System and method for enhancing cardiac signal sensing by cardiac pacemakers through genetic treatment

The present invention relates to systems for and methods of genetically enhancing cardiac signals for use by cardiac pacemakers and, more particularly, for enhancing the signal to noise ratio of atrial P-waves for improved pacemaker sensing. The present invention provides delivery systems for and methods of delivering ion channel protein genetic material to cardiac cells in areas adjacent to where an electrode is to be positioned in a patient's heart to improve or correct the signal to noise ratio of cardiac signals, such as the P-wave. More specifically, there is provided a system and method for delivering sodium ion channel proteins or nucleic acid molecules encoding sodium ion channel proteins to a site in the heart adjacent to an electrode to increase the expression of the same, thereby enhancing the cardiac signal amplitude and enabling improved sensing of cardiac signals by an implanted pacemaker.