Anti-Arrhythmia Devices And Methods Of Use

Abstract

An apparatus and method of use are disclosed for treating, preventing and terminating arrhythmias. In particular, the apparatus is implantable within or on various tissues and structures and is used to prevent or block conduction of aberrant impulses. A variety of methods of the present invention may be used to attack arrhythmias by short-circuiting impulses, inducing fibrosis, ablating tissue or inducing inflammation. In addition, the device and methods may also be used to treat aneurysms. The device may also be used to treat hypertension, and to function as a blood pressure regulator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable device for treating a cardiac arrhythmia, said device comprising:
 a fiber-shaped element sized and shaped to be delivered to a treatment site in a lumen of a vein, an artery, or a chamber of a heart:   said device comprises a delivery state and an expanded state and is configured to be radially expanded from said delivery state to said expanded state at the treatment site to conform to a wall of the treatment site;   at least a treatment component of the fiber-shaped element, in the expanded state of the device, expands beyond a normal diameter of the treatment site to stretch the lumen of said treatment site and thereby induce fibrosis a tissue surrounding said treatment site.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said target site is selected from a pulmonary vein, an ostium of a pulmonary vein, and a left atrium. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device has a ribbon shape, a ring-shape, a tubular shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said device comprises one or more outwardly flared portions. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises an outwardly flared portion an end of said device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said outwardly flared portion comprises a ring at said end of said device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber-shaped element is made of an elastic material and the device is configured to self-expand to said expanded state. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said fiber-shaped element is constructed to limit expansion of said device to control injury and prevent laceration of tissue at said target site. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fibrosis of said tissue surrounding said treatment site involves cell death in said tissue surrounding said treatment site. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the entire device is comprised of said treatment component of said fiber-shaped element. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a cardiac arrhythmia, said method comprising:
 delivering an implantable device according to  claim 1  to said treatment site in said lumen of a vein, an artery, or a chamber of a heart;   expanding said device to its expanded shape to stretch a diameter of said treatment site and thereby induce fibrosis of a tissue surrounding said treatment site that causes electrical decoupling of said tissue wherein said stretching secures said implant in place at said treatment site.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said arrhythmia is an atrial fibrillation, a reentrant supraventricular tachycardia, or a ventricular tachycardia, or a junctional tachycardia. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , and further wherein said implantable device is configured for permanent placement at said treatment site and maintains a diameter of said treatment site in a stretched state. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , and further comprising determining a size for the expanded state of said implantable device beyond which the device will not expand.