382 results about "Cardiac functioning" patented technology

The present invention relates to the field of ambulatory and non-invasive monitoring of a plurality of physiological parameters of a monitored individual. The invention includes a physiological monitoring apparatus with an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function, or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameters reflecting the function of other organ systems, and the apparel being designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual's normal daily activities. The apparel is preferably also suitable for athletic activities. The sensors preferably include one or more ECG leads and one of more inductive plethysmographic sensor with conductive loops positioned closely to the individual to preferably monitor at least basic cardiac parameters, basic pulmonary parameters, or both. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The invention also includes systems comprising a central data repository for receiving, storing, and processing data generated by a plurality of physiological monitored apparatus, and for making stored data available to the individual and to health care providers.

The patterns of contraction and relaxation of the heart before and during left ventricular or biventricular pacing are analyzed and displayed in real time mode to assist physicians to screen patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy, to set the optimal A-V or right ventricle to left ventricle interval delay, and to select the site(s) of pacing that result in optimal cardiac performance. The system includes an accelerometer sensor; a programmable pace maker, a computer data analysis module, and may also include a 2D and 3D visual graphic display of analytic results, i.e. a Ventricular Contraction Map. A feedback network provides direction for optimal pacing leads placement. The method includes selecting a location to place the leads of a cardiac pacing device, collecting seismocardiographic (SCG) data corresponding to heart motion during paced beats of a patient's heart, determining hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters based on the SCG data, repeating the preceding steps for another lead placement location, and selecting a lead placement location that provides the best cardiac performance by comparing the calculated hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters for each different lead placement location.

The surgical implantation of a link, which may be in the form of a tether or a looped band, is proposed to connect and reduce the spacing between papillary muscles, to reduce dilation of the left ventricle. The implanted link thus improves heart function by reducing left ventricular failure.

The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.

What is disclosed is a system and method for processing a time-series signal generated by video images captured of a subject of interest in a non-contact, remote sensing environment such that the existence of a cardiac arrhythmia can be determined for that subject. In one embodiment, a time-series signal generated is received. The time-series signal was generated from video images captured of a region of exposed skin where photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals of a subject of interest can be registered. Signal separation is performed on the time-series signal to extract a photoplethysmographic signal for the subject. Peak-to-peak pulse points are detected in the PPG signal using an adaptive threshold technique with successive thresholds being based on variations detected in previous magnitudes of the pulse peaks. The pulse points are then analyzed to obtain peak-to-peak pulse dynamics. The existence of cardiac arrhythmias is determined for the subject based on the pulse dynamics.

A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as ventricular synchorny or contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an option for near optimal pacing of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The system deriving the proper timing using electrical or mechanical events having a predictable relationship with an optimal ventricular pacing timing signal.

The current invention is an intracardiac pressure guided pacemaker. It has a sensor in pacemaker lead to sense intracardiac pressure, which is used to find the best pacing location in the cardiac chamber and to adjust the timing of pacing signal. It will optimize pacing location and pacing timing and, therefore, optimize resychronization of the contraction of myocardium and interaction between different cardiac chambers. This will improve cardiac function at the same working condition without increase in oxygen demand from myocardium. The pacemaker has a computer program, which, based on intracardiac pressure, can adjust pacing parameters of the pacemaker to optimize resynchronization of the myocardium and interaction between different cardiac chambers automatically at different heart rate and in certain time interval specified by care provider. This also can be achieved by using an interrogator manually. The pacemaker can also store profiles of pacing parameter and intracardiac pressure, which can be retrieved for review to help optimize cardiac performance.

An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient involving a conductance catheter (12) for measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient. The apparatus includes a processor (14) for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle by applying a non-linear relationship between the measured conductance and the volume of blood in the heart chamber to identify mechanical strength of the chamber. The processor (14) is in communication with the conductance catheter (12).

An assembly for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning, including: (a) a jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material, the jacket having an open top end that is received around the heart and a bottom portion that is received around the apex of the heart; and (b) at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket, the inflatable bladder having an inelastic outer surface positioned adjacent to the jacket and an elastic inner surface such that inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart.

Methods and devices for passively assisting the cardiac function of the heart are disclosed. A method of increasing the cardiac output of a heart includes providing a site of surgical access to the portion of the heart to be restrained, reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained, and maintaining the reduction of cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained for a substantial amount of time. Cardiac assist devices for increasing the cardiac output of the heart are disclosed comprising a reinforcing portion configured to contact a portion of the heart tissue wherein the reinforcing portion restricts the expansion of the portion of the heart tissue. The reinforcing portion can be a number of structures, including pads, frames, straps, and other retaining means for limiting cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart tissue to be restrained.

The present invention describes a device and system for simulating normal and disease state cardiovascular functioning, including an anatomically accurate left cardiac simulator for training and medical device testing. The system and device uses pneumatically pressurized chambers to generate ventricle and atrium contractions. In conjunction with the interaction of synthetic valves which simulate mitral and aortic valves, the system is designed to generate pumping action that produces accurate volume fractions and pressure gradients of pulsatile flow, duplicating that of a human heart. Through the use of a control unit and sensors, one or more parameters such as flow rates, fluidic pressure, and heart rate may be automatically controlled, using feedback loop mechanisms to adjust parameters of the hydraulic system simulate a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions including normal heart function, severely diseased or injured heart conditions, and compressed vasculature, such as hardening of the arteries.

Heart pacing systems include at least one electronic or biological pacemaker as a primary pacemaker, and at least one electronic or biological pacemaker as a backup pacemaker. When implanted, the primary pacemaker(s) produce primary pacing stimuli that modulate cardiac function. The backup pacemaker(s) provide backup pacing stimuli when the electronic pacemaker is unable to modulate cardiac function at the predetermined pacing rate. The heart pacing systems are implemented by implantation in regions where they can provide pacing stimuli to cardiac tissue.

A cardiac harness adapted to fit generally around a least a portion of a heart includes at least one elastic spring member forming an annular portion that is elastically deformable and at least one sensor disposed on the annular portion for providing a sensor signal representative of cardiac function. The cardiac harness applies a compressive force on the heart during diastole and systole. The sensor is configured to take a measurement of impedance across the heart, impedance across a lung, evoked response of the heart, activation patterns of the heart, acceleration of a portion of the heart, position of a portion of the heart relative to an ultrasonic transmitter, pH on the heart's epicardial surface, blood oxygen saturation of a portion of the heart, or position of a portion of the heart relative to a magnetic field generating device. The cardiac harness and sensor are delivered and implanted on the heart by minimally invasive access.

A device, a kit and a method are presented for permanently augmenting the pump function of the left heart. The basis for the presented innovation is an augmentation of the physiologically up and down movement of the mitral valve during each heart cycle. By means of catheter technique, minimal surgery, or open heart surgery implants are inserted into the left ventricle, the mitral valve annulus, the left atrium and adjacent tissue in order to augment the natural up and down movement of the mitral valve and thereby increasing the left ventricular diastolic filling and the piston effect of the closed mitral valve when moving towards the apex of said heart in systole and/or away from said apex in diastole.

A method and apparatus for determination of cardiac function by monitoring left ventricular (LV) pressure and varying ventricular assist device (VAD) speed, utilizes a relationship of the end-diastolic LV pressure (LVEDP) to an estimate of LV work calculated from the LV pressure signal by the triple product (TP): dp/dtmax*HR*LVSP, wherein the slope of a regression analysis of the comparison of TP vs LVEDP is indicative of a patient's cardiac efficiency and analogous and comparable to preload recruitable stroke work as calculated from direct volume measurement of the LV, and of native cardiac function of a patient supported by a VAD, and related control systems for a VAD for controlling operation of the VAD according to the method.

A method for treating cardiac failure such as congestive heart failure by application of hypothermia. Hypothermia may be applied by endovascular cooling using a heat exchange catheter circulating heat exchange fluid between an external heat exchanger controlled using temperature feedback from a temperature probe on or in the patient to cool the heart to a sufficiently low temperature for a sufficient length of time to increase cardiac output and improve the vascular condition of the patient. The patient may be maintained in the hypothermic condition for a period of time and is then re-warmed slowly and controllably. The endovascular temperature management may be controlled automatically in response to a temperature probe on the patient, and shivering while the patient is cool may be combated using surface warming and anti-shivering drugs. The method is applicable to treat congestive heart failure and may be used repeatedly on the same patient to restore that patient to adequate heart function when the vascular condition of that patient has become unacceptable. The method may be used to maintain a patient until a heart transplant becomes available. The method may be used to stabilize a patient's condition to allow needed surgery or intervention. The method may be used in conjunction with other treatments including drugs, balloon pumps, pacing devices and ventricular assist devices.