Temporary Implantable Leadless Pacemaker

Abstract

An implantable leadless pacemaker configured to provide antibradycardia pacing of a human or animal heart, comprising: an electrical energy source, a sensor configured to sense intracardiac potentials of the heart, a pulse generator configured to generate electrical pacing pulses, a control unit for controlling the pulse generator, wherein the control unit is configured to inhibit generation of an electrical pacing pulse when an intracardiac potential is sensed, wherein the control unit is further configured to permanently switch off the pulse generator after passing of a predetermined timespan and/or after a pre-defined event detected by the pacemaker, an electrode pole for electrical stimulation and sensing intracardiac potentials, at least one fastening element for fastening the pacemaker to heart tissue, wherein the implantable leadless pacemaker is adapted such that a lifetime of the implantable leadless pacemaker is smaller than one year, particularly smaller than one month, particularly smaller than two weeks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for antibradycardia stimulation of a human or animal heart, comprising the steps of:
 implanting a leadless pacemaker for temporary or permanent placement in the heart;   delivering demand-driven electrical stimulation to the heart using the pacemaker for a predetermined period of time in the range from one day to three months;   and deactivating delivery of electrical stimulation to the heart via the pacemaker after a pre-determined timespan has passed and/or after a pre-determined event is detected by the implanted leadless pacemaker.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising explanting the implantable leadless pacemaker. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising activating and/or programming the implantable leadless pacemaker before or during implantation. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the implantable leadless pacemaker is selected from, smaller than 0.5 cm 3 , smaller than 0.2 5 cm 3 , smaller than 0.1 5 cm 3 , or smaller than 0.1 cm 3 . 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the implantable leadless pacemaker, another implanted pacemaker; and   automatically switching off delivery of electrical stimulation pulses by the implantable leadless pacemaker in case said another implanted pacemaker is detected.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the demand-driven electrical stimulation comprises a stimulation frequency in the range from 40 bpm to 55 bpm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising releasing, by the implantable leadless pacemaker, a steroid to avoid increases in stimulus thresholds after implantation. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adapting, by the implantable leadless pacemaker, a stimulation energy to a current stimulation threshold. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating a human or animal patient in temporary need of antibradycardia stimulation of a heart of the patient, comprising the steps of:
 implanting, via use of a catheter device, a leadless pacemaker for temporary or permanent placement in the heart;   delivering demand-driven decimal stimulation to the heart using the pacemaker for a predetermined period of time in the range from one day to three months;   and deactivating delivery of electrical stimulation to the heart via the pacemaker after a pre-pre-determined timespan has passed and/or after a pre-determined event is detected by the implanted leadless pacemaker.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising explanting, via use of the catheter device, the implantable leadless pacemaker. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a volume of the implantable leadless pacemaker is selected from: smaller than 0.5 cm 3 , smaller than 0.2 5 cm 3 , smaller than 0.1 5 cm or smaller than 0.1 cm 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising activating and/or programming the implantable leadless pacemaker, via the catheter device, before or during implantation. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the demand-driven delivery of electrical stimulation to the heart is done using the catheter device. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising adapting, by the implantable leadless pacemaker or the catheter device, a stimulation energy to a current stimulation threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the leadless pacemaker is implanted into the right ventricle using the catheter device.