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EP0856290A2
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Method and apparatus for revascularization of a heart
Assignee: Eclipse Surgical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for treating a patient's heart by stimulating revascularization of the heart or creating channels in the heart. The apparatus comprising an artificial energy source for causing a first created heartbeat, and a revascularization device for creating a first revascularization event in the heart, the revascularization device being controllable to cause a first revascularization event in the heart, to occur at a selected time in relation to the first created heartbeat. The artifical energy source may be a pace control device or a laser energy source, and the laser energy source also functions as the revascularization device. The laser energy source is coupled to the catheter, and a control circuit is provided and configured to cause the laser energy source to deliver an output of laser energy over a first time period shorter than a heart beat cycle. A sensor may be coupled to the revascularization device for detecting the first created heartbeat and ensuring that the revascularization device does not continue to operate if the created heartbeat is not detected by the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas R. Murphy-Chutorain
- 👤 Richard L. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00973; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for treating a heart by stimulating revascularization of the heart or creating
channels in the heart, the apparatus comprising: an artificial energy source for causing at least a first created heartbeat; and a revascularization device for creating at least a first revascularization event in the
heart, the revascularization device being controllable to provide a first revascularization event
to occur at a selected time in relation to the first created heartbeat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected time is variable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the artificial energy source is configured to
cause the artificial energy source to deliver a pace signal faster than a normal heartbeat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revascularization device is configured to
be coupled to a device for sensing heart function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the device for sensing is a flow measurement device or
a pressure measurement device or an electrocardiogram device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revascularization device is configured to cause a
created heartbeat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the artificial energy source is the revascularization
device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the artificial energy source is a pacemaker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the artificial energy source is a laser energy delivery
device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revascularization device is an ultrasound energy
delivery device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revascularization device is a mechanical cutter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revascularization device is a laser energy delivery
device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
87 words
The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising an
apparatus for controlling the revascularization device, the apparatus for controlling
comprising: a control circuit coupled to the revascularization device, the control circuit configured to cause
the revascularization device to create a first revascularization event in the heart at a selected
time relative to a first created heartbeat, wherein the first created heartbeat is created by an
artificial energy source coupled to the control circuit and activated only after calibration of the
revascularization device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising: a catheter; a laser energy source coupled to the catheter; and a control circuit which is configured to cause the laser energy source to deliver an
output of laser energy over a first time period sufficiently short so that the output causes no
more than one heartbeat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is configured to deliver
the output of laser energy wherein the output of laser energy comprises a set of pulses of laser
energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a pacemaker configured to cause the laser
energy source to deliver the output of laser energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 16, comprising: a shutter coupled to the laser energy source; and wherein the control circuit is configured to cause the shutter to close and cause the
laser energy source to fire at least a second output of laser energy when the shutter is closed to
allow the laser energy source to calibrate before the first output of laser energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer program product for revascularization, the computer program product
comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium
for use in a computer in a revascularization system for treating a heart by stimulating
revascularization of the heart or creating channels in the heart, the revascularization system
including a computer, a sensor that senses heart function, an artificial energy source, and a
revascularization device, the program code comprising: first code that causes the computer to receive input from the sensor; second code that causes the computer to deliver a signal to the artificial energy
source to cause a first created heartbeat; and third code that causes the computer to deliver a signal to the revascularization
device at a selected time after second code causes the computer to deliver a signal to
the artificial energy source and if the first code has received input from the sensor
indicating that the sensor has detected the first created heartbeat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer program product of claim 18 comprising: fourth code that causes the computer to calculate a pace rate and causes the computer
to command the artificial energy source to cause heartbeats at a the pace rate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the fourth code causes the computer
to calculate a heartbeat rate before revascularization in response to input from the sensor and
calculates the pace rate in response to the heartbeat rate before revascularization.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the fourth code causes the computer
to receive an age input from the operator, the age input representing the age of the patient, and
the fourth code causes the computer to calculate the pace rate in response to the age input.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for treating a heart by stimulating revascularization of the heart or creating
channels in the heart, the method comprising the steps of: providing an artificial energy source for introducing energy to the heart; delivering energy from the artificial energy source to the heart to cause a first created
heartbeat; and creating a first revascularization event in the heart at a selected time in relation to the
first created heartbeat.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the steps of providing an artificial energy source
comprises: providing a laser energy source; and the step of delivering energy comprises causing the laser
energy source to deliver an output of laser energy sufficient to cause only one heartbeat per
the output of laser energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the output of laser energy comprises a set of pulses of
laser energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 comprising: pacing the heart before delivering the output.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 comprising: pacing the heart after repeatedly delivering outputs of laser energy.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: sensing heart function after delivering artificial energy; if a heartbeat is detected in the step of sensing heart function, creating a first
revascularization event in the heart at a selected time in relation to the first created heartbeat.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27, the step of sensing comprising measuring a thickness of a
myocardium of the heart.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 27, comprising measuring the thickness with an ultrasonic ranging
device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method according to claim 22, further comprising: determining a heartbeat rate of a patient's heart prior to treatment; using the determined heartbeat rate to calibrate and select an output and output time from
the artificial energy source, the output time selected to cause only one created heartbeat; generating the selected output at the output time and sending it to the heart to cause only
one created heartbeat; and creating a revascularization event in the heart at the selected output time in relation to the
created heartbeat, the revascularization event stimulating revascularization or creating a
channel in the heart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5125926A
Cited
US5380316A
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