Methods and systems for treating ventricular fibrillation
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one shock using only a right ventricular electrode configuration that comprises a right ventricular electrode and a second electrode that does not include an electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium; and
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one additional shock using a different electrode configuration that includes at least one electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments provide methods and devices (e.g. ICDs) for treating ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillation therapy can be administered in which at least a first shock is administered by an electrode that is implanted in the right ventricle. The first shock need not use an electrode that resides within or near the atria (e.g. an SVC coil), thus reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation that can be brought on by administering shocks from within the atria. If the first shock (or subsequent shocks originating from within the right ventricle) is unsuccessful, then the ICD device can automatically connect an additional electrode (e.g. an electrode that resides within or near the right atrium) and deliver additional shocks to attempt to treat the ventricular fibrillation. In this manner, the risk of atrial fibrillation is initially lowered, yet there is no meaningful reduction in the ability to defibrillate the patient.
30 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one shock using only a right ventricular electrode configuration that comprises a right ventricular electrode and a second electrode that does not include an electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium; and
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one additional shock using a different electrode configuration that includes at least one electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A stimulation device comprising:
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memory;
one or more processors;
instructions in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;
monitor a patient for ventricular fibrillation;
responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administer at least one shock using an electrode configuration that includes at least one right ventricular electrode but does not include an electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium; and
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administer at least one additional shock using a different electrode configuration that comprises at least one electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s right atrium. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one shock using a right ventricular electrode configuration that comprises a right ventricular electrode and a pulse generator housing, said at least one shock being administered at a first shock energy level; and
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one additional shock using a different electrode configuration that comprises at least the right ventricular electrode and a superior vena cava electrode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one shock using a right ventricular electrode configuration that comprises at least one right ventricular electrode, said at least one shock being administered at a first shock energy level;
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering one or more additional shocks using the right ventricular electrode configuration at increasingly greater shock energy levels; and
responsive to (a) the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation and (b) a shock energy level that has been or will be used to administer a shock satisfying an energy level threshold relationship, administering at least one additional shock using a different electrode configuration that comprises at least one electrode within the patient'"'"'s heart that is not a right ventricular electrode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering at least a first shock using only a right ventricular electrode configuration that includes a right ventricular coil electrode and a second electrode that is not proximate a patient'"'"'s right atrium;
responsive to (a) the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation and (b) administering a predefined number of shocks using only the right ventricular electrode configuration, administering at least one shock using a different electrode configuration that includes at least one electrode proximate the patient'"'"'s heart that is not a right ventricular electrode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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responsive to a patient experiencing ventricular fibrillation, administering a first shock using only a right ventricular coil electrode and a pulse generator housing electrode, the first shock being administered at a first shock energy level;
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering a second shock using only the right ventricular coil electrode and the pulse generator housing electrode, the second shock being administered at a second shock energy level that is greater than the first shock energy level; and
responsive to the patient continuing to experience ventricular fibrillation, administering at least one additional shock using an electrode configuration comprising the right ventricular coil electrode and a superior vena cava coil electrode, said at least one additional shock being administered at a third shock energy level that is greater than the second shock energy level. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification