Method and device for the intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus

1. A method for intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, in which the coronary sinus is occluded using an occlusion device, fluid pressure in the occluded coronary sinus is continuously measured and stored, a fluid pressure curve is determined as a function of time, and the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered and/or released as a function of at least one characteristic value derived from the measured pressure values, characterized in that a pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time unit each occurring at a heart beat is used as said characteristic value.

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure increase per time unit occurring at a heart beat is determined and the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the pressure increase per time unit of consecutive heartbeats has reached a maximum.

3. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure decrease per time unit occurring at a heart beat is determined and the occlusion is triggered after the pressure increase per time unit of consecutive heart beats has reached a minimum.

4. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that a first derivative of the fluid pressure is calculated with respect to time, that a local maximum each occurring within a heart beat, of the first derivative is determined, and that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the local maxima of consecutive heart beats have reached a maximum.

5. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that first derivative of the fluid pressure is calculated with respect to time, that the local minimum each occurring within a heart beat, of the first derivative is determined, and that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered after the local minima of consecutive heart beats have reached a minimum.

6. A device for the intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus including an occlusion device, a pressure measuring device for continuously measuring a fluid pressure in the occluded coronary sinus, and a memory for storing a fluid pressure curve as a function of time, characterized in that an evaluation circuit is provided for the determination of a pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time unit each occurring at a heart beat, which cooperates with the occlusion device to trigger and/or release the occlusion of the coronary sinus based at least in part on the pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time.

7. A device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the evaluation circuit is configured to determine the pressure increase per time unit each occurring at a heart beat, and cooperates with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the pressure increase per time unit of consecutive heart beats has reached a maximum.

8. A device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the evaluation circuit is configured to determine the pressure decrease per time unit each occurring at a heart beat, and cooperates with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered after the pressure decrease per time unit of consecutive heart beats has reached a minimum.

9. A device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the evaluation circuit is configured to determine a first derivative of the fluid pressure with respect to time as well as the local maximum of the first derivative each occurring within a heart beat, and cooperates with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the local maxima of consecutive heart beats have reached a maximum.

10. A device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the evaluation circuit is configured to determine a first derivative of the fluid pressure with respect to time as well as the local minimum of the first derivative each occurring within a heart beat, and cooperates with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered after the local minima of consecutive heart beats have reached a minimum.

11. A device for the intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus, comprising:

a multi-lumen catheter having an occlusion device along a distal end that is insertable into in a coronary sinus of a heart via an atrium;

a pressure measuring device that measures a fluid pressure in an occluded coronary sinus when the occlusion device provides an occlusion of the coronary sinus;

a memory that stores data indicative of a fluid pressure curve as a function of time based upon the measure fluid pressure in the occluded coronary sinus when the occlusion device provides the occlusion of the coronary sinus; and

control circuitry that determines a pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time unit occurring at consecutive heart beats and that cooperates with the occlusion device to trigger and/or release the occlusion of the coronary sinus based at least in part on the pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the pressure increase per time unit occurring at consecutive heart beats and to cooperate with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the pressure increase per time unit of consecutive heart beats has reached a maximum.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the pressure decrease per time unit occurring at consecutive heart beats and to cooperate with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered after the pressure decrease per time unit of consecutive heart beats has reached a minimum.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a first derivative of the fluid pressure curve with respect to time as well as a local maximum of the first derivative occurring within a heart beat, and the control circuitry being configured to cooperate with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released after the local maxima of consecutive heart beats have reached a maximum.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a first derivative of the fluid pressure with respect to time as well as a local minimum of the first derivative occurring within a heart beat, and the control circuitry being configured to cooperate with the occlusion device in a manner that the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered after the local minima of consecutive heart beats have reached a minimum.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the multi-lumen catheter comprises a balloon inflation lumen that is connectable to a pump.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to deliver control signals to the pump so as to start and stop the pump when connected to the balloon inflation lumen.