June 25, 2008 - Cambridge Heart has licensed a patent (7,336,995) for a "Method and Apparatus for Tachycardia Detection and Treatment" from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the terms of its umbrella technology license agreement with MIT, which enables the measurement of T-Wave alternans from implantable devices as part of a strategy to predict arrhythmias before they occur.
This broad patent covers the use of implantable devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators to measure T-Wave Alternans from intra-cardiac signals, and to subsequently initiate therapy in order to prevent the development of arrhythmias which may lead to sudden cardiac death.
Implantable defibrillators currently treat such arrhythmias only after they have been initiated, typically with a high-energy shock. A strategy to predict such rhythms before they occur could allow for preventive strategies, potentially avoiding imminent symptomatic episodes with the delivery of painless therapies.
"This patent is an important addition to Cambridge Heart's intellectual property portfolio and provides coverage for a potentially valuable application of T-Wave Alternans technology in implantable therapeutic devices," said Ali Haghighi-Mood, CEO of Cambridge Heart, Inc. “We plan to explore strategic relationships to capitalize on the value of this IP.”
For more information: www.cambridgeheart.com