US Patent Issued to BackBeat Medical on March 4 for "Methods and apparatus to stimulate the heart" (New York, New Jersey Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,239,839, issued on March 4, was assigned to BackBeat Medical LLC (New Hope, Pa.).

"Methods and apparatus to stimulate the heart" was invented by Howard Levin (Teaneck, N.J.) and Mark Gelfand (New York).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by pacing of the heart. Pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in premature atrial contraction that does not result in ventricular contraction. Pacing results in the atrial wall stress, peripheral vasodilation, ANP secretion. Concomitant reduction of the heart ...