Use of electrically conductive materials for electrophysiology

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of improving electrical conduction across an impaired region of a tissue (e.g., myocardial tissue) by applying an electrically conductive material (e.g., carbon nanotube fibers) across the impaired region. The electrically conductive materials can become associated with non-impaired regions of the tissue on opposite sides of the impaired region by suturing. Such methods can also be utilized to treat or prevent cardiac arrhythmia in a subject (e.g., ventricular arrhythmia). Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrical wirings that include carbon nanotubes, such as carbon nanotube fibers. Such electrical wirings can be used to transmit electrical signals to a tissue or sense electrical signals from the tissue. In some embodiments, the present disclosure also pertains to suture threads that include carbon nanotubes, such as carbon nanotube fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of improving electrical conduction across an impaired region of a tissue, said method comprising:
 applying an electrically conductive material across the impaired region of the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of nerve tissue, muscle tissue, myocardial tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue comprises at least one of a scarred area, an ablated area, a bruised area, a cut area, a lesion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue exhibits blocked or reduced electrical conduction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue comprises impaired myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises associating the electrically conductive material with non-impaired regions of the tissue near the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the associating occurs by suturing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the non-impaired regions of the tissue are on opposite sides of the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material is selected from the group consisting of fibers, wires, metal wires, foils, metal foils, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, materials made from carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises diameters ranging from about 5 μm to about 500 μm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by electrically connecting non-impaired regions of the tissue near the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by restoring or enhancing electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by decreasing electrical current conduction time across the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating or preventing cardiac arrhythmia in a subject, said method comprising:
 applying an electrically conductive material across an impaired region of a tissue in the subject.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the applying comprises associating the electrically conductive material with non-impaired regions of the tissue near the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the associating occurs by suturing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the non-impaired regions of the tissue are on opposite sides of the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material is selected from the group consisting of fibers, wires, metal wires, foils, metal foils, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes, materials made from carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises fibers. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises diameters that range from about 5 μm to about 500 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue comprises at least one of a scarred area, an ablated area, a bruised area, a cut area, a lesion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue exhibits blocked or reduced electrical conduction. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the impaired region of the tissue comprises impaired myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by electrically connecting non-impaired regions of the tissue near the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by restoring or enhancing electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electrically conductive material improves the electrical conduction across the impaired region of the tissue by decreasing electrical current conduction time across the impaired region of the tissue. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the subject is a human being. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cardiac arrhythmia is ventricular arrhythmia. 
     
     
         40 . A method of transmitting electrical signals to a tissue, said method comprising:
 associating the tissue with an electrical wiring, wherein the electrical wiring comprises carbon nanotubes; and   transmitting electrical signals to the tissue through the electrical wiring.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the associating comprises directly associating the electrical wiring with the tissue. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the associating comprises indirectly associating the electrical wiring with the tissue. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the associating comprises implanting the electrical wiring into the tissue. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the associating comprises suturing the electrical wiring into the tissue. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the associating comprises adhering the electrical wiring to the tissue. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are in the form of carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a conductive element and a point of attachment. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the conductive element comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the point of attachment comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the point of attachment is in the form of an electrode. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a plurality of points of attachment. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the transmittal of electrical signals to the tissue comprises delivery of an electrical signal from an electrical device associated with the electrical wiring. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of medical devices, pacemakers, defibrillators, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of nerve tissue, muscle tissue, myocardial tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue is an isolated tissue. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue is part of a subject. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue in a subject, and wherein the method is used for cardiac resynchronization in the subject. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue in a subject, and wherein the method is used for defibrillation in the subject. 
     
     
         62 . A method of sensing electrical signals from a tissue, said method comprising:
 associating the tissue with an electrical wiring, wherein the electrical wiring comprises carbon nanotubes; and   sensing electrical signals from the tissue through the electrical wiring.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the associating comprises directly associating the electrical wiring with the tissue. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the associating comprises indirectly associating the electrical wiring with the tissue. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the associating comprises implanting the electrical wiring into the tissue. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the associating comprises suturing the electrical wiring into the tissue. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the associating comprises adhering the electrical wiring to the tissue. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are in the form of carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a conductive element and a point of attachment. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the conductive element comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the point of attachment comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the point of attachment is in the form of an electrode. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a plurality of points of attachment. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the sensing of electrical signals from the tissue comprises sensing the electrical signals in an electrical device associated with the electrical wiring. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of medical devices, pacemakers, defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of nerve tissue, muscle tissue, myocardial tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue is an isolated tissue. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue is part of a subject. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue comprises myocardial tissue in a subject, and wherein the sensing of electrical signals from the myocardial tissue comprises sensing of cardiac electrical activity. 
     
     
         83 . An electrical wiring for sensing or transmitting electrical signals, wherein the electrical wiring comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         84 . The electrical wiring of  claim 83 , wherein the electrical wiring consists essentially of carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         85 . The electrical wiring of  claim 83 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a conductive element and a point of attachment. 
     
     
         86 . The electrical wiring of  claim 85 , wherein the conductive element comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         87 . The electrical wiring of  claim 85 , wherein the point of attachment comprises carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         88 . The electrical wiring of  claim 85 , wherein the point of attachment is in the form of an electrode. 
     
     
         89 . The electrical wiring of  claim 85 , wherein the electrical wiring comprises a plurality of points of attachment. 
     
     
         90 . The electrical wiring of  claim 83 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         91 . The electrical wiring of  claim 83 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are in the form of carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         92 . The electrical wiring of  claim 91 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         93 . The electrical wiring of  claim 83 , wherein the electrical wiring is associated with an electrical device, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group consisting of medical devices, pacemakers, defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         94 . A suture thread comprising carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         95 . The suture thread of  claim 94 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are in the form of carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         96 . The suture thread of  claim 95 , wherein the carbon nanotube fibers are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotube fibers, multi-walled carbon nanotube fibers, aligned carbon nanotubes fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         97 . The suture thread of  claim 95 , wherein the suture thread consists essentially of carbon nanotube fibers. 
     
     
         98 . The suture thread of  claim 94 , wherein the suture thread comprises diameters that range from about 5 μm to about 500 μm.