136 results about "Heart arrhythmia" patented technology

A catheter apparatus is provided for use in the treatment of heart arrhythmia having a catheter shaft, a mapping and ablation catheter disposed within the shaft, and a control mechanism coupled to both the shaft and catheter. The catheter shaft includes a main body and a coaxial tip section joined to the main body. The tip section can be rotated about a central axis and curved away from the central axis in a controlled manner. The mapping and ablation catheter can be extended outward from the catheter shaft where it is able to take the form of a pre-stressed curve. The control mechanism controls axial rotation of the tip section, the degree of deflection of the tip section and longitudinal movement of the mapping and ablation catheter with respect to the catheter shaft. Preferably, the mapping and ablation catheter forms a pre-stressed loop when it is fully extended from the catheter shaft.In another aspect of this invention, it provides a method for treatment of a heart arrhythmia having the steps of (1) obtaining cardiac image data from a medical imaging system, (2) creating a 3D model from this cardiac image data, (3) registering the 3D model to an interventional system, (4) positioning a catheter apparatus within a chamber of the heart, (5) displaying the catheter apparatus over the registered 3D model on the interventional system, (6) navigating the catheter apparatus within the heart guided by the registered 3D model, and (7) having the catheter apparatus ablate heart tissue at select locations.

Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and / or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events (a guardian system) that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using one or more detection algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the guardian system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and / or an external alarm system (external alarm means). If the guardian system is put into a pacemaker, the algorithm can utilize a different analysis of the electrogram depending on whether or not the pacemaker is actually pacing the heart.

A method is provided for treatment of a heart arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation that includes obtaining cardiac image data using a digital imaging system, generating a 3D model of a cardiac chamber and surrounding structures from such cardiac image data, registering the 3D model with an interventional system, visualizing this registered 3D model on the interventional system, positioning a catheter apparatus within the cardiac chamber, visualizing the catheter apparatus over the registered 3D model of the cardiac chamber upon the interventional system, navigating the catheter apparatus within the cardiac chamber utilizing this registered 3D model, and delivering biological material through the catheter apparatus to heart tissue at select locations within the cardiac chamber. Preferably, the biological material are transplanted cells or antibodies. In another aspect of the invention, a system for treatment of heart arrhythmias is provided that has a digital imaging system to obtain cardiac image data, an image generation system to generate a 3D model of a cardiac chamber and its surrounding structures from this cardiac image data, a workstation to register the 3D model onto an interventional system so that the registered 3D model can be visualized upon the interventional system, and a catheter apparatus to deliver biological material such as transplanted cells or antibodies to heart tissue within this cardiac chamber at certain select locations, the catheter apparatus being visualized upon the interventional system over the registered 3D model.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating hemichannel function in a cell, tissue or organ. The invention also relates to useful screens for detecting such compounds, particularly those capable of modulating connexin phosphorylation. Further provided are therapeutic methods for preventing or treating conditions impacted by undesired hemichannel function in a mammal such as heart arrhythmia.