Cardiac stimulating apparatus having a blood clot filter and atrial pacer

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for reducing the formation and migration of blood clots from an atrial appendage, such as the left atrial appendage, to the blood vessel system of a patient. The apparatus comprises an atrial pacer to treat non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (NRAF) of an atrial appendage so that the formation blood clots within the atrial appendage is decreased or eliminated. In addition, the apparatus includes a blood clot filter supported by the atrial pacer proximate the atrial appendage and the atrium to reduce the migration of blood clots from the atrial appendage into the blood vessel system of a patient.

1 . A cardiac stimulating apparatus comprising: 
 a stimulator comprising an end for making at least one of sensing and stimulating contact with a wall of a heart, said stimulator comprising at least one of a sensor and a stimulator; and    a filtration device mounted to said stimulator distal the end thereof and adapted for deterring movement of emboli through the filtration device.    
   
   
       2 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the filtration device comprises a plurality of spokes.  
   
   
       3 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the spokes include tines to attach the filtration device to the heart.  
   
   
       4 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the spokes extend generally radially outwardly from the stimulator.  
   
   
       5 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the filtration device comprises a mesh.  
   
   
       6 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the filtration device includes at least one of an expandable mesh and a plurality of expandable spokes.  
   
   
       7 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein said one of said expandable mesh and said plurality of expandable spokes are collapsible to be disposed near the stimulator for implantation into the heart through a catheter.  
   
   
       8 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein stimulator includes a control unit adapted to be disposed external to the heart.  
   
   
       9 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the control unit is adapted to be in wireless communication with the sensor.  
   
   
       10 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the control unit is adapted to be in wireless communication with the stimulator.  
   
   
       11 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the stimulator is adapted to apply a stimulating signal to the heart wall and the sensor is adapted to be in sensing contact with the heart wall.  
   
   
       12 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 i) a charger adapted to be disposed external to a patient's body for providing a power signal in the form of electromagnetic energy; and    ii) an energizer adapted to be disposed internal to a patient's body for receiving the power signal provided by the generator unit to energize said stimulator.    
   
   
       13 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the generator unit comprises a first coil for transmitting the power signal and the energizing unit comprises a second coil for receiving the power signal.  
   
   
       14 . A cardiac stimulating apparatus comprising: 
 a stimulator comprising an elongated body adapted at one end thereof for making at least one of sensing and stimulating contact with a wall of an atrial appendage of a heart, said stimulator comprising an atrial sensor and an atrial stimulator disposed in said elongated body; and    a filtration device mounted to said elongated body distal the one end thereof and adapted for deterring movement of emboli between the atrial appendage and an atrium of the heart.    
   
   
       15 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the filtration device comprises a plurality of spokes.  
   
   
       16 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the spokes include tines to attach the filtration device to the atrial appendage.  
   
   
       17 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the spokes extend generally radially outwardly from the stimulator.  
   
   
       18 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the filtration device comprises a mesh.  
   
   
       19 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the filtration device includes at least one of an expandable mesh and a plurality of expandable spokes.  
   
   
       20 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said one of said expandable mesh and said plurality of expandable spokes are collapsible to be disposed near the stimulator for implantation into the atrial appendage through a catheter.  
   
   
       21 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the stimulator includes a control unit adapted to be disposed external to the heart.  
   
   
       22 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the control unit is adapted to be in wireless communication with the sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the control unit is adapted to be in wireless communication with the stimulator.  
   
   
       24 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the stimulator is adapted to apply a stimulating signal to the wall of the atrial appendage and the sensor is adapted to be in sensing contact with a wall of the atrial appendage.  
   
   
       25 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 14  comprising: 
 i) a charger adapted to be disposed external to a patient's body for providing a power signal in the form of electromagnetic energy; and    ii) an energizer adapted to be disposed internal to a patient's body for receiving the power signal provided by the generator unit to energize said stimulator.    
   
   
       26 . The cardiac stimulating apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the generator unit comprises a first coil for transmitting the power signal and the energizing unit comprises a second coil for receiving the power signal.