73 results about "Cardiac implant" patented technology

A method and apparatus for data transmission between an electromedical implant having a first transmitter / receiver unit, such as a cardiological implant, and an associated external apparatus having a second transmitter / receiver unit. Data transmission begins with a triggering signal which is sent by the first transmitter / receiver unit in normal operation in predeterminable first intervals. Reception readiness of the first transmitter / receiver unit is maintained after emission of the triggering signal for a second time interval which is shorter than the first time interval.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying a tensile member to bring a wall of the heart toward (optionally into contact with) a septum of the heart. The implant may include an electrode or other structure for applying pacing signals to one or both ventricles of the heart, for defibrillating the heart, for sensing beating of the heart or the like. A wireless telemetry and control system may allowing the implant to treat congestive heart failure, monitor the results of the treatment, and apply appropriate electrical stimulation.

Devices and systems including implants (which may be removable) and methods of using them for reducing ventricular volume. The implants described herein are cardiac implants that may be inserted into a patient's heart, particularly the left ventricle. The implant may support the heart wall, or may be secured to the heart wall. The implants are typically ventricular partitioning device for partitioning the ventricle into productive and non-productive regions in order to reduce the ventricular volume.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying one or more tensile member to bring a wall of the heart and a septum of the heart into contact. A plurality of tension members may help exclude scar tissue and provide a more effective remaining ventricle chamber. The implant may be deployed during beating of the heart, often in a minimally invasive or less-invasive manner. Trauma to the tissues of the heart may be inhibited by selectively approximating tissues while a pressure within the heart is temporarily reduced. Three-dimensional implant locating devices and systems facilitate beneficial heart chamber volumetric shape remodeling.

A cardiac implant system including a cardiac implant such as an annuloplasty ring, a prosthetic heart valve, or a valved conduit pre-assembled at the time of manufacture with devices for securing the implant to a heart valve annulus using knotless suture fasteners. The knotless suture fasteners may be embedded within a pliant sealing edge of the cardiac implant, or they may be positioned adjacent to the sealing edge. The knotless suture fasteners are spring-biased so as to grip onto annulus anchoring sutures pass to therethrough upon removal of a restraining device, such as a hypotube inserted within the suture fasteners. Guide tubes are assembled in line with the suture fasteners to permit introduction of suture snares that pass through the suture fasteners and through the sealing edge to facilitate capture of the pre-installed annulus anchoring sutures.

A delivery system for rapid placement of heart implants is provided that includes a delivery platform. The delivery system includes a tubular catheter body, a piercing member, and a delivery platform. The tubular catheter body is sufficiently long and flexible to be advanced from a peripheral blood vessel access site to an atrium of the heart. The piercing member is configured to create a transapical channel from an internal apical portion of a ventricle to an outside heart wall. The delivery system includes an elongate tension member and an enlargeable member disposed on a distal portion of the elongate tension member. The enlargeable member is configured to be enlarged in a pericardial space of an intact chest wall to cover an area of the outside heart wall surrounding an opening of the transapical channel. When tensioned, the tension member provides a stable zone for positioning a heart implant within the heart.

An intraoperative adjustment device is described. In some embodiments, the device includes an elongate body including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to penetrate an outer surface of an adjustable cardiac implant implanted in a patient's heart, and the proximal end and the distal end connected by at least one energy-transfer member. In some embodiments, the distal end includes at least one electrode coupled to the energy-transfer member and configured to deliver an activation energy to the adjustable cardiac implant. In some embodiments, the proximal end is configured to attach to an energy source that provides the activation energy. In some embodiments, the proximal end is configured to be located outside the patient's body while the distal end is coupled to the adjustable cardiac implant that is implanted in the patient's heart.

Medical devices, systems, and methods reduce the distance between two locations in tissue, often for treatment of congestive heart failure. In one embodiment an anchor of an implant system may reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the ventricular septum. A tension member may extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall of the left ventricle to a second anchor disposed along an epicardial surface. Deployment of the anchor within the right ventricle may be performed by inserting a guidewire through the septal wall into the right ventricle. The anchor may be inserted into the right ventricle over the guidewire and through a lumen of a catheter. An anchor force may be applied within a desired range to secure the anchors about the septum and epicardial surface. The anchor force may inhibit migration of the anchors relative to the septum and epicardial surface.

An isolated heart preparation in which essentially normal pumping activity of all four chambers of the heart is preserved, allowing for the use of the preparation in conjunction with investigations of electrode leads, catheters, cardiac implants and other medical devices intended to be used in or on a beating heart. The preparation may also be employed to investigate heart functions, in the presence or absence of such medical devices. In order to allow for visualization of heart structures and devices located within the chambers of the heart, a clear perfusate such as a modified Krebs buffer solution with oxygenation is circulated through all four chambers of the heart and the coronary vasculature. The preparation and recordings of the preparation may be used in conjunction with the design, development and evaluation of devices for use in or on the heart, as well as for use as an investigational and teaching aid to assist physicians and students in understanding the operation of the heart.

In a method for improving cardiac performance, a compressive cardiac implant is passed through an anterior intraventricular vein of a patient's heart to a position proximate an apex or lower end of a left ventricle of the patient's heart. A distal end portion of the compressive cardiac implant is moved from the anterior intraventricular vein into the patient's left ventricle and thereafter passed through a septum of the patient's heart and into a right ventricle thereof. The distal end portion of the compressive cardiac implant is then engaged with the septum, and the compressive cardiac implant is operated to compress the apex or lower end of the patient's left ventricle so as to reduce the effective volume of the left ventricle.

An isolated heart or heart-lung preparation in which essentially normal pumping activity of all four chambers of the heart is preserved, allowing for the use of the preparation in conjunction with investigations of electrode leads, catheters, ablation methods, cardiac implants and other medical devices intended to be used in or on a beating heart. The system can be designed to be used within a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit or a X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. The preparation may also be employed to investigate heart and lung functions, in the presence or absence of such medical devices. In order to allow comparative imaging visualizations of either or simultaneously the heart and / or lung structures and devices located within the chambers of the heart or vessels or bronchi within the lungs, a clear perfusate such as a modified Krebs buffer solution with oxygenation is circulated through all four chambers of the heart and thus the coronary and / or pulmonary vasculatures. A ventilator with intubation tube can be used to inflate / deflate the lungs and / or provide oxygen to the isolated organs. The preparation and recordings of the preparation may be used in conjunction with the design, development and evaluation of devices for use in or on the heart and / or lungs, as well as for use as an investigational and teaching aid to assist physicians and students in understanding the operation of the cardiopulmonary system.

A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

The invention is a cardiac implant, and associated methods therefore, configured to repair and / or replace a native heart valve, and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded / changed form in order to receive and / or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein. The implant may be configured to have a generally rigid and / or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace / repair a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally non-rigid and / or expanded / expandable form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon. The implant may be configured to have a generally D-shaped configuration when initially implanted, but to assume a generally circular form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon.

Apical reconstruction and support devices for use in a patient's ventricle include removable implants that may partition the ventricle. Such devices may be implanted using an applicator or system configured for inserting, repositioning and / or removing them. Described herein are applicators, systems, and methods of positioning, deploying and removing cardiac implants. The implants described herein may be inserted into a chamber of a patient's heart, particularly near the apex of the left ventricle, and may support the heart wall. Li some variations the implant is a ventricular partitioning device for partitioning the ventricle into productive and non-productive regions. The applicators may include an expandable member or members at the distal end of a guide to adjustably move the tip of the guide catheter within the ventricle before or during deployment of the implant from the distal end of the guide catheter. These applicators may displace trabeculations within the ventricle.

In a method for implanting a cardiac implant, a 3D CT dataset of a cardiac region of interest at which an implant is to be implanted, is displayed and the implantation procedure is planned, which includes the physician electronically marking a best implantation site in the displayed image. This marking is then included in the 3D CT dataset. A 3D ultrasound dataset of the region of interest is acquired, and is brought into registration with the 3D CT dataset that incorporates the marking, and a fused image is produced therefrom. The fused image is displayed during the implantation procedure, and is updated with multiple real-time 2D ultrasound images obtained using the catheter that is employed to deliver the implant to the implantation site.

A heart valve prosthesis including a frame, the frame including a plurality of struts designed to extend from an upstream side of a natural heart valve to a downstream side of the natural heart valve, and a plurality of connectors attached to the plurality of struts, wherein the plurality of connectors are arranged as arcs connecting the struts, the arcs having two ends, each end attached to one of the struts, and a peak pointing from a center of the frame circumferentially outward and toward the upstream side of the frame, and the plurality of connectors are arranged as at least two rows, each row circumnavigating the center lumen of the frame. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

An energy harvester converts into electrical energy the external stresses applied to the implant at the heartbeat rhythm. This harvester comprises an inertial unit and a transducer delivering an electrical signal that is rectified and regulated for powering the implant and charging an energy storage component. The charge level of the energy storage component is compared with a lower threshold to detect an insufficient charge, and a dynamic charging control circuit modifies, as and whenever necessary, and if the current patient's state allows it, a stimulation parameter in a direction liable to increase in return the mean level of the mechanical energy that is produced and harvested.

The disclosure relates to an artificial heart implant comprising a blood pump with a pump drive, a controller for controlling and regulating the pump drive, and an electrode that is connected to the controller and is used for detecting electrical quantities on the patient's heart. The controller controls the pump drive in accordance with the signals detected by the electrode.

The invention discloses a heart implant and a fixation method thereof. The heart implant comprises a housing comprising a side wall and an end portion; a first electrode and a second electrode which are arranged on the housing and are mutually electrically insulated; and a memory alloy gripper which is arranged on the housing, comprises a fixed end used for fixation on the housing and a free end used for clamping an atrial septum or grapping trabecular muscles / papillary muscles and is in a first shape at a conduit transmission state and in a second shape at a fixed state. The heart implant employs the memory alloy gripper as a fixation apparatus, such that the stability, the safety and the practicality of the heart implant can be improved.

The device includes an energy harvesting module with a pendular unit formed of an elastically deformable piezoelectric beam associated with an inertial mass. A multifunction part includes an axial through-recess with inner bearing surfaces opposite respective outer faces of the beam. These bearing surfaces having an increasing transverse spacing, such as, during an oscillation cycle, the beam comes into contact with one of the bearing surfaces, hence reducing the free length of the beam as the bending of the latter goes along. The multifunction part also allows rationalizing the manufacturing and the assembly of the capsule, with high-level integration of the inner components of the implant.

A collapsible device, such as an annuloplasty ring or prosthetic heart valve, is configured to be collapsed prior to being introduced into a patient via minimally-invasive access points such as port holes or intercostal incisions. A holder is configured to hold the collapsible device, and to selectively collapse the device for introduction into the patient and then re-enlarge the device at the desired deployment site. Collapsible devices include devices that can hingedly fold about hinge lines, and devices that can elongate to form substantially spiral forms with reduced diameters.

A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

A delivery system for rapid placement of heart implants is provided that includes a delivery platform. The delivery system includes a tubular catheter body, a piercing member, and a delivery platform. The tubular catheter body is sufficiently long and flexible to be advanced from a peripheral blood vessel access site to an atrium of the heart. The piercing member is configured to create a transapical channel from an internal apical portion of a ventricle to an outside heart wall. The delivery system includes an elongate tension member and an enlargeable member disposed on a distal portion of the elongate tension member. The enlargeable member is configured to be enlarged in a pericardial space of an intact chest wall to cover an area of the outside heart wall surrounding an opening of the transapical channel. When tensioned, the tension member provides a stable zone for positioning a heart implant within the heart.