Cardiac function monitor and/or intervention system attached outside or inside of heart

Abstract

A surface attached cardiac function monitor and/or intervention system comprises of a cardiac support device, a cardiac function monitor device and/or intervention device. Cardiac support device is attached on an external or internal surface of a cardiac chamber and supports it. The cardiac function monitor device is connected with a biochemical and physiological sensor. The physiological and biochemical sensor transmits variations of biochemical and physiological parameters that are received by the cardiac function monitor device. The intervention device has at least one member selected from pressure intervention device, an electrical/magnetic stimulation intervention device and a medicine intervention device. This medical system of the present invention could help in diagnosis as well as treatment of the heart failure and other myocardial diseases to improve the condition of patient. It could also be helpful for the monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of lungs, kidney, liver, spleen, stomach and bladder, etc.

Claims

1. A surface attached cardiac function monitor and/or intervention system comprising a cardiac support device and a cardiac function monitor device and/or a intervention device; wherein the cardiac support device adheres on an internal or external surface of a cardiac chamber and supports the cardiac chambers; the cardiac function monitor device is connected with a physiological and biochemical sensor; the intervention device has at least one component selected from a pressure intervention device, an electrical/magnetic stimulation intervention device or a medicine intervention device; wherein the pressure intervention device comprises a liquid delivery tube and a liquid perfusion device; the electrical/magnetic stimulation intervention device comprises an intervention or stimulation electrical/magnetic device, wires and a power output device; the medicine intervention device comprises a microsyringe, a medicine loading device, and medicine delivery tubes; one component selected from the physiological and biochemical sensors, the liquid delivery tubes, the intervention or stimulation electrical/magnetic devices or the microsyringes is embedded in the tube walls, filled in the aperture of the tube walls or adhered on an internal or external surface of the cardiac support device.

2. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cardiac support device is a cardiac tube-network.

3. The system, as recited in claim 2, wherein the cardiac tube-network is a soft, elastic and end-sealed tube-network made of hollow tubes, which are completely communicated or form a plurality of independent areas, and the interior of each independent area is intercommunicating while the independent areas are not communicating with each other, the cardiac tube-network has at least one open end extending out of human body.

4. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the physiological and biochemical sensor transmits variations in physiological and biochemical parameters to the cardiac function monitor device in vitro; wherein the physiological and biochemical parameters on internal or external surface of the heart are cardiac-electric voltage, PH value, temperature, color, cardiac wall tension, cardiac chamber internal pressure, blood flow of cardiac chamber and hemodynamics of cardiac chamber.

5. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cardiac function monitor device is selected from a cardiac-electric monitor device and a multi-channel physiological recorder.

6. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the physiological and biochemical sensor is a tension sensor, a pressure sensor, a PH sensor, a color sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor and a cardiac-electric conduction electrode.

7. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein an output of the electrical/magnetic stimulation intervention device is electric energy or electromagnetic energy.

8. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the medicine is selected from any group of medicine like diuretic, cardiotonic, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker, -adrenergic blocker, anticoagulant, vasodilator, anti-myocardial ischemia drug, coronary-dilating drug and stem cells.

9. The system, as recited in claim 8, wherein the medicine is selected from the group of: sodium ferulate injection, esmolol hydrochloride injection, composite salvia miltiorrhiza injection, ligustrazine injection, breviscapine injection, safflower injection, shuxuening injection, buflomedil hydrochloride injection, puerarin injection, ginkgo dipyridamole injection, ligustrazine glucose injection, astragalus injection, Shenmai injection, nitroglycerin injection, isosorbide dinitrate injection, low molecular weight heparin calcium injection, fibrinolysis enzyme for injection, defibrase for injection, urokinase for injection, cardiac stem cells, bone marrow stem cells and embryonic stem cells.

10. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cardiac support device is made of conductive material of hydrogel, silica gel or degradable biocompatible materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 is a sketch view of a surface attached cardiac function monitor system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 2 is a section view of a tube of a cardiac tube-network attached with a physiological and biochemical sensor.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a sketch view of the cardiac function monitor system attached with multiple types of sensors.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a sketch view of a surface attached hydraulic-type cardiac function intervention system.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a sketch view of a surface attached electrical/magnetic-stimulation cardiac function intervention system.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a sketch view of a surface attached drug-delivery-type cardiac function intervention system.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a sketch view of a surface attached cardiac function monitor and intervention system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0061] A concrete process of the present invention is illustrated combining with the preferred embodiments. It is understood that the embodiment of the present invention as is shown in the drawings and described in the words is exemplary rather than limiting.

[0062] Objectives of this new invention have been fully and effectively explained. Its embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

[0063] In the preferred embodiments below, the conventional methods and processes are not described in detail.

[0064] Further description of the present invention is illustrated by combining with the preferred embodiments.

[0065] Materials, reagents, apparatuses, equipment and etc. mentioned in the preferred embodiments below are all commercially available if no specific description is made.

Embodiment 1

Preparation of a Cardiac Tube-Network

[0066] It comprises following steps:

(1) performing computer-aided design (CAD) modeling using a conventional method in the field, wherein designs could be derived from digitized image reconstruction on a heart of a patient, e.g., image data could be obtained from finely layered three-dimensional reconstruction or scanning techniques like MRI or CT;
(2) by utilizing liquid silicone, latex, conductive hydrogel, silicone, rubber or polymer plastic materials, printing the cardiac tube-network by a three-dimensional printing technology;
Or alternatively,
{circle around (1)} manufacturing a solid structure of the device by a 3D printing device utilizing different materials like blue, green, red, black and white wax;
{circle around (2)} soaking the solid structure of the blue wax into liquid silicone, latex, conductive hydrogel, silicone, rubber or polymer plastic material for 1 s to 24 hours;
{circle around (3)} coating with curing agent to form a membrane shaped structure; or it is exposed to a temperature ranging from 0 to 10000 C. for is to 240 hours to be cured;
{circle around (4)} after curing, removing the solid material in the device such as solidified blue wax, in such a way that the membrane shaped structure turns to a hollow and interconnected tubular network structure.
{circle around (5)} washing membrane shaped structure with a solvent, in such a way that an inner and outer surface of membrane becomes smooth and soft.
{circle around (6)} doing additional surface treatment to improve smoothness of the inner and outer surface, and the flexibility and mechanical strength of the whole structure of the device of the present invention.

Embodiment 2

[0067] A surface attached cardiac function monitor and/or intervention system comprises of a cardiac support device and a cardiac function monitor device and/or a cardiac function intervention device;

[0068] The cardiac support device is a cardiac tube-network. Structure is shown in FIG. 1, 1cardiac tube-network; 2physiological and biochemical sensor, 3wire, 4cardiac function monitor device.

[0069] The cardiac support device is attached on an external surface of a ventricle or an atrium or adhered on an internal surface of the cardiac chamber. The cardiac function monitor device is connected with the physiological and biochemical sensor which could be embedded in the tube walls, filled in the aperture of the tube walls or adhered on an internal or external surface of the cardiac support device.

Embodiment 3

[0070] The basic structure is identical to the embodiment 2. Tube-network is composed of hollow tubes. All the hollow tubes are completely communicated or form a plurality of independent regions. It is intercommunicated within the region, and is not communicated between the regions. The wire of the physiological and biochemical sensor passes through the hollow tube of the tube-network and connects the function monitor device on one end of the tube-network. The structure is shown in FIG. 2, when the tube-network is attached on an external surface of the ventricle/atrium, the physiological and biochemical sensor is adhered on an internal side (see FIG. 2a) of the tube-network; and when the mesh is adhered on an internal surface of the internal cardiac chamber, the physiological and biochemical sensor is adhered on an external side of the tube-network (see FIG. 2b).

Embodiment 4

[0071] The basic structure is identical to the embodiment 2 and embodiment 3. pressure sensors with various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal or an external side of the tube-network. The sensitivity of the pressure sensor ranges from 10.sup.10 to 10.sup.10 pa. The sensor senses levels or intensity of the pressure on a surface of the cardiac chamber, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of the surface pressure or intensity of the pressure in cardiac chamber, furthermore, indirectly deduce the level and variation of the internal pressure in the cardiac chambers.

Embodiment 5

[0072] The basic structure is identical to the embodiment 2 and embodiment 3. Tension sensors of various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal or external side of the tube-network. The sensitivity of the tension sensor is within range of 10.sup.10-10.sup.10 Newtons. The sensor senses levels or intensity of the tension on a surface of the ventricle, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of ventricular wall tension, furthermore, indirectly deduce the level and variation of the tension in cardiac chamber wall.

Embodiment 6

[0073] The basic structure is identical to the embodiment 2 and embodiment 3. PH sensors of various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal or external side of the tube-network. Sensitivity of the PH sensor is between 10.sup.10-10.sup.10. The sensor senses variation of PH on a internal or external surface of the cardiac chamber, and transmits signals via wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of PH of ventricular internal or external surface, furthermore, indirectly deduce the level and variation of the metabolic condition of myocardium in the cardiac chamber wall.

Embodiment 7

[0074] The basic structure is identical to the Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3. Color sensors with various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal side or an external side of the tube-network. Sensitivity of the color sensor is within range of 10.sup.10-10.sup.10 m optical wave. The color sensor senses color variation on the surface of ventricle, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of color on the internal or external surface of ventricle, furthermore, indirectly deduce the level and variation of the severity of ventricle ischemic condition. In general, the more severe is the myocardial ischemia, lighter is the color of cardiac muscle in this part; the more is the perfusion of the oxygenated blood in cardiac muscle, the more red is the color of cardiac muscle in this part; and the more is the perfusion of the deoxygenated blood in cardiac muscle, the more purple and dark is the color of cardiac muscle in this part.

Embodiment 8

[0075] The basic structure is identical to the Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3. Flow sensors of various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal or an external side of the tube-network. The sensitivity of the flow sensor ranges within 10.sup.10-10.sup.10 L/min. The function of flow sensor is to sense blood flow of the cardiac chambers, and transmits signals via wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring the blood flow of the cardiac chambers, furthermore, indirectly deduce the severity of ventricle ischemic condition. In general, the severity of myocardial ischemia is inversely related to both the blood flow in ventricles and cardiac function, i.e., in the case of severe myocardial ischemia, the more severe is the myocardial ischemia, the lower would be the flow rate in the cardiac chamber, and resultantly the poorer would be cardiac function.

Embodiment 9

[0076] The basic structure is identical to the Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3. Temperature sensors with various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m are adhered on an internal or external side of the tube-network. Sensitivity of the color sensor ranges within 10.sup.10-10.sup.10 C. The temperature sensor senses temperature variation on the internal or external surface of ventricle, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of temperature on the internal or external surface of ventricle, furthermore, indirectly deduce the severity of ventricle ischemic condition. In general, the higher is the degree of myocardial ischemia, the lower would be temperature in this specific part of cardiac muscle; meanwhile, the more is the perfusion of oxygenated blood in cardiac muscle, the higher would be the temperature of cardiac muscle in this part.

Embodiment 10

[0077] The basic structure is identical to the Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3. Cardiac-electric conduction electrode of various sizes within range of 1 nm-100 m is adhered on an internal or external side of the tube-network. A sensitivity of the cardiac-electric conduction electrode-ranges from 10.sup.10 to 10.sup.10 V. The function of cardiac-electric conduction electrode is to sense levels or variations of the voltage on an internal or external surface of the cardiac chamber, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of the voltage of the internal or external surface of the cardiac chamber.

Embodiment 11

[0078] Basic structure is identical to the Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3. Magnetic field sensor of various sizes within the range of 1 nm-100 m is adhered on an internal side or an external side of the tube-network. Sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor is within range of 10.sup.10-10.sup.10 Tesla. The function of magnetic field sensor is to sense the magnetic field on a internal or external surface of the cardiac chamber, and transmits signals via a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to a multi-channel recorder, to achieve a real-time, dynamic and continuous monitoring of the magnetic field of the internal or external surface of the cardiac chamber.

Embodiment 12

[0079] At least two types of structures in the Embodiments 4-11, comprise at least two types of sensors which may be a pressure sensor, a PH sensor, color sensor, temperature sensor, flow sensor or a cardiac-electric conduction electrode. Wires from multiple sensors pass through hollow tubes in a tube-network to transmit signals to a multi-channel electrophysiology recorder. The structure is as shown in FIG. 3. 1cardiac tube-network; 2atension sensor, pressure sensor or flow sensor; 2bcardiac-electric conduction electrode; 2ccolor sensor; 2dPH sensor; 2etemperature sensor; 3wire; 4multi-channel physiology recorder (cardiac function monitor device).

Embodiment 13

[0080] Surface attached cardiac function intervention system comprises of cardiac tube-network and a liquid perfusion device. The cardiac tube-network is adhered on the internal or external surface of one or more cardiac chambers. The tube-network is composed of hollow tubes. All the hollow tubes are completely communicated or form a plurality of independent regions, which is intercommunicated within the region, but it is not communicated between the regions. The hollow tube serves as a liquid transmission tube for the pressure intervention, and end of the tube-network is connected with an external liquid perfusion device. The structure is as shown in FIG. 4: 1cardiac tube-network; 7liquid perfusion device.

Embodiment 14

[0081] Surface attached cardiac function intervention system comprises of a cardiac tube-network, electrical/magnetic stimulation devices, an electrical/magnetic power output device and wire. The cardiac tube-network is adhered on an internal or external surface of one or more cardiac chambers. The tube-network is composed of hollow tubes. All of the hollow tubes are completely communicated or form a plurality of independent regions, which is intercommunicated within the region, but it is not communicated between the regions. An electrical/magnetic stimulation device is adhered on an internal or external surface of the tube-network, passes through a wire in a hollow tube inside the tube-network to connect an electrical/magnetic power output device. The structure is as shown in FIG. 5, wherein 1cardiac tube-network; 5electrical/magnetic stimulation device; 6wire; 7electrical/magnetic power output device.

Embodiment 15

[0082] Surface attached cardiac function intervention system comprises of a cardiac tube-network, medicine loading devices, microsyringes and medicine delivery tubes. Cardiac tube-network is adhered on an internal or external surface of one or more cardiac chambers. The tube-network is composed of hollow tubes. All of the hollow tubes are completely communicated or form a plurality of independent regions, which is intercommunicated within the region, but it is not communicated between the regions. The medicine intervention device comprises of a medicine loading device and a microsyringe connected with the medicine loading device by a medicine delivery tube. The microsyringe is adhered on an internal or external surface of the tube-network. Tube-network is hollow and acts as a delivery tube or the medicine delivery tube of the microsyringe passes through the hollow tube inside the tube-network to connect with an external medicine loading device. The structure is as shown in FIG. 6, wherein 1cardiac tube-network, 5microsyringe; 6medicine delivery tube; 7medicine loading device.

Embodiment 16

[0083] Surface attached cardiac function intervention system comprises of at least two structures selected from the embodiments 13-15 such as a pressure intervention device, an electrical/magnetic stimulation device and a medicine intervention device. When the hollow tubes of tube-network serves as a liquid delivery tube of the pressure intervention device or a medicine delivery tube of the medicine intervention device, or wires of electrical/magnetic intervention or stimulation device, other wires or delivery tubes could be distributed on an internal or external side of the tube-network, so as to be connected with an external device via tube-network end.

Embodiment 17

[0084] A cardiac function monitor and intervention system attached outside or inside of the heart comprises of at least one structure selected from the embodiments 3-12 plus at least one structure selected from embodiments 13-16, whose structure is as shown in FIG. 7, wherein 1cardiac tube-network; 2physiological and biochemical sensor; 3wire of the physiological and biochemical sensor, 4cardiac function monitor device; 5microsyringe or electrical/magnetic stimulation electrode; 6medicine delivery tube and/or wire of the electrical/magnetic stimulation device and/or liquid delivery tube; 7medicine loading device and/or power output device and/or liquid perfusion device.

Embodiment 18

[0085] Surface attached cardiac function intervention system from the embodiments 1-17 comprises of two or more components. One component could be set inside or outside another one or ones to get better or more inward force. Outside component or components is or are harder than inside one or ones.