Device And Kit For Treatment Of Disorders In The Heart Rhythm Regulation System

Abstract

A tissue cutting device is disclosed, which is structured and arranged to be inserted through the vascular system into a body vessel adjacent to the heart and/or into the heart, and to be subsequently subjected to a change of shape in order to penetrate into the heart tissue. The tissue cutting device may thus be used for treating disorders to the heart rhythm regulation system. A kit of devices provides a plurality of devices for creating a lesion pattern for treating such disorders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable medical device for the treatment of arrhythmia, said device comprising:
 a wire configured to be expandable from a compact delivery shape to a final expanded shape wherein:   the compact delivery shape of the wire is configured for delivery into an atrium of a heart;   the final expanded shape of the wire is configured to position at least a portion of the wire outside said atrium:   the wire is configured such that expansion of the wire to the final expanded shape causes at least a portion of said wire to grow completely through a wall of said atrium and thereby cause lines of scar tissue in said atrium that prevent portions of atrial wall tissue from conducting electrical signals between one another.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wire is made of a shape memory material and said expansion of the wire to the final expanded shape is stimulated a change in temperature and/or release of the wire from a restraining device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said shape memory material is a resorbable shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wire is made of stainless steel or a magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire, in its final expanded shape, forms a spiral that is configured to be positioned outside said atrium. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wire comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, a proteolytic enzyme, a collagenase, cyclosporin, taxiferol, rapamycin, tacrolimus, Endothelium Growth Factor, Heparin, amiodarone, sotalol, an antiarrhythmic drug, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is configured such that expansion of the wire to the final expanded shape causes all of said wire to grow completely through the wall the said atrium. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is one of a plurality of interconnected or braided wires and wherein:
 said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured to be expandable from a compact delivery shape to a final expanded shape;   the compact delivery shape of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured for delivery into an atrium of a heart;   the final expanded shape of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured to position at least a portion of the wire outside said atrium:   said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured such that expansion to the final expanded shape causes at least a portion of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires to grow completely through a wall of said atrium and thereby separate islets of atrial tissue by lines of scar tissue.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of interconnected or braided wires forms a net-like pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured such that expansion to the final expanded shape causes at least a portion of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires to grow completely through a wall of said atrium and thereby cause the formation of a pattern of scar tissue in said atrium that produces islets of atrial wall tissue that do not conduct electrical signals between one another. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the net-like pattern forms a sphere, an ellipsoid, or a cup shape that, in the final expanded shape, is configured to encompass a substantial part of said atrium. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is made of a shape memory material and said expansion of the plurality of interconnected or braided wires to the final expanded shape is stimulated a change in temperature and/or release of the wire from a restraining device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said shape memory material is a resorbable shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said wire is made of stainless steel or a magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interconnected or braided wires comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, a proteolytic enzyme, a collagenase, cyclosporin, taxiferol, rapamycin, tacrolimus, Endothelium Growth Factor, Heparin, amiodarone, sotalol, an antiarrhythmic drug, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interconnected or braided wires is configured such that expansion of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires to the final expanded shape causes the entirety of said plurality of interconnected or braided wires to grow completely through the wall the said atrium.