Intra-cardiac left atrial and dual support systems
A system for treating atrial dysfunction, including heart failure and/or atrial fibrillation, that includes one or more pressurizing elements and control circuitry. The one or more pressurizing elements can comprise one or more balloons and can be configured to be positioned in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, of a patient's heart. The one or more pressurizing elements can be coupled to one or more positioning structures that can be configured to position the one or more pressurizing elements in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery. The control circuitry can be configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to decrease or increase pressure and/or volume in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery, in accordance with different phases of the cardiac cycle. The control circuitry can be further configured to operate the one or more pressurizing elements to generate coordinated pressure modifications in the left atrium, and optionally the pulmonary artery.
1 . A method comprising:
inserting a lumen through a right atrium of a heart, across an interatrial septum, and into a right ventricle of the heart, the lumen in fluid communication with a pressurizing element;
anchoring an anchoring structure within a pulmonary artery of the heart, the anchoring structure coupled to the lumen; and
operating the pressurizing element to increase and decrease a relative volume of the right ventricle by increasing and decreasing a pressure within the pressurizing element over multiple cardiac cycles.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring structure comprises an expandable mesh structure.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing and decreasing the pressure within the pressurizing element is based on signals received from one or more pressure sensors.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing and decreasing the pressure within the pressurizing element is based on signals received from one or more electrocardiogram sensors.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the pressurizing element to increase the relative volume of the right ventricle is timed to coincide with at least one of diastole or systole.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the pressurizing element comprises filling the pressurizing element with a liquid or a gas and removing the liquid or the gas from the pressurizing element.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing element is in fluid communication with a pump, the pump configured to supply fluid to the pressurizing element.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pressurizing element is in fluid communication with a second pump, the second pump configured to remove fluid from the pressurizing element.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pump is housed in a wearable external portable unit.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the pump is configured to supply fluid to a pressure reservoir in fluid communication with the pressurizing element.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein operation of the pump is controllable by a control system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the control system is configured to control at least one of: a volume of fluid delivered to the pressurizing element or a duration of fluid delivery to the pressurizing element.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the control system is electrically connected to a user interface, the user interface configured to control operation of the pressurizing element.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a valve is connected to a fluid line between the pressure reservoir and the pressurizing element.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a control system actuates the valve in response to signals received from one or more electrocardiogram sensors or one or more pressure sensors.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing element comprises a balloon.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing element is oval shaped.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing element comprises an anti-thrombotic material.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing element comprises a volume-displacement mechanism.
20 . A method comprising:
inserting a lumen through a right atrium of a heart, across an interatrial septum, and into a right ventricle of the heart, the lumen in fluid communication with a pressurizing element;
anchoring an anchoring structure within a pulmonary artery of the heart, the anchoring structure coupled to the lumen; and
operating the pressurizing element to reduce work required of the right ventricle by increasing and decreasing a pressure within the pressurizing element over multiple cardiac cycles.