The time these impulses take to propagate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling contraction of a heart. Signals indicating electrical activity of sinus rhythm at a portion of the heart are received. An event is detected in the electrical activity at the portion of the heart. When the electrical activity at an additional portion of the heart reaches a threshold within a predetermined period of time of the event, contraction is suppressed in the additional portion of the heart based on when the electrical activity reaches the threshold.

Problems solved by technology

A heart, however, may have cardiac defects that interfere with the rhythmic cycle or conduction of electrical impulses.

When this happens, the impulse begins to travel abnormally in a rapid, circular manner, causing a rapid heart rate.

Cardiac defects, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White, cause early stimulation and contraction of the ventricles before the end of the A-V delay period, and thus, decrease the efficiency of the heart and may lead to heart failure.

Unfortunately, known stimulation devices, such as artificial pacemakers, cannot compensate for such early stimulation in the heart.

While Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome may be controlled by certain drugs or through a procedure known as catheter ablation, known implantable devices only apply stimulating pulses to assist contraction in the heart and are unable to compensate for early stimulation, such as in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

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