Sorin Biomedica Cardio S.p.a.

Other

Sorin Biomedica S.p.a.

Tre Esse Progettazione Biomedica S.r.l.

Medtronic, Inc.

Ela Medical S.a.s.

Sorin Biomedica Cardio Crm S.r.l.

Ministero Dell' Universita' E Della Ricera Scientifica E Tecnologica

Gianni Plicchi

Emanuela Marcelli

Bruno Garberoglio

Guido Gaggini

Giorgio Corbucci

Giancarlo Canducci

Franco Vallana

Fabrizio Renesto

Luigi Silvestri

Tonino Bombardini

Laura Vaccarone

Massimo Ceccarelli

Laura Cercenelli

Mauro Panfili

A device for non-invasive venous-pressure sensing comprises an occlusive element (OC) configured to be applied to a proximal portion of a human limb in order to apply an occlusion pressure thereto, and a dilation-sensing element (VS) configured to be applied to a distal portion of a human limb in order to detect an extent of dilation thereof. The device likewise comprises a control circuit () coupled to the occlusive element (OC) and to the dilation-sensing element (VS). The control circuit () is configured to: —i) control () the occlusive element (OC) in order to apply at least one sub-diastolic occlusion pressure and maintain it for a certain occlusion interval; —ii) obtain () from the dilation-sensing element (VS) a sensing signal; —iii) carry out a check on the sensing signal for a certain variation of the dilation of the distal portion resulting from the fact that the occlusion pressure is removed; and —iv) issue a signal () indicating a venous pressure that is lower than the applied occlusion pressure (P) as a result of the fact that said check indicates a variation in the dilation of the distal portion of the limb resulting from the fact that the occlusion pressure has been removed.

Device for venous-pressure sensing

An active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration. The device collects and analyzes an endocardial acceleration signal (EA), and searches for an optimal pacing configuration based upon a performance index derived from at least one value relating to one and/or the other of the two endocardial acceleration peaks (PEA I, PEA II) over a given heart cycle. Optimization search operates through a scanning of a parameter, e.g., atrio-ventricular delay, and calculation of the surface area underneath the characteristic of the peak amplitude as a function of the scanned parameter (atrioventricular delay).

Active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration

The multilumen catheter ( ) is provided at one end with a needle system ( &prime;) formed by two or more single-lumen needles which are provided with respective discharge openings ( ) and which, via their longitudinal lumina ( ), are connected to corresponding lumina ( ) of the catheter for separate release of a tracer fluid for external image diagnostics systems and therapeutic fluids, for example DNA plasmids. The needles may be both straight or both helical or one of these needles may be straight and the other needle may be helical.

Catheter system for performing intramyocardiac therapeutic treatment

Electrodes can generate electrical stimulation pulses at least one first intensity level and at least one second intensity level. The first and second intensity levels are above and below a given stimulation threshold, respectively. The synchronous or asynchronous delivery of second-level pulses enables the conduction of the atrioventricular node to be modulated by electrotonic effect, for example, to reduce ventricular frequency in the event of atrial fibrillation.

Heart stimulation device with electrotonic inhibition

An implantable dual-chamber pacemaker system has a means for automatic beat-to-beat adjustment of the maximum allowable variation (MAV) of the sensed atrial rate (AR) as a function of the sympatho-vagal balance, switching from an atrial tracking mode of operation (e.g., DDD or DDD(R)) to a non atrial tracking mode (e.g., VDI or VDI(R)) when either an arrhythmic tachycardic rate, exceeding the MAV, or a sinus tachycardic rate, exceeding the maximum tracking atrial rate (MTAR), is detected. The pacemaker provides logic means for continuously determining the atrial rate variation (&Dgr;AR) and the MAV. The MAV defines the upper limit for the &Dgr;AR above which tracking is not allowed, discriminating between physiological rate variations and arrhythmic variations. The pacemaker system can return to an atrial tracking mode of operation if the AR remains under a defined rate for a defined number of cycles.

Implantable heart stimulation system with automatic mode switching controlled by sympatho-vagal balance

An implantable defibrillator apparatus having a plurality of defibrillation electrodes which can be applied to the heart muscle in order to apply electric defibrillation shocks thereto, and a defibrillation-controller for selectively applying respective electric defibrillation shocks to the electrodes preferably sequentially in time and in synchronism with the QRS.

Implantable atrial defibrillator apparatus

A device for locating an electrode used in endocardial treatment comprises further electrode means to be positioned inside the heart together with the electrode, the further electrode means being able to adopt a geometrical arrangement defining a system of spatial coordinates. Polarization means are provided for applying respective electrical signals to at least one of the electrode and the further electrode means, as well as detector means connected to the electrode and to the further electrode means for detecting the potential established between the electrode and the further electrode means as a result of the application of the electrical signals. Measuring means sensitive to the potential are capable of determining, on the basis of the potential, the position of the electrode relative to the system of spatial coordinates defined by the further electrode means.

Device for locating endocardial electrodes

An implantable defibrillator apparatus having a plurality of defibrillation electrodes which can be applied to the heart muscle in order to apply electric defibrillation shocks thereto, and defibrillation-control means for selectively applying respective electric defibrillation shocks to the electrodes preferably sequentially in time and in synchronism with the QRS.

Implantable defibrillator apparatus

The device senses Natural Heart Acceleration (NHA), isolating at least one segment (t) thereof corresponding to an isovolumetric phase, such as isovolumetric contraction (P1, P2) and/or isovolumetric relaxation (P3, P4). Preferentially, the action of isolation of the aforesaid segment is made starting from the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Among other things, the device may be used to carry out pacing functions (pacemaker, defibrillator, pacer cardioverter defibrillator) and/or to pick up, possibly by telemetry, data on the myocardial function and/or also to control a system of drug administration.

Device for determining myocardial function and corresponding procedure

A cardiac pacemaker having switching circuitry for dynamically re-assigning the electrical function of a plurality of electrodes coupled thereto. The pacemaker is provided with switching circuitry for allowing the sensing signals from a plurality of implanted electrodes may be selectively applied to sensing and detection circuitry in the pacemaker. Controller circuitry in the pacemaker controls the operation of the switching circuits and of a rheography current pulse generator such that a plurality of time slots are defined during a sensing interval. During successive time slots, a different electrical function may be assigned to the same electrode. Also disclosed is a method of operating such a pacing system.

Time sharing multipolar rheography apparatus and method

An electronic circuit included in a pacer detects the impedance between two electrodes connected to it and made up by the conducting part of the pacer case (B) and by an auxiliary subcutaneous lead placed in the chest or by an electrode placed on the insulating part (C) of the case itself. The changing geometry of the chest, due to pulmonary ventilation, determines the impedance variations. The electronic circuit, by processing the impedance signal is able to automatically adjust the stimulation rate of the ventricle and/or of the atrium between minimum and maximum preset values according to the activity levels of the patient.

Minute ventilation dependent rate responsive pacer

A low electric energy consumption circuit to detect parameters associated to the patient's respiration, suitable for the realization of implantable devices, such as implantable and physiologic pacemakers, is designed to detect, at the same sample rate of the impedance in a part of the patient's body, the voltage variations V (.DELTA.ZL) corresponding to said impedance with both negative and positive variations from the base line. According to a first scheme, these variations V' (.DELTA.ZL) are subsequently processed by means that produce a clean V.sub.OUT signal, e.g. a squared one, which shows a transition every time that the difference between minimum value and maximum value and maximum value and minimum value of the input signal exceeds a fixed a preferably programmable value. According to a second scheme, said variations V' (.DELTA.ZL) are processed by means producing a signal proportional to the variation speed of the body impedance and by means producing a signal Vm (.DELTA.ZL) that is the mean value or the average of the values of the input signal and that is proportional to the patient's pulmonary ventilation (l/min).

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Bologna, Italy

Gianni Plicchi