Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090240156 | HIEARCHICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR A CHRONICALLY IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE - A system for providing alerts with regard to a patient's heart. An implanted medical device includes a sensor as well as a processor configured to detect a cardiac event. An internal alarm is configured for producing an alarm signal. An internal transceiver acting in cooperation with an external transceiver within an external device is provided. The processor is configured to determine whether the external and internal transceivers are able to communicate with each other and send a command to the internal alarm if there is no communication. | 09-24-2009 |
20100087745 | Baseline processing for a cardiac event detection system - A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is provided. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal and a patient alarm means is further provided and electrically coupled to the electrical signal processor. The electrical signal is acquired in the form of electrogram segments, which are categorized according to heart rate, ST segment shift and type heart rhythm (normal or abnormal). Baseline electrogram segments are tracked over time. | 04-08-2010 |
20100222688 | Means and method for the detection of cardiac events - 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. | 09-02-2010 |
20110137194 | RR INTERVAL BASED BEAT REJECTION FOR A CARDIAC MONITOR - 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. | 06-09-2011 |
20110301684 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING ANGIOGRAPHY AND STENTING - An integrated catheter system for performing angiography on a human patient, the integrated catheter system consisting of an angiographic catheter onto which a thin-walled sheath is co-axially mounted. The angiographic catheter having an essentially straight and elongated proximal section in the form of a cylindrical shaft that is surrounded for less than one-half of its length by the thin-walled sheath that has an outer diameter that is less than 0.25 mm greater than the outside diameter of the angiography catheter. The strength to prevent buckling of the thin-walled sheath being provided by the shaft of the angiographic catheter. The integrated catheter system also being ideal for the placement of stents using small diameter stent delivery systems such as the stent-on-a-wire system. | 12-08-2011 |
20120041469 | REVASCULARIZATION DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED DISTAL EMBOLI PROTECTION - A percutaneous system to open a stenosed vessel has a catheter for insertion into a vessel. An expandable filter mechanism is within a deployable sheath for expansion against a vessel wall when the sheath is displaced by a first displacement distance. A stenosis opening mechanism is within the deployable sheath and is radially expandable near the expandable filter mechanism with the stenosis opening mechanism being expandable against the stenosis when the stenosis opening mechanism is located within the vessel in longitudinal alignment with the stenosis following displacement of the sheath by a second displacement distance. Radiopaque markers align the stenosis opening mechanism with the stenosis. | 02-16-2012 |
20120065222 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING SCAR TISSUE FORMATION - Disclosed is a cytostatic drug attached to a sterile sheet that is designed to be placed between internal body tissues to prevent the formation of post-operative adhesions, which adhesions are really scar tissue formation. This sheet onto or into which the drug is placed may be either a permanent implant or it may be biodegradable. By impregnating an existing product such as the Johnson & Johnson SURGICELâ„¢ absorbable hemostat gauze-like sheet with an anti-proliferative drug such as sirolimus, the biodegradable, drug impregnated mesh would act as a barrier to cell proliferation and hence be a deterrent to the formation of adhesions or scar tissue. Another embodiment of this invention is a cytostatic drug attached to a sheet that is placed at the site of an anastomosis to decrease scar tissue formation from within the vessel at the site of the anastomosis. | 03-15-2012 |
20120150271 | BUDDY WIRE FOR THE CORONARY ARTERIES - A buddy wire guide wire has a wire section for guiding a catheter to a particular site in the human body. The buddy wire guide wire has a distal section with a distal end and an opposing proximal end. The wire section is attached to the proximal end of the distal section with the distal section being placed coaxially around the shaft of some existing medical device which has been inserted into the human body. The distal section permits the buddy wire to be advanced into the human body over the medical device by using the medical device as a guide. | 06-14-2012 |
20120215174 | INTRODUCER SHEATH WITH THIN-WALLED SHAFT AND IMPROVED MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SKIN - An introducer sheath for placement into the vascular system of a human subject. The introducer sheath has a tubular shaft, a side arm, and a hemostasis valve with an integrated attachment mechanism for attaching and detaching a proximal end of the introducer sheath to and from the skin of the human subject. | 08-23-2012 |
20120265282 | CAROTID SHEATH WITH THIN-WALLED SHAFT AND VARIABLE STIFFNESS ALONG ITS LENGTH - A sheath to access a patient's vascular system where a portion of the length of the sheath is the proximal portion which has stiffer bending characteristics when taken with respect to a shorter distal section of the sheath which has increased flexibility with regard to bending characteristics. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271277 | EXPANDABLE CATHETER SYSTEM FOR PERI-OSTIAL INJECTION AND MUSCLE AND NERVE FIBER ABLATION - At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium, or the aortic wall. The present invention also has an important application to ablate tissue around the ostium of one or both renal arteries, for the ablation of the sympathetic nerve fibers and/or other afferent or efferent nerves going to or from each kidney in order to treat hypertension. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271301 | EXPANDABLE CATHETER SYSTEM FOR PERI-OSTIAL INJECTION AND MUSCLE AND NERVE FIBER ABLATION - At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium. The present invention also has application to ablating tissue around the ostium of a renal artery for the treatment of hypertension. | 10-25-2012 |
20120310212 | CAROTID SHEATH WITH FLEXIBLE DISTAL SECTION - The present invention is a carotid sheath that has a proximal portion that is stiffer than the distal portion of the sheath as a result of the proximal portion having a higher durometer of the outer plastic coating of the sheath's proximal portion with a lower durometer for the plastic coating on the more flexible distal portion of the sheath. Another means to increase the flexibility of the sheath's distal portion compared to a stiffer proximal portion is by having a slightly smaller outside diameter for the outer plastic coating of the distal portion of the sheath. A more flexible distal portion of the sheath allows easier access for angiography, angioplasty or stenting when the sheath is used to access the tortuous path encountered when entering the carotid arteries. | 12-06-2012 |
20130053792 | EXPANDABLE CATHETER SYSTEM FOR VESSEL WALL INJECTION AND MUSCLE AND NERVE FIBER ABLATION - A catheter-based/intravascular ablation (denervation) system includes a multiplicity of needles which expand open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel, or the wall of the left atrium, allowing the injection of a cytotoxic or/or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein, or circumferentially in or just beyond the outer layer of the renal artery. The expandable needle delivery system is formed with self-expanding materials and include structures, near the end portion of the needles, or using separate guide tubes. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into the tissue of the wall of the targeted blood vessel. | 02-28-2013 |
20130053821 | EXPANDABLE CATHETER SYSTEM FOR VESSEL WALL INJECTION AND MUSCLE AND NERVE FIBER ABLATION - A vascular nerve ablation (denervation) system includes a multiplicity of expandable needles which open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel allowing the injection of a cytotoxic or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue in and near the vessel wall of a renal artery or pulmonary vein. The expandable needles are formed of self-expanding materials and include structures which limit the distance of penetration of the injection needles into the tissue of the wall of the blood vessel. | 02-28-2013 |
20130053822 | EXPANDABLE CATHETER SYSTEM FOR FLUID INJECTION INTO AND DEEP TO THE WALL OF A BLOOD VESSEL - A catheter-based/intravascular fluid injection system with application to renal denervation includes a multiplicity of needles which expand open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel, or the wall of the left atrium, allowing the injection of a cytotoxic and/or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein, or circumferentially in or just beyond the outer layer of the renal artery. The expandable delivery system includes expandable components that facilitate positioning of a multiplicity of injection needles against the inside wall of a blood vessel from where they can be advanced. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into the tissue of the wall of the targeted blood vessel. | 02-28-2013 |
20130079746 | INTRODUCER SHEATH WITH THIN-WALLED SHAFT - A thin-walled introducer sheath is described. In some embodiments, the introducer sheath includes structural support components, such as wires, used in connection with a polymeric inner coating, a polymeric outer coating, or both. Further, in some embodiments, the wire components are annealed to reduce cold-work-related stresses and hardness. Use of annealed components may enable a reduction in the thickness of the polymeric outer coating in some applications. | 03-28-2013 |
20130184735 | CAROTID SHEATH WITH ENTRY AND TRACKING RAPID EXCHANGE DILATORS AND METHOD OF USE - Dilators and sheaths for use in minimally invasive vascular therapy are disclosed. In some embodiments, the dilators include a slot that accesses a guidewire lumen within the dilator. These slots facilitate rapid exchange of one dilator for another. In another embodiment, a dilator is sufficiently stiff to facilitate entry, but also designed to facilitate placement of the dilator along a tortuous path. | 07-18-2013 |
20130274673 | INTRAVASCULAR ABLATION CATHETER WITH ENHANCED FLUOROSCOPIC VISIBILITY - A catheter-based/intravascular ablation system includes needles which expand around a central axis to engage a blood vessel or left atrium wall, allowing the injection of an ablative solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein or around the renal artery. The system includes means to adjust the depth of penetration into the tissue of the targeted blood vessel wall. The catheter can include expandable guide tubes that engage the blood vessel wall. Injection needles having injection egress at or near their sharpened distal end are then advanced through the guide tubes to penetrate the blood vessel wall to a prescribed depth. The ability to provide PeriVascular injection only affecting the outer layer(s) of a blood vessel without affecting the media has particular application for PeriVascular Renal Denervation (PVRD) of the sympathetic nerves which lie in or outside the adventitia of the renal artery. | 10-17-2013 |
20130274674 | INTRAVASCULAR ABLATION CATHETER WITH PRECISION DEPTH OF PENETRATION CALIBRATION - A catheter-based/intravascular ablation system includes needles which expand around a central axis to engage a blood vessel or left atrium wall, allowing the injection of an ablative solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein or around the renal artery. The system includes means to adjust the depth of penetration into the tissue of the targeted blood vessel wall. The catheter can include expandable guide tubes that engage the blood vessel wall. Injection needles having injection egress at or near their sharpened distal end are then advanced through the guide tubes to penetrate the blood vessel wall to a prescribed depth. The ability to provide PeriVascular injection only affecting the outer layer(s) of a blood vessel without affecting the media has particular application for PeriVascular Renal Denervation (PVRD) of the sympathetic nerves which lie in or outside the adventitia of the renal artery. | 10-17-2013 |
20140046298 | METHODS OF TREATING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium. The present invention also has application to ablating tissue around the ostium of a renal artery for the treatment of hypertension. | 02-13-2014 |
20140107454 | MEANS AND METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF CARDIAC EVENTS - 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. | 04-17-2014 |
20140121641 | TRANSVASCULAR CATHETER FOR EXTRAVASCULAR DELIVERY - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through guide tubes which may be supported by an expandable balloon. The guide tubes expand with open ends around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The diameter of the inflated balloon is less than the inside diameter of the vessel, allowing perfusion across the inflated balloon and guide tubes. | 05-01-2014 |
20140121644 | TRANSVASCULAR METHODS OF TREATING EXTRAVASCULAR TISSUE - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand with open ends around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The preferred embodiment of the catheter includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. | 05-01-2014 |
20140236103 | PERI-VASCULAR TISSUE ABLATION CATHETER WITH SUPPORT STRUCTURES - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. | 08-21-2014 |
20140288587 | CAROTID SHEATH WITH ENTRY AND TRACKING RAPID EXCHANGE DILATORS AND METHOD OF USE - Dilators and sheaths for use in minimally invasive vascular therapy are disclosed. In some embodiments, the dilators include a slot that accesses a guidewire lumen within the dilator. These slots facilitate rapid exchange of one dilator for another. In another embodiment, a dilator is sufficiently stiff to facilitate entry, but also designed to facilitate placement of the dilator along a tortuous path. | 09-25-2014 |
20140316351 | PERI-VASCULAR TISSUE ABLATION CATHETER WITH UNIQUE INJECTION FITTING - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. | 10-23-2014 |
20140358079 | INTRAVASCULAR FLUID CATHETER WITH MINIMAL INTERNAL FLUID VOLUME - A catheter-based/intravascular ablation (denervation) system includes a multiplicity of needles which expand open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel, or the wall of the left atrium, allowing the injection of a cytotoxic or/or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein, or circumferentially in or just beyond the outer layer of the renal artery. The expandable needle delivery system is formed with self-expanding materials and include structures, near the end portion of the needles, or using separate guide tubes. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into the tissue of the wall of the targeted blood vessel. The preferred embodiment of the catheter delivered through the vascular system of a patient includes a multiplicity of expandable guide tubes that engage the wall of a blood vessel. Injection needles having injection egress at or near their sharpened distal end are then advanced through the guide tubes to penetrate the wall of the blood vessel to a prescribed depth. The ability to provide PeriVascular injection so as to only affect the outer layer(s) of a blood vessel without affecting the media has particular application for PeriVascular Renal Denervation (PVRD) of the sympathetic nerves which lie in the adventitia or outside the adventitia of the renal artery. | 12-04-2014 |
20140378906 | PERI-VASCULAR TISSUE ABLATION CATHETER WITH MECHANICAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. | 12-25-2014 |
20150018658 | MEANS AND METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF CARDIAC EVENTS - 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. | 01-15-2015 |
20150119674 | INTRAVASCULAR CATHETER WITH PERI-VASCULAR NERVE ACTIVITY SENSORS - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular nerve activity sensing or measurement includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand with open ends around a central axis to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the perivascular space. The system also may include means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the needles. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. The addition of an injection lumen at the proximal end of the catheter and openings in the needles adds the functionality of ablative fluid injection into the perivascular space for an integrated nerve sending and ablation capability. | 04-30-2015 |
20150119875 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPARING PAIN CONDUCTING NERVES DURING RENAL DENERVATION - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular nerve activity ablation and/or sensing includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand with open ends around a central axis to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the perivascular space. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. Ablative energy or fluid is delivered from the needles in or near the adventitia to ablate nerves outside of the media while sparing nerves within the media. | 04-30-2015 |
20150245863 | TRANSVASCULAR METHOD OF TREATING HYPERTENSION - An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel. A method of treating hypertension involves injecting an ablative fluid such as ethanol deep into zones in the wall of the renal artery such that the zones of fluid merge to form a circumferential ablation ring at a depth which ablates sympathetic nerves while minimizing injury to interior layers of the vessel wall. | 09-03-2015 |
20150289774 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING CARDIAC ISCHEMIA AND IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHMS - A system for detecting acute ischemia includes at least two sensors configured for obtaining electrical signals from a patient's heart, analog-to-digital converter circuitry for digitizing the signal to produce data segments, and a processor configured to analyze data segments to determine if they represent an abnormal heart rhythm. Certain types of abnormal rhythm segments are also checked for acute ischemia. If enough of the abnormal heart rhythm segments manifest acute ischemia, a first type of alarm event is generated. If persistent abnormal heart rhythm segments do not manifest acute ischemia, a second type of alarm event is generated. | 10-15-2015 |
20150335384 | METHODS OF ABLATING TISSUE USING A CATHETER INJECTION SYSTEM - At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium. The present invention also has application to ablating tissue around the ostium of a renal artery for the treatment of hypertension. | 11-26-2015 |