Richard G Verrier

US Patent:

20010039410, Nov 8, 2001

Filed:

Jan 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/769439

Inventors:

Richard Verrier - Wellesley Hills MA, US
Sergio Waxman - League City TX, US

International Classification:

A61M031/00
A61M025/00

US Classification:

604/508000, 604/532000

Abstract:

A method and kit for accessing the pericardial space take advantage of the fact that the right auricle is a thin-walled, low-pressure structure which can be readily penetrated without damaging the pericardium or the epicardium. The method includes the step of passing a guide catheter through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart. An infusion guide wire and a leading guide wire are passed through the guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of the leading guide wire is positioned against a wall of the right auricle. The leading guide wire is located within a lumen of the infusion guide wire and protrudes outward, preferably about 2 mm, from a distal end of the infusion guide wire. The wall of the right auricle is then pierced with the distal end of the leading guide wire. After the wall of the right auricle is pierced, at least one of the infusion guide wire and the leading guide wire are advanced into the pericardial space. Once in position, the infusion guide wire and/or the leading guide wire can be used as a conduit over which a desired catheter may be introduced for performing a specific medical procedure. Alternatively, the infusion guide wire and/or the leading guide wire can be used to perform a specific medical procedure without the introduction of an additional device into the pericardial space.

US Patent:

20040215168, Oct 28, 2004

Filed:

Jan 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/762575

Inventors:

Richard Verrier - Wellesley Hills MA, US
Sergio Waxman - Brighton MA, US

Assignee:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61M025/01

US Classification:

604/528000, 600/433000

Abstract:

A method and kit for accessing the pericardial space take advantage of the fact that the right auricle is a thin-walled, low-pressure structure which can be readily penetrated without damaging the pericardium or the epicardium. The method includes the step of passing a guide catheter through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart. An infusion guide wire and a leading guide wire are passed through the guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of the leading guide wire is positioned against a wall of the right auricle. The leading guide wire is located within a lumen of the infusion guide wire and protrudes outward, preferably about 2 mm, from a distal end of the infusion guide wire. The wall of the right auricle is then pierced with the distal end of the leading guide wire. After the wall of the right auricle is pierced, at least one of the infusion guide wire and the leading guide wire are advanced into the pericardial space. Once in position, the infusion guide wire and/or the leading guide wire can be used as a conduit over which a desired catheter may be introduced for performing a specific medical procedure. Alternatively, the infusion guide wire and/or the leading guide wire can be used to perform a specific medical procedure without the introduction of an additional device into the pericardial space.

US Patent:

20050010122, Jan 13, 2005

Filed:

May 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/846845

Inventors:

Bruce Nearing - North Reading MA, US
Richard Verrier - Wellesley Hills MA, US

Assignee:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61B005/0402

US Classification:

600509000

Abstract:

Exercise-induced T-wave alternans (TWA) in coronary artery disease patients reflects significant levels of spatial heterogeneity of repolarization, which may underlie the predictive utility of TWA in estimating risk of sudden cardiac death. A method for assessing spatial heterogeneity of repolarization of a heart of a patient includes the following steps: simultaneously sensing an ECG signal from each of a plurality of spatially separated leads attached to the patient; for a plurality of N beats in each of the ECG signals, identifying a JT interval of each beat; and for corresponding ones of the JT intervals of the ECG signals, calculating a second central moment indicative of spatial heterogeneity of repolarization.

US Patent:

59219408, Jul 13, 1999

Filed:

Nov 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/963871

Inventors:

Richard L. Verrier - Wellesley MA
Bruce D. Nearing - North Kingstown RI

Assignee:

Georgetown University - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61N 50452

US Classification:

600518

Abstract:

The non-invasive, dynamic tracking and diagnosing of cardiac vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation involves analysis of both cardiac electrical stability and the influence of autonomic activity. The magnitude of alternation in an electrocardiogram is indicative of cardiac electrical stability. Alternans are made manifest by applying a physiologic stress such as exercise or behavioral stress to a subject.

US Patent:

55603700, Oct 1, 1996

Filed:

May 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/450143

Inventors:

Richard L. Verrier - Wellesley MA
Bruce D. Nearing - N. Kingstown RI

Assignee:

Georgetown University - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 5468

US Classification:

128705

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for predicting cardiac electrical instability simultaneously assesses T-Wave Alternans and QT Interval Dispersion. T-wave alternation is an excellent predictor of cardiac electrical instability but can be influenced by mechano-electrical coupling. Thus, a measure of alternation has a high degree of sensitivity but a low degree of specificity. The low specificity of alternation is addressed by simultaneously analyzing QT interval dispersion. Dispersion is not a measure of excitable stimulus and is not sensitive to mechano-electrical coupling. The resulting combination of alternans and dispersion yields an accurate predictor of cardiac electrical instability caused by intrinsic factors.

US Patent:

58429972, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/841548

Inventors:

Richard L. Verrier - Wellesley MA
Bruce D. Nearing - North Kingstown RI

Assignee:

Georgetown University - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 50452

US Classification:

600518

Abstract:

A method and an apparatus for the non-invasive, dynamic tracking and diagnosing of cardiac vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation are disclosed. T-wave alternans and heart rate variability are simultaneously evaluated. T-wave alternation is an absolute predictor of cardiac electrical stability. Heart rate variability is a measure of autonomic influence, a major factor in triggering cardiac arrhythmias. By simultaneously analyzing both phenomena, the extent and cause of cardiac vulnerability can be assessed.

US Patent:

59680105, Oct 19, 1999

Filed:

Apr 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/841344

Inventors:

Sergio Waxman - Brighton MA
Richard L. Verrier - Wellesley Hills MA

Assignee:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61M 3100

US Classification:

604 49

Abstract:

A method for placing various types of catheters into the pericardial space takes advantage of the fact that the right auricle is a thin-walled, low-pressure structure which can be readily penetrated without damaging the pericardium or the epicardium. A guide catheter is passed through a selected peripheral vein to establish a transvenous route to the right auricle of the heart. A needle catheter is then passed through the guide catheter and into the right auricle so that a distal end of the needle catheter is positioned against a wall of the right auricle. The wall of the right auricle is then pierced with the needle catheter. A guide wire is advanced through the needle catheter and into the pericardial space. Once in position, the guide wire can be used as a conduit over which a desired catheter may be introduced for performing a specific medical procedure.

US Patent:

59022507, May 11, 1999

Filed:

Mar 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/828633

Inventors:

Richard L. Verrier - Wellesley MA
J. Allan Hobson - Brookline MA
Eric G. Lovett - Framingham MA
Edward F. Pace-Schott - Ipswitch MA

Assignee:

President and Fellows of Harvard College - Cambridge MA
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61B5/0205

US Classification:

600515

Abstract:

A method for determining the sleep state of a patient includes monitoring heart rate variability of the patient and determining sleep state based on the heart rate variability. The method also may include monitoring the frequency of eyelid movements and making the sleep state determination based also on the frequency of eyelid movements. A method for determining respiratory pattern includes monitoring heart rate variability by receiving heart beat signals and determining respiratory pattern from the strength of the signals. A home-based, wearable, self-contained system determines sleep-state and respiratory pattern, and assesses cardiorespiratory risk, of a patient based on the frequency of eyelid movements, the frequency of head movements, and heart rate variability of the patient.