Patent US5533958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5533958A
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Intrapericardial assist device and associated method
Assignee: Wilk Patent Development Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-05
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-08-05
Abstract
Abstract An intrapericardial assist device and method comprises an electrode carrier in the form of an inflatable cuff-shaped balloon adapted for juxtaposition to a patient's heart in an intrapericardial space. An electrical contact or electrode is disposed on the contact surface of the carrier for conducting electrical energy to the heart upon an insertion of the electrode carrier into the intrapericardial space and upon inflation of the balloon so that the electrode engages cardiac tissues.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Wilk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/435; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/165; A61M60/191; A61M60/20; A61M60/289; A61M60/43; A61M60/465; A61M60/468; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/515; A61M60/531; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/865; A61M60/871; A61M60/878; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An intrapericardial assist device comprising: an electrode carrier having a surface for contacting a patient's heart in an intrapericardial space; electrical contact means disposed on said surface for conducting electrical energy to the heart upon an insertion of said electrode carrier into the intrapericardial space; means operatively connected to said contact means for supplying electrical energy to said contact means; and means connected to said electrode carrier for maintaining said surface in contact with the patient's heart, said electrode carrier being a collapsible member which has a configuration of a slotted cuff in an expanded configuration, said electrode carrier having a predetermined size and shape in said expanded configuration so that said electrode carrier is disposable in the intrapericardial space in juxtaposition to the patient's heart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An intrapericardial assist device comprising: an electrode carrier having a surface for contacting a patient's heart in an intrapericardial space; electrical contact means disposed on said surface for conducting electrical energy to the heart upon an insertion of said electrode carrier into the intrapericardial space; means operatively connected to said contact means for supplying electrical energy to said contact means; and means connected to said electrode carrier for maintaining said surface in contact with the patient's heart, said electrode carrier being a collapsible member which has a configuration of a slotted cuff in an expanded configuration, said electrode carrier having a predetermined size and shape in said expanded configuration so that said electrode carrier is disposable in the intrapericardial space in juxtaposition to the patient's heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means connected to said electrode carrier for automatically unfurling said carrier from a folded collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device defined in claim 2 wherein said spring means includes an elongate rib element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device defined in claim 1, further comprising sensing means disposed in part on said carrier for generating an electrocardiograph of the patient's heart activity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intrapericardial assist device comprising: an electrode carrier having a surface for contacting a patient's heart in an intrapericardial space; electrical contact means disposed on said surface for conducting electrical energy to the heart upon an insertion of said electrode carrier into the intrapericardial space; means operatively connected to said contact means for supplying electrical energy to said contact means; and means connected to said electrode carrier for maintaining said surface in contact with the patient's heart; said electrode carrier having the form of a balloon, said means for maintaining including inflation means operatively connected to said electrode carrier for inflating said electrode carrier from a folded collapsed configuration to an unfolded expanded configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intrapericardial assist device comprising: an electrode carrier having a surface for contacting a patient's heart in an intrapericardial space; electrical contact means disposed on said surface for conducting electrical energy to the heart upon an insertion of said electrode carrier into the intrapericardial space; means operatively connected to said contact means for supplying electrical energy to said contact means; and means connected to said electrode carrier for maintaining said surface in contact with the patient's heart; said electrode carrier having the form of a balloon, said means for maintaining including inflation means operatively connected to said electrode carrier for inflating said electrode carrier from a folded collapsed configuration to an unfolded expanded configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device defined in claim 5, further comprising spring means connected to said electrode carrier for automatically unfurling said carrier from said folded collapsed configuration to said unfolded expanded configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device defined in claim 6 wherein said spring means includes an elongate rib element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device defined in claim 5 wherein said inflation means includes means for automatically and periodically inflating and alternately deflating said balloon upon a disposition thereof into said intrapericardial space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device defined in claim 5, further comprising sensing means disposed in part on said carrier for generating an electrocardiograph of the patient's heart activity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A surgical method for reactivating a malfunctioning heart, comprising the steps of: providing an inflatable balloon in a collapsed configuration, said balloon being provided with an electrode on a surface adapted for contact with a patient's heart; inserting said balloon into an intrapericardial space about the patient's heart; upon insertion of said balloon into the intrapericardial space, inflating said balloon to place said electrode in electrically conductive contact with the heart of the patient; and upon inflation of said balloon, conducting a voltage through the electrode to the patient's heart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A surgical method for reactivating a malfunctioning heart, comprising the steps of: providing an inflatable balloon in a collapsed configuration, said balloon being provided with an electrode on a surface adapted for contact with a patient's heart; inserting said balloon into an intrapericardial space about the patient's heart; upon insertion of said balloon into the intrapericardial space, inflating said balloon to place said electrode in electrically conductive contact with the heart of the patient; and upon inflation of said balloon, conducting a voltage through the electrode to the patient's heart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said voltage is a defibrillating voltage, further comprising the steps of: upon completion of said step of conducting, monitoring heart action via an EKG device for a predetermined period; and upon a determination that the heart has started with an inadequate strength, inflating said balloon in synchronism with a heart contraction to place a compressive pressure on the heart to thereby increase pumping action.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 11, further comprising the step of at least partially deflating said balloon upon completion of said step of conducting and prior to said step of monitoring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method defined in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: generating a pacemaker type periodic voltage; applying said periodic voltage to the heart via said electrode upon completion of said step of inflating said balloon in synchronism with a heart contraction to place a compressive pressure on the heart; and maintaining said balloon in an inflated state during said step of applying to maintain said electrode in electrically conductive contact with the heart of the patient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of generating a pacemaker type periodic voltage, said step of conducting including the step of applying said periodic voltage to the heart via said electrode; and maintaining said balloon in an inflated state during said step of applying to maintain said electrode in electrically conductive contact with the heart of the patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said step of inserting includes the steps of providing a hypodermic type needle, inserting said needle through a skin surface and into said intrapericardial space, and injecting said balloon in said collapsed configuration into said intrapericardial space.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of deflating said balloon upon completion of said step of inflating, also comprising the step of again inflating said balloon upon deflation thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of periodically inflating said balloon upon completion of said step of conducting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said balloon has an arcuate cuff configuration in an inflated configuration, further comprising the step of placing said balloon at least partially around the heart in said intrapericardial space upon completion of said step of inserting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of providing a hypodermic type needle and a dilating device, said step of inserting including the steps of partially inserting said needle through a skin surface and into said intrapericardial space and placing a distal end portion of said dilating device into said intrapericardial space via said needle upon the partial insertion thereof into said intrapericardial space, also comprising the step of expanding said dilating device upon the insertion of the distal end portion thereof into said intrapericardial space, said balloon being inserted into said intrapericardial space through the expanded dilating device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3587567A
Cited
US5169381A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |