Cardiomyopathy treatment device with electrode therapy

Abstract

This invention relates to implantable heart sack that can be equipped with pacemaker leads and/or defibrillation leads for the treatment of cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tachycardia, bradycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation etc. The hear sack was prepared from biocompatible, biostable, implantable polyetherurethane, polycarbonateurethane, silicone, polysiloxaneurethane, polyfluoroethylene, or hydrogenated poly(styrene-butadiene) copolymer. The heart sack is equipped with attached sutures to make it easier to attach onto the heart. The heart sack can be made semipermeable or perforated to have numerous holes. The heart sack can be reinforce with fiber or filament. Ordinary pacemaker leads can be attached to the inner side of the heart sack. However, the pacemaker leads of this invention were prepared from noble metal (gold, platinum, rhodium and platinum-Rhodium alloys) or stainless steel coated, deposited or plated mono-filaments, yarns, braids, cords, wires or films, or cylindrical tubes of polyamide, polyimide, polyester, and/or polypropylene that are encased in multi-lumen insulating tube or coaxial tube made of biocompatible, biostable, implantable polyetherurethane, polycarbonateurethane, silicone, polysiloxaneurethane, polyfluoroethylene, or hydrogenated poly(styrene-butadiene) copolymer. The leads can be mounted onto the inner surface of the heart sack and contoured to the heart. The heart sack can be coated with hydrophilic coating containing an antimicrobial agent that gives the heart sack a low coefficient of friction, excellent biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for treating cardiomyopathy of a heart characterized in part by dilation of ventricles of the heart, the apparatus comprising: 
 a device configured to completely surround at least the ventricles of a heart, said device including: a material constructed of a biocompatible material and shaped and sized to circumferentially surround the heart and covering at least the ventricles of the heart in contact with opposing tissue of said heart; and    a plurality of electrodes carried on said device and positioned to electrically contact a surface of the heart when said device is positioned on said heart with said material surrounding said ventricles; and    said electrodes adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical impulse generator.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to claim  43  further comprising an implantable electrical impulse generator operably connected to the electrodes, said impulse generator adapted to generate an electrical signal to be imparted to said heart through said electrodes.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to claim  43  wherein said material carries a pharmacologic agent.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to claim  43  wherein said material is at least partially coated with surface coating.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus according to claim  44  wherein said signal is a pacing signal.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to claim  44  wherein said signal is a defibrillation signal.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to claim  43  wherein said material is shaped and sized to cover an atrium of the heart.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to claim  43  wherein said material includes a plurality of holes through said material.  
   
   
       29 . A cardiac reinforcement device, said device comprising: 
 a sack of biomedical material configured to completely surround at least the ventricles of a heart and prevent cardiac expansion, said sack comprising a open base end for applying said sack to the heart such that when applied the base end is oriented toward the base of the heart and said material surrounds and contacts said ventricles; and    a plurality of stimulation electrodes configured to contact the heart, whereby the sack is configured to resist dilation of the heart and the stimulation electrodes are capable of improving cardiac contraction.    
   
   
       30 . A method for treating a disease of a heart, the method comprising: 
 selecting a device adapted to be placed against a surface of the heart, the device comprising a material sized and configured to surround at least the ventricles of the heart and a plurality of stimulation electrodes configured to contact the heart;    surgically placing said device on said heart with said material contacting a surface of said heart at least surrounding said ventricles and with said material circumferentially surrounding said ventricles, said placement including positioning said device with said electrodes electrically contacting said heart;    applying a therapeutic electrical signal to said electrodes.    
   
   
       31 . A method according to claim  50  wherein said device is sized and configured to cover an atrium of said heart.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to claim  50  wherein said therapeutic electrical signal is a pacing signal.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to claim  50  wherein said therapeutic electrical signal is a defibrillation signal.