BACKGROUND

Despite 30 years of efforts to pace the fetal heart and improve overall fetal survival, there has yet to be a successful fetal pacemaker.

To date, fetal pacemakers have been designed based on the same concepts used for adult pacemakers. Specifically, designs for fetal pacemakers have used an electrode connected to the battery unit via a long lead. The electrode is contacted with the fetal heart tissue, and the battery unit is placed outside of the uterus.

This design has uniformly met with rapid failure due to movement of the fetus in the uterus. This movement dislodges the electrode from the fetal heart tissue.

TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION

Provides a solution to the need for an improved fetal cardiac pacemaker. Also serves as an improved cardiac pacemaker suitable for infants, children and adults.

When used in a fetus, the pacemaker can be implanted in utero without significant harm to the developing fetus or the mother. It can function for extended periods of time without dislodging or otherwise failing.

When designed for infants, children or adults, the pacemaker can be implanted quickly and under conditions that might otherwise preclude successful implantation of a pacemaker.

Like the fetal pacemaker, this pacemaker can be implanted without significant harm to the patient and can function for extended periods of time.

The implantation method the device uses already is being applied in fetal surgery.

The inventors are a team of clinical experts who are dedicated to putting this device into clinical use:

Dr. Ramen Chmait, director of Fetal Therapy and Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery at the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health (IMFH), is a leading surgeon in the country in the area of fetal surgery.

Dr. Mark Sklansky, director of Fetal Cardiology for the IMFH and for the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital,is a pioneer
of three-dimensional fetal cardiac imaging.

Dr. Mike Silka and Dr. Yaniv Bar-Cohen are pediatric electrophysiologists with expertise in pacemaker therapy.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

Seeking to partner with engineers that can help build this device for testing at Children’s Hospital and USC

IP Protection:
PCT application pending

File Number: 2009-001 

Web site: http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.474061...

Disease: Cardiovascular and Circulatory System

Other Information:

Principal Investigator:
Yaniv Bar-Cohen, MD

Additional Investigators:
Ramen Chmait, MD
Michael Silka, MD
Mark Sklansky, MD

Contact:
Jessica L. Rousset, Director
Email: JRousset@chla.usc.edu
Phone: 323.361.4531