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Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode arrayRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Cardiac Augmentation (pulsators, Etc.)Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070167670, Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/829,573 filed Apr. 22, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/464,766, filed Apr. 23, 2003, the applications being incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] None FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to therapeutic devices to work in conjunction with a diseased or failing heart to satisfy the hemodynamic needs of a patient. More particularly, the invention relates to a fully implantable device for assisting a heart to pump blood by intermittently applying pressure to at least a portion of the ventricular surface of the heart (if not the entire surface), preferably both the atrial and ventricular surfaces, at predetermined or possibly pre-programmed intervals to assist the heart to provide adequate hemodynamic output by sensing demand of the human body. In short, the present invention assists the maintenance of, or reestablishes, the normal contraction sequence of a healthy heart. [0004] The present device is designed to restore to normal the electrical excitation pathways and mechanical contraction sequence of the failing heart. Where necessary, this restores the normal spread of electrical excitation pathways with a phased array electrical stimulation coupled with a phased array mechanical compression to restore the normal excitation/contraction sequence to a failing heart. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] The human heart is a very complex organ that relies on both mechanical and electrical operation in order to perform properly. As with any complex mechanism, problems can and often do arise, with the heart. For example, areas of the ventricle may lose their normal excitation pathways causing some parts of the ventricle to not contract when they are supposed to, losing, thereby, the circular compression and allowing some areas to "bulge." This decreases efficiency. These areas of heart muscle are intrinsically contracting mechanically, but lack the correct electrical input. In addition, in some failing hearts the muscle of the heart no longer contracts the ventricles to a sufficient extent. Insufficient ventricular contraction can produce a dangerous reduction in the amount of blood flow. [0006] Numerous attempts have been made to assist these diseased or failing hearts by applying external pressure directly to the heart. One such example is direct manual compression of the heart by a person's hand during open chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Often, however, the patient requires cardiac or circulatory support or assist for extended periods of time, such as hours, days, weeks, or for the rest of the patient's life. Thus, manual manipulation of the heart is not a solution to the problem in most cases. [0007] Mechanical devices have been developed to apply external pressure directly to the heart. Some of these devices utilize an inflatable liner that surrounds the heart. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,804 Anstadt discloses a cup that is provided with an elastomeric liner. The heart is held in place within the liner, which is cyclically inflated and deflated to apply external pressure to the heart. While this device provides an improvement in hemodynamics for a diseased or failing heart, the device is not fully implantable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,905 Grooters and U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,334 Easterbrook, III et al. are further examples of external (as opposed to implantable) cardiac assist devices. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,655 Shahinpoor, at FIG. 6d and FIG. 7, illustrates an embodiment of the "Electrically-Controllable Multi-Fingered Resilient Heart Compression Device" disclosed therein. In the embodiment shown artificial muscles, specifically electro-active polymers, are used to create "soft fingers" that can be directly electrically powered and computer controlled by wires. See eg., U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,655 at column 8, lines 19-38,: The teachings of Shahinpoor are specifically incorporated by reference herein. [0009] Another shortcoming inherent in the prior art devices results from the fact that relatively high pressures are applied almost exclusively to the central portion of the ventricles' outer surfaces. This causes the heart to deform into an unnatural, generally hourglass, shape and may even eventually cause trauma (e.g., bruises) to the heart, especially if one of the prior art devices is operated for an extended period of time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention provides a fully implantable cardiac massage apparatus having a phased electrode array. The cardiac massage apparatus of the invention can provide both "active" contraction of the heat, wherein the device electrically stimulates the heart to contract, or "passive" contraction of the heart, wherein the device squeezes the heart in a coordinated fashion so that the heart is massaged in a natural fashion from the apex to the base of the heart. [0011] The cardiac massage apparatus comprises a chamber array, the array comprising a series or locus of spaced-apart, fluidically coupled, chambers or helices. In one embodiment the array comprises helically-wound chambers, helices, or loops located closely adjacent or on the epicardium. The array further has fluid input and output ports. The chambers or helices collectively define an interior surface which closely conforms to the exterior surface of a heart when implanted. In another embodiment the array can be comprised of a series of spaced apart chambers that are vertically oriented with respect to the heart. In one embodiment the array fluid input port is located adjacent to the apex of the heart to be massaged and the fluid output port is located adjacent to the base of the heart to be massaged. [0012] The cardiac massage apparatus also comprises a phased electrode array comprising a series of electrodes, the electrodes in contact with the heat and capable of providing electronic stimulation to the heart and capable of sensing cardiac output data of the heart. In one embodiment the electrodes are located in the interior surface of the chambers of the chamber array, in another embodiment they are separate from the chambers of the chamber array. The electrodes of the phased electrode array can also be connected to a phased electrode array controller means. The phased electrode array controller means is an electronically-powered microprocessor and can be a separate component, or be integral to either the cardiac activity sensor/input means or a controller means for the chamber array. The phased electrode array controller means controls the electrical discharge of the electrodes so that a coordinated electrical stimulation of the heart can be obtained to restore the hearts normal contraction sequence bringing about a normalization of the active phase of contraction [0013] The cardiac massage apparatus of the present invention can also include coupled valve means, pump means, the chamber controller means, and the cardiac activity sensor/input means. The valve means is fluidly or hydraulically coupled to the chamber array input port and output port and, in turn, is coupled to the pump means. The pump means and valve means are both electronically coupled to the chamber controller means. In one aspect, the chamber controller means is an electronically-powered microprocessor. The chamber controller means of the present invention is adapted to actuate the pump means and valve means so that fluid is pumped substantially continuously through the input port while intermittently cycling the discharge. In this manner the fluidly-coupled chambers or helices are inflated and deflated starting at the apex of the heart and continuing toward the base of the heart to create a rhythmic cardiac massage which substantially imitates the natural contraction sequence of the heart. [0014] A cardiac massage apparatus of the present invention further includes a cardiac activity sensor/input means which monitors or senses cardiac output. The cardiac activity sensor/input means sends the cardiac output data to both the phased electrode array controller means and the chamber controller means. Depending on the cardiac output data, the phased electrode array controller means and the chamber controller means can determine, based on preprogrammed parameters for cardiac output data, whether the cardiac massage apparatus needs to trigger either an "active" contraction of the heart by signaling the activation of the phased electrode array, or a "passive" contraction of the heart by having the chamber array contracting in a controlled fashion around the heart. [0015] In a further embodiment, the massage apparatus can include a separately-implanted source of electrical energy such as, for example, a rechargeable battery and an optional fluid reservoir. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Some of the features and advantages of the invention having briefly been stated, others will appear from the detailed description which follows, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heart massage cup (or apparatus) of the present invention being inserted over a heart. Continue reading about Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array... Full patent description for Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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