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US4934996A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pressure-controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusion apparatus and method

Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1986-01-31
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2006-01-31
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Abstract

Abstract The coronary sinus is intermittently occluded by use of means for occluding the sinus, a pressure transducer for sensing the fluid pressure within the sinus and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and a controller responsive to the transducer and arranged to provide trigger signals to the occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt the occlusion, the system being characterized in that the controller is arranged to estimate a plateau level of the fluid pressure during each occlusion and for providing a trigger signal to interrupt each occlusion on the basis of the estimate. The duration of the interruption before the next occlusion is controlled in response to the volume flow in the sinus during the interruption. Pharmacological agents are injected into the sinus during the occlusion, for retroprofusion to the heart tissue. An analysis of heart function is obtained by analyzing the local pressure maxima in successive heartbeats during occlusion. Initiation of the next occlusion is time based on fluid pressure signals taken from the sinus during occlusion. The degree of tissue at risk of infraction (or the amount of infarcted tissue) is estimated based on the fluid pressure signals.

Inventors

  • 👤 Werner Mohl
  • 👤 Marc J. Tolkoff

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 03:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12109; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12136; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3613; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/02; A61M25/04; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/126; A61M60/135; A61M60/143; A61M60/20; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/268; A61M60/295; A61M60/30; A61M60/31; A61M60/32; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/497; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/515; A61M60/531; A61M60/538; A61M60/554; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00694; A61B2017/00703; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61M2025/0001; A61M2025/0003; A61M25/10; A61M25/1018; A61M2025/102; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1052; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3331; A61M2205/3344; A61M2205/3355; A61M2205/50; A61M2230/00; A61M2230/30; A61M60/274; A61M60/80; A61M60/802; A61M60/833

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim 96 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, a pressure transducer for sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and a controller responsive to said transducer having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that said controller includes means to estimate a plateau level of said fluid pressure during each occlusion and means to provide the trigger signal to interrupt each said occlusion on the basis of said estimate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 96 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, a pressure transducer for sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and a controller responsive to said transducer having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that said controller includes means to estimate a plateau level of said fluid pressure during each occlusion and means to provide the trigger signal to interrupt each said occlusion on the basis of said estimate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means for interrupting each said occlusion before said fluid pressure reaches said plateau level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said controller further includes means for interrupting each said occlusion before said fluid pressure reaches a predetermined percentage of said plateau level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 98 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said controller comprising sensing means for sensing said fluid pressure signals, first analysis means for determining and storing a local maximum value of said pressure for each heartbeat from said stored sensed signals, second analysis means for estimating in real time said plateau level from said stored local maxium values, and comparison means for comparing a predetermined percentage of said estimated plateau level with successive said local maximum values and generating said trigger signals for triggering interruption of each occlusion at a time dependent on the result of said comparison.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 4 further characterized by said predetermined percentage being greater than 70% and less than 98%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by said predetermined percentage being about 94%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second analysis circuitry includes means for estimating said plateau level by fitting said stored local maximum values to an exponential curve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said occluding means comprises an inflatable element in said sinus, and a pump for selectably inflating said inflatable element in response to said trigger signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in having means responsive to the volume flow in said sinus for commencing each period of occlusion of said sinus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in having means to display the pressure maxima for the succession of heartbeats that occurs during an occlusion to enable evaluation of the relationship of said maxima for indication of the state of health of the heart tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in having means during said occlusion to infuse a pharmacological agent into said sinus, whereby said agent can be retroperfused to heart tissue.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 71 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus, comprising providing means for occluding said sinus and for measuring the local pressure maximum within said sinus during each heartbeat, causing occlusion of said sinus, measuring the local pressure maxima for successive heartbeats during said occlusion, said method being characterized by the steps of estimating the plateau level of said local pressure maxima, and interrupting said occlusion on the basis of said estimate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 71 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus, comprising providing means for occluding said sinus and for measuring the local pressure maximum within said sinus during each heartbeat, causing occlusion of said sinus, measuring the local pressure maxima for successive heartbeats during said occlusion, said method being characterized by the steps of estimating the plateau level of said local pressure maxima, and interrupting said occlusion on the basis of said estimate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising interrupting said occlusion before fluid pressure reaches said plateau level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising interrupting said occlusion when a said local pressure maximum reaches at least a predetermined percentage of said plateau level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 14 further characterized in that said predetermined percentage is at least 70% and less than 98%.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 15 further characterized in that said predetermined percentage is about 94%.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing the volume flow following cessation of the preceeding occlusion period and commencing the next period of occlusion of said sinus in response to the volume flow following cessation of the preceding occlusion period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 89 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, and a controller having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that a sensor is provided for delivering flow signals indicative of the volume flow of fluid in said sinus during periods when said occlusion is being interrupted, and said controller includes means to trigger the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time determined by said flow signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 89 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, and a controller having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that a sensor is provided for delivering flow signals indicative of the volume flow of fluid in said sinus during periods when said occlusion is being interrupted, and said controller includes means to trigger the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time determined by said flow signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 18 characterized in that said flow signals represent the velocity of flow of fluid in said sinus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said sensor comprises means for determining said flow signals based on the fluid pressure in said sinus as a function of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 72 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that said controller includes sampling means for sampling said flow signals and storing said samples, analysis means for determining from said stored samples the time when the peak of said volumen flow occurs during each period of interruption of said occlusion, and trigger means for delivering a trigger signal to trigger the next said occlusion at a time determined by when said peak occurs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for triggering said next occlusion after said peak occurs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that said occluding means comprises an inflatable element in said sinus and a pump for selectably inflating said inflatable element in response to said trigger circuitry.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 66 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising providing means for occluding said sinus, occluding said sinus, and thereafter interrupting said occlusion, the method being characterized by the steps of determining the flow within said sinus during said interruption, determining the time of the peak of said flow, and triggering the next occlusion of said sinus at a time determined by when said peak occurs.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 66 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising providing means for occluding said sinus, occluding said sinus, and thereafter interrupting said occlusion, the method being characterized by the steps of determining the flow within said sinus during said interruption, determining the time of the peak of said flow, and triggering the next occlusion of said sinus at a time determined by when said peak occurs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 86 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, and a controller having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that a pressure transducer is provided for sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus during said occlusion and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and said controller has means for triggering the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time based on said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 86 words
Apparatus for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising means for occluding said sinus, and a controller having means for providing trigger signals to said occluding means to trigger an occlusion and to interrupt said occlusion, said apparatus being characterized in that a pressure transducer is provided for sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus during said occlusion and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and said controller has means for triggering the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time based on said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said controller further comprises means for triggering said initiation on the basis of successive pressure maxima of said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said controller further comprises means for triggering said initiation on the basis of successive pressure minima of said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said controller further comprises means for triggering said initiation on the basis of a combination of parameters derived from successive pressure maxima and minima of said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said controller further comprises means for triggering said initiation on the basis of fitting said pressure maxima and said pressure minima to exponential curves.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means for triggering includes means that trigger said initiation on the basis of a combination of parameters including the asymptotic plateaus of said exponential curves.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means for triggering includes means that trigger said initiation on the basis of a combination of parameters including the time constants of said exponential curves.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for triggering includes means that trigger said initiation on the basis of a combination of parameters including heart rate.
Claim 38
Independent Claim 65 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising providing means for occluding said sinus, occluding said sinus, and thereafter interrupting said occlusion, the method being characterized by the steps of: sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus during said occlusion and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and triggering the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time dependent on said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 39
Independent Claim 65 words
A method for intermittently occluding a coronary sinus comprising providing means for occluding said sinus, occluding said sinus, and thereafter interrupting said occlusion, the method being characterized by the steps of: sensing the fluid pressure within said sinus during said occlusion and providing corresponding fluid pressure signals, and triggering the initiation of the next said occlusion at a time dependent on said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising causing said triggering to be dependent on successive pressure maxima and successive pressure minima of said fluid pressure signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising causing said triggering to be dependent on a combination of parameters derived from said successive pressure maxima and minima.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising causing said triggering to be dependent on fitting said pressure maxima and said pressure minima to exponential curves.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said causing said triggering includes causing said triggering to be dependent on a combination of parameters including heart rate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said causing said triggering includes causing said triggering to be dependent on a combination of parameters including the asymptotic plateaus of said exponential curves.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said causing said triggering includes causing said triggering to be dependent on a combination of parameters including the time constants of said exponential curves.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-18 1993-12-18 1994-06-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-18 1997-12-18 1998-06-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-18 2001-12-18 2002-06-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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