Low-energy defibrillation with nanosecond pulsed electric fields
First Claim
1. A method of defibrillation of a heart comprising:
- using an external system comprising a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator and electrodes; and
,delivering electrical stimulation to terminate fibrillation in the heart experiencing the fibrillation, the electrical stimulation having an electric field sufficient to restore normal electrical activity of the heart but with a reduced defibrillation energy up to 10 times relative to conventional defibrillation, while avoiding ablating heart tissue and without substantial permanent changes in either one or both of action potential duration or diastolic interval,wherein the electrical stimulation comprising at least one or more electrical pulses having a pulse duration from about 1 nanosecond to about 1,000 nanoseconds, and further having pulse amplitudes ranging from about 0.01 kV to about 100 kV.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for terminating fibrillation in a fibrillating heart employing nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are disclosed. nsPEF defibrillation demonstrates its effectiveness as a new defibrillation modality, achieving reliable defibrillation with energies that are an order of magnitude lower than those needed for conventional defibrillation (millisecond shocks with mono- and bi-phasic waveforms). Tests did not reveal any negative effect of nsPEF defibrillation on cardiac tissue, in particular, cardiac tissue treated with nsPEFs does not exhibit a baseline shift in the optical transmembrane potential signal (distinctive feature that indicates electroporation), or changes in action potential duration or shape. The mechanism of nsPEF defibrillation is likely different from conventional defibrillation since it does not rely on membrane charging but on the basis of displacement currents that flow within nanoseconds after the shock is applied. nsPEFs provide the technology for the next generation of defibrillators that help emergency medical services to treat patients effectively.
13 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of defibrillation of a heart comprising:
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using an external system comprising a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator and electrodes; and
,delivering electrical stimulation to terminate fibrillation in the heart experiencing the fibrillation, the electrical stimulation having an electric field sufficient to restore normal electrical activity of the heart but with a reduced defibrillation energy up to 10 times relative to conventional defibrillation, while avoiding ablating heart tissue and without substantial permanent changes in either one or both of action potential duration or diastolic interval, wherein the electrical stimulation comprising at least one or more electrical pulses having a pulse duration from about 1 nanosecond to about 1,000 nanoseconds, and further having pulse amplitudes ranging from about 0.01 kV to about 100 kV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of defibrillation of a heart, comprising:
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delivering electric stimulation to terminate fibrillation in the heart using an external system comprising a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator and electrodes, the electrical stimulation having an electric field sufficient to restore normal electrical activity of the heart but with a reduced defibrillation energy up to 10 times relative to conventional defibrillation, while avoiding ablating heart tissue and without substantial permanent changes in either one or both of action potential duration or diastolic interval; wherein the electric stimulation comprises applying one or more nanosecond pulsed electric fields having a pulse duration from about 1 nanosecond to about 1,000 nanoseconds, and further having pulse amplitudes ranging from about 0.01 kV to about 100 kV. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification