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 . A method for treating a cardiac arrhythmia, said method comprising:
 delivering a device comprising a fiber-shaped element to a treatment site in a lumen of a vein, an artery, or a chamber of a heart in a delivery state, wherein:   radially expanding said device from said delivery state to an expanded state at the treatment site and conforming the device to a wall of the treatment site; and   expanding the device such that the fiber-shaped element, in the expanded state of the device, expands beyond a normal diameter of the treatment site and thereby stretches the lumen of said treatment site to induce fibrosis of a tissue surrounding said treatment site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising conforming said device to at least one of a pulmonary vein, an ostium of a pulmonary vein, and a left atrium when in said expanded state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising expanding said device to and expanded state that is a ribbon shape, a ring-shape, a tubular shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising expanding said device to and expanded state that comprises one or more outwardly flared portions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising expanding said device to and expanded state that comprises an outwardly flared portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising expanding said device to and expanded state that comprises an outwardly flared portion at an end of said device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising expanding said device to and expanded state that comprises a ring at said end of said device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber-shaped element is made of an elastic material and the method comprises self-expanding said device to said expanded state. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising limiting by said fiber-shaped element an amount of tension against said wall of said treatment site resulting from said expanding of said device to control injury and prevent laceration of tissue at said target site. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , providing by said device a tension against said wall of said treatment site sufficient to induce fibrosis of said tissue surrounding said treatment site. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing the entire device comprised of said fiber-shaped element. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising using the device to place sharp points on tissue at the treatment site to create localized fibrosis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber-shaped element has a variable thickness or diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said device in said expanded state has both a ribbon shape and a ring-shape. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising penetrating prongs or tissue grabbers of the device partially into or completely through a vessel to cause inflammation induced fibrosis. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a cardiac arrhythmia, said method comprising:
 delivering an implantable device to said treatment site in a 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.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said arrhythmia is an atrial fibrillation, a reentrant supraventricular tachycardia, or a ventricular tachycardia, or a junctional tachycardia. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , 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. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , and further comprising determining a size for the expanded state of said implantable device beyond which the device will not expand. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising using the device to place sharp points on tissue at the treatment site to create localized fibrosis. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising penetrating prongs or tissue grabbers of the device partially into or completely through a vessel to cause inflammation induced fibrosis.