Implantable cardiac assist device with a phased electrode array

Abstract

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.

1 . An implantable cardiac massage apparatus for providing assistance to a heart having an apex and a base, the apparatus comprising: 
 a chamber array, the array comprising a series of spaced-apart, fluidically coupled chambers, the array having fluid input and output ports, wherein the input ports are located near the apex of the heart and the output ports are located near the base of the heart, and the chambers defining an inside surface which closely conforms to the external surface of a heart and;    pressure regulator means, the pressure regulator means being fluidly coupled to the array input port and output port, the pressure regulator means also being fluidically coupled to;    pump means, the pump means and the pressure regulator means being electronically coupled to;    controller means, the controller means being adapted to actuate the pump means and the pressure regulator means so that fluid is pumped substantially continuously by the pump means to the input port and the pressure regulator means intermittently inflates and deflates the chambers starting at the apex of the heart to create a rhythmic message of the heart from its apex to its base thereby substantially imitating the natural contraction of the heart, the controller means being further adapted to receive sensor information input from a cardiac activity/sensor means;    a phased electrode array comprising a series of electrodes, the electrodes in contact with the heart and capable of providing electronic stimulation to the heart;    a phased electrode array controller means, the phased electrode array controller means being adapted to control the discharge of electrical stimulation of the phased electrode array; and    wherein the cardiac activity/sensor means, the cardiac activity/sensor means being adapted to sense cardiac activity and input sensor information to the controller means and to input sensor information to the phased electrode array controller.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes an implantable reservoir means fluidly coupled to the chamber array.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes an implantable source of electrical energy electronically coupled to the pump means.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  electronically coupled to the controller means.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pressure regulator means comprises a relief valve.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pump means comprises a kinetic pump or axial turbine.  
   
   
       7 . A method of mechanically assisting a heart comprising the steps of: 
 deploying an apparatus of  claim 1  about the external surface of the heart;    activating the apparatus by energizing the controller means and in turn the pump means so as to cause fluid to flow through the apparatus;    pulsing fluid flow through the apparatus by operating the pressure regulator means the fluid flow starting at the apex of the heart and passing to the base of the heart thereby rhythmically massaging the heart from the apex toward its base to enhance the heart's fluid output in a manner similar to unassisted cardiac discharge.    
   
   
       8 . An implantable cardiac massage apparatus for providing assistance to a heart having an apex and a base, the apparatus comprising: 
 a chamber array, wherein the chamber array comprises elastic Bourdon tubes, the array comprising a series of spaced-apart, fluidically coupled chambers the array having fluid input and output ports, and the chambers defining an inside surface which closely conforms to the external surface of a heart and;    pressure regulator means, the pressure regulator means being fluidly coupled to the array input port and output port, the pressure regulator means also being fluidically coupled to;    pump means, the pump means and the pressure regulator means being electronically coupled to;    controller means, the controller means being adapted to actuate the pump means and the pressure regulator means so that fluid is pumped by the pump means to the input port and the pressure regulator means intermittently inflates and deflates the chambers starting at the apex of the heart to create a rhythmic message of the heart from its apex to its base thereby substantially imitating the natural contraction of the heart, the controller means being further adapted to receive sensor information input from a cardiac activity/sensor means;    a phased electrode array comprising a series of electrodes, the electrodes in contact with the heart and capable of providing electronic stimulation to the heart;    a phased electrode array controller means, the phased electrode array controller means being adapted to control the discharge of electrical stimulation of the phased electrode array; and    wherein the cardiac activity/sensor means, the cardiac activity/sensor means being adapted to sense cardiac activity and input sensor information to the controller means and to input sensor information to the phased electrode array controller means.    
   
   
       9 . An implantable cardiac massage apparatus for providing assistance to a heart having an apex and a base, the apparatus comprising: 
 a helically wound tubing formed into an array, the array having a fluid input port located near the apex of the heart and a fluid output port located near the base of the heart, and the array defining an inside surface which closely conforms to the external surface of a heart and;    pressure regulator means, the pressure regulator means being fluidly coupled to the array input port and output port, the pressure regulator means also being fluidically coupled to;    pump means, the pump means and the pressure regulator means being electronically coupled to;    controller means, the controller means being adapted to actuate the pump means and the pressure regulator means so that fluid is pumped substantially continuously by the pump means to the input port and the pressure regulator means intermittently inflates and deflates the helically wound tubing starting at the apex of the heart to create a rhythmic message of the heart from its apex to its base thereby substantially imitating the natural contraction of the heart, the controller means being further adapted to receive sensor information input from a cardiac activity/sensor means;    a phased electrode array comprising a series of electrodes, the electrodes in contact with the heart and capable of providing electronic stimulation to the heart;    a phased electrode array controller means, the phased electrode array controller means being adapted to control the discharge of electrical stimulation of the phased electrode array; and    wherein the cardiac activity/sensor means, the cardiac activity/sensor means being adapted to sense cardiac activity and input sensor information to the controller means and to input sensor information to the phased electrode array controller means.