Patent ID: 6450942
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of treating a mammal having a heart and a heart rhythm comprising periodically repeating Q, R, S and T waves of an electrocardiogram, said electrocardiogram exhibiting a repeating QRSTQ heart rhythm, a Q-T systole duration and a T-Q diastole duration, whereby to achieve a heart load reduction said mammal further having a peripheral vascular system, a pulse rate and a systolic pressure resulting from the action of the heart, the method comprising the steps of:measuring said heart rhythm, producing pressure pulsations in said peripheral vascular system by stimulation using a non-invasive or invasive method in synchronization with the heart rhythm in a counterpulsation mode by detecting, for each periodically repeating T-wave, an end of each said T-wave applying stimulating impulses to said peripheral vascular system at times related to the ends of said T-waves lying in the range between âˆ’5% and +10% of a respectively associated Q-T systole duration of said electrocardiogram wherein the duration of said pressure pulsations in the peripheral vascular system for each diastole phase lies between 10% and 25% of a T-Q diastole duration of a mammal undergoing treatment, and varying at least one parameter of an input system generating said pressure pulsations to produce an optimized reduction in at least one of said pulse rate and said systolic pressure and thus a net reduction in said heart load, said heart load being a function of said pulse rate and said systolic pressure.