METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
First Claim
1. A method for treating a heart, comprising the step of:
- applying a plurality of pacing pulses at a first atrial pacing location upon detecting atrial fibrillation to convert the atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia;
sensing ventricular intervals while the plurality of pacing pulses are being applied at the first atrial pacing location;
analyzing the ventricular intervals to determine the stability of the ventricular interval; and
delivering a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for treating atrial fibrillation using atrial pacing pulses to convert an atrial fibrillation to non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia prior to delivering a low energy cardioversion/defibrillation shock. The system and method treats atrial fibrillations by first applying a plurality of pacing pulses to the atria which converts the atrial fibrillation to non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia. Ventricular intervals are concurrently sensed and analyzed while the plurality of electrical pacing pulses are being applied. Upon detecting a period of stable ventricular intervals, the system then proceeds to deliver a low-energy cardioverting/defibrillating pulse of electrical energy across the atria of the heart.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for treating a heart, comprising the step of:
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applying a plurality of pacing pulses at a first atrial pacing location upon detecting atrial fibrillation to convert the atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia;
sensing ventricular intervals while the plurality of pacing pulses are being applied at the first atrial pacing location;
analyzing the ventricular intervals to determine the stability of the ventricular interval; and
delivering a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for treating a heart, comprising the step of:
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applying a plurality of pacing pulses having a pacing rate of between approximately 80 to 200 beats per minute, delivered over a time of between approximately 10 to 60 seconds, and an energy level between approximately 5 to 20 times a patient'"'"'s diastolic threshold at a first atrial pacing location to convert an atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia;
sensing ventricular intervals while the plurality of electrical pacing pulses are being applied to the first atrial pacing location;
analyzing the ventricular intervals to determine the stability of the ventricular interval; and
delivering a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system for treating a heart, comprising:
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an implantable housing;
a first atrial catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the first atrial catheter has a first atrial electrode and a first defibrillation electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first atrial electrode and the first defibrillation electrode in a supraventricular region of the heart;
a ventricular catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the ventricular catheter has a first ventricular electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first ventricular electrode in a right ventricular chamber of the heart; and
electronic control circuitry within the implantable housing, connected to the first atrial electrode, the first defibrillation electrode, and the first ventricular electrode and where the electronic control circuitry receives cardiac signals through the first atrial electrode and the first ventricular electrode, and upon detecting atrial fibrillation, delivers a plurality of pacing pulses to convert the atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia, analyzes the ventricular intervals for stability and delivers a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A catheter, comprising:
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an elongate body having a peripheral surface, a proximal end and a distal end, a first atrial electrode, a first defibrillation electrode and a second defibrillation electrode, where the first atrial electrode is positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate body, the first defibrillation electrode spaced apart and longitudinally from the first atrial electrode along the peripheral surface, and the second defibrillation electrode spaced apart and longitudinally from the first defibrillation electrode and the first atrial electrode along the peripheral surface;
a series of lateral deflections in the elongate body that occur generally within a common plane between the proximal end and distal end, and where the first atrial electrode is located on one of the series of lateral deflections;
electrically insulated conductors extending longitudinally within the elongate body from contact ends at the proximal end to the first atrial electrode, the first defibrillation electrode, and the second defibrillation electrode; and
a connector terminal at the proximal end for attaching the proximal end of the elongate body to a housing of an atrial cardioverter/defibrillator. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification