Abstract: An implantable system which includes a gene/protein delivery device and a pulse generator, as well as method of preparing the gene/protein delivery device and using the system, are provided. In one embodiment, the implantable system detects a predetermined condition or event and, in response, delivers gene(s) and/or protein(s) in conjunction with delivering pacing and/or defibrillation pulses.

Abstract: An implantable system which includes a gene/protein delivery device and a pulse generator, as well as method of preparing the gene/protein delivery device and using the system, are provided. In one embodiment, the implantable system detects a predetermined condition or event and, in response, delivers gene(s) and/or protein(s) in conjunction with delivering pacing and/or defibrillation pulses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for providing pacing during revascularization. An embodiment of the system includes an angioplasty or stent delivery catheter system having a catheter, a balloon and an inflation device adapted to inflate and deflate the balloon for delivery of a stent. The embodiment also includes a programmable pulse generator and at least one electrode integrated with the angioplasty catheter system, where the pulse generator is connected to the electrode. In various embodiments, at least one integrated sensor is connected to the angioplasty catheter system. The sensor is adapted to sense a parameter indicative of flow restoration and trigger the pulse generator to begin pacing based on the parameter.

Abstract: A catheter with a tissue property sensor provides for localization of myocardial infarction (MI) by utilizing one or more differences between properties of infarcted myocardial tissue and properties of normal myocardial tissue. The tissue property sensor is to be placed on endocardial wall or epicardial wall during catheterization to sense at least one tissue property allowing for detection of MI. Examples of the tissue property sensor include, but are not limited to, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a contractility sensor, a temperature sensor, and a drug response sensor. In one embodiment, the tissue property sensor senses a tissue property in various locations on endocardial wall or epicardial wall and detects substantial changes in the tissue property that indicate a boundary between infarcted tissue and normal tissue.

Abstract: A distributed system is described that employs electrical neural stimulation to modulate autonomic activity and which allows titration of the neural stimulation therapy in accordance with physiological measurements reflective of autonomic activity and/or physiological variables affected by the neural stimulation. Such a system may include a plurality of implantable neuromodulation units that communicate with one another over a network.

Abstract: A catheter with a tissue property sensor provides for localization of myocardial infarction (MI) by utilizing one or more differences between properties of infarcted myocardial tissue and properties of normal myocardial tissue. The tissue property sensor is to be placed on endocardial wall or epicardial wall during catheterization to sense at least one tissue property allowing for detection of MI. Examples of the tissue property sensor include, but are not limited to, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a contractility sensor, a temperature sensor, and a drug response sensor. In one embodiment, the tissue property sensor senses a tissue property in various locations on endocardial wall or epicardial wall and detects substantial changes in the tissue property that indicate a boundary between infarcted tissue and normal tissue.

Abstract: A method for cell and electrical therapy of living tissue including administration of exogenous cells into a region of injured tissue and application of electrical energy. In one application the combined cell and electrical therapy is applied in vivo to damaged heart tissue. In such applications, minimally invasive procedures are used to apply the cell therapy and the electrical therapy is provided via an implantable pulse generator. In one application an implantable pacemaker is used in the VDD mode with an atrioventricular delay kept relatively short when compared to the intrinsic atrioventricular delay.

Abstract: A method and system to enhance cell, gene and/or cytokine therapy for cardiac repair in a mammal.

Abstract: A system and method of treating an adverse cardiac condition, such as cardiac arrhythmia or a non-arrhythmic event, involves producing, by use of a patient actuatable non-implanted activator, an activation signal in response to a patient sensing a perceived adverse cardiac condition. The method further involves confirming, by an implantable medical device provided within the patient, that the patient is experiencing an actual adverse cardiac condition. A perceivable initiating signal instructing the patient or a physician to commence with a drug delivery regimen to treat the actual cardiac adverse condition is generated by the non-implanted activator. In one approach, the implantable medical device operates in a safe mode of pacing during drug treatment of the actual adverse cardiac condition. In another approach, an appropriate pacing, cardioversion or defibrillation regimen is initiated to treat the actual adverse cardiac condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating atrial fibrillation is described that uses a vascular stent deployed within the pulmonary veins of the left atrium. The stent may be used alone or in combination with chemical, thermal, electrical, or radioactive energy sources to ablate myocardial tissue residing in the pulmonary veins. The targeted myocardial tissue in the pulmonary veins will have been identified as the source of initiation and/or sustenance of atrial fibrillation. Ablation therapy using the pulmonary venous stent stops discharges from ectopic foci in the vein or alternatively stops impulses from reaching the left atrium. The deployed stent can then be left in place to prevent stenosis of the vein.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for cold storage of cells which includes a population of isolated stem cells, a cell medium, and isolated trophic factors, as well as devices having a plurality of the trophic factors.

Abstract: A system is provided for stimulating one or more cells, wherein the stimulation is sub-threshold and may alter a transmembrane potential of the one or more cells. For some populations of cells it may be possible to affect the transmembrane potential to gain a therapeutic benefit. Cells of the sino-atrial node spontaneously depolarize predominantly due to the slow depolarization of transmembrane potential. The present system may provide sino-atrial cells with a local field stimulation that while not eliciting an action potential may nonetheless alter local transmembrane potential. Such alteration of transmembrane potential may permit an increase or decrease in a rate of depolarization, and hence modify heart rate.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for controlling pacemaker therapy in a patient with an implanted biological pacemaker. The method may include pacing a heart at a predetermined rate using an electronic pacemaker and configuring the pacemaker to periodically enter a biological pacemaker weaning mode. The weaning mode may include ceasing pacing for at least a predetermined length of time and monitoring the heart to detect electrical depolarizations of a ventricle of the heart during the predetermined length of time. The weaning mode may further include determining the length of time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization and determining if the length of time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization is less than a maximum predetermined interval. The pacemaker therapy may be withheld as long as the length of time is less than the maximum predetermined interval.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a biological cardiac pacemaker is provided. The method may include stimulating a heart at a region selected for implantation of a biological pacemaker and sensing at least one electrical signal indicative of a cardiac depolarization originating in the region selected for implantation of the biological pacemaker. The method may further include sensing at least one subsequent electrical signal produced by the heart and determining if the subsequent electrical signal originated in the region selected for the biological pacemaker or another region of the heart. In an alternative embodiment, the method may include determining a template time difference between two points on cardiac complexes sensed in two or more different cardiac locations during normal sinus rhythm. The method may further include determining a time difference between two points on a subsequent cardiac complex sensed in two or more different cardiac locations.

Abstract: A method and device for delivering defibrillation shock therapy in patients having an inter-ventricular conduction disorder is presented. Ventricular resynchronization therapy is employed to reduce the dispersion of ventricular depolarization which takes place due to the conduction disorder and reduces the safety margin of shocks delivered synchronously with ventricular beats. The method may be employed in the treatment of atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing is disclosed. A cardiac rhythm management device, such as an implantable pacemaker having anti-tachycardia pacing capability, delivers anti-tachycardia pacing therapy in accordance with an anti-tachycardia pacing protocol upon detection of a terminable arrhythmia. The anti-tachycardia pacing is delivered as a burst of one or more pacing pulses at a specified coupling interval after a sensed ventricular polarization. By sensing if an evoked potential occurs, the device can determine whether or not the anti-tachycardia pacing burst has captured the ventricle and can adjust the coupling interval and/or other parameters accordingly.

Abstract: A distributed system is described that employs electrical neural stimulation to modulate autonomic activity and which allows titration of the neural stimulation therapy in accordance with physiological measurements reflective of autonomic activity and/or physiological variables affected by the neural stimulation. Such a system may include a plurality of implantable neuromodulation units that communicate with one another over a network.

Abstract: A method and device for delivering defibrillation shock therapy in patients having an inter-ventricular conduction disorder is presented. Ventricular resynchronization therapy is employed to reduce the dispersion of ventricular depolarization which takes place due to the conduction disorder and reduces the safety margin of shocks delivered synchronously with ventricular beats. The method may be employed in the treatment of atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for providing pacing during revascularization. An embodiment of the system includes an angioplasty or stent delivery catheter system having a catheter, a balloon and an inflation device adapted to inflate and deflate the balloon for delivery of a stent. The embodiment also includes a programmable pulse generator and at least one electrode integrated with the angioplasty catheter system, where the pulse generator is connected to the electrode. In various embodiments, at least one integrated sensor is connected to the angioplasty catheter system. The sensor is adapted to sense a parameter indicative of flow restoration and trigger the pulse generator to begin pacing based on the parameter.

Abstract: An implantable device for delivering phototherapy is described that enables the phototherapy to be delivered to internal locations in either a clinical or ambulatory setting for treatment of post-MI patients. Telemetry circuitry enables the device to deliver the phototherapy upon command or be programmed to delivery the phototherapy according to a specified schedule. The device may also incorporate one or more sensing modalities that can be used to trigger delivery of phototherapy upon occurrence of a sensed event or condition. In one particular embodiment, the phototherapy device is incorporated into a cardiac rhythm management device that also delivers pacing and/or defibrillation therapy.