Claims
- 1. A method of inserting a magnetic pellet into a myocardial wall of a heart comprising the steps of:
supplying an electromagnetic field to the pellet attached to a distal end of an electromagnetic rod, wherein the rod is positioned within a delivery catheter, wherein the magnetic pellet has a plurality of spring-wings; positioning the magnetic pellet at a target area on the myocardial wall; inserting the pellet into the myocardial wall; removing the electromagnetic field previously supplied to the pellet and thereby causing the spring-wings to open.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the myocardial wall is in the heart's left ventricle.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the myocardial wall is in the heart's right ventricle.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the myocardial wall is a posterior wall or an anterior wall.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field is generated by an external electromagnetic generator, and wherein the external electromagnetic generator is electrically connected to a proximal end of the electromagnetic rod by a wire.
- 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
introducing the delivery catheter to the target area of the myocardial wall by sending the catheter through a femoral artery.
- 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
introducing the delivery catheter to the target area of the myocardial wall by transthoracically sending the catheter through a chest wall.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the pellet into the myocardial wall is performed using an injection syringe positioned at a proximal end of the catheter.
- 9. A method of treating a patient's congestive heart failure comprising the steps of:
positioning a first plurality of spring-winged pellets in a myocardium of an anterior wall of a ventricle of the patient's heart; positioning a second plurality of spring-winged pellets in a myocardium of a posterior wall of a ventricle of the patient's heart; positioning an electromagnetic generator; cyclically generating an electromagnetic field which magnetically interacts with the first and the second plurality of pellets; magnetically pushing, in response to the cyclical electromagnetic field, the first plurality of pellets away from the electromagnetic generator; and magnetically pulling, in response to the cyclical electromagnetic field, the second plurality of pellets toward the electromagnetic generator.
- 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
positioning an EKG monitor on the patient and generating a waveform of the heart's electrical activity; and synchronizing the cyclical electromagnetic field cyclically to correspond to the heart's electrical activity.
- 11. A magnetic pellet adapted to be inserted into a patient's heart comprising:
a contact portion; and a plurality of wings, wherein each wing has a distal end portion hingedly connected to the contact portion, wherein each wing has a proximal end portion, and wherein the proximal end portions of the plurality of wings bend toward each other when an electromagnetic field is applied to the pellet.
- 12. The pellet of claim 11, wherein the pellet is formed of at least one ferromagnetic material.
- 13. The pellet of claim 11, wherein the pellet is formed of at least one diamagnetic material.
- 14. The pellet of claim 11, further comprising:
a polyurethane membrane covering the wings and contact portion.
- 15. The pellet of claim 14, wherein the membrane is vacuum-sealed onto the wings and contact portion.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/285,707 filed on Apr. 24, 2001.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/12703 |
4/23/2002 |
WO |
|
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60285707 |
Apr 2001 |
US |