Multi-path transthoracic defibrillation and cardioversion
First Claim
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1. A transthoracic defibrillator for external defibrillation, the defibrillator comprising:
- three or more electrodes configured to be attached to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
cables to connect the three or more electrodes to a defibrillator circuit contained in a defibrillator housing;
wherein the defibrillator circuit has the capability to deliver a different defibrillation waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths.
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Abstract
External electromagnetic stimulation of the interior of the body by applying three or more electrodes to the exterior of the patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the interior of the patient, determining impedance information representative of an impedance distribution across the interior of the body, delivering an electromagnetic waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths, wherein at least one parameter of the waveform is selected using the impedance information to produce a selected current density distribution at one or more locations within the interior of the body.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A transthoracic defibrillator for external defibrillation, the defibrillator comprising:
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three or more electrodes configured to be attached to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
cables to connect the three or more electrodes to a defibrillator circuit contained in a defibrillator housing;
wherein the defibrillator circuit has the capability to deliver a different defibrillation waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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30. A method of external electromagnetic stimulation of the interior of the body, the method comprising:
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applying three or more electrodes to the exterior of the patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the interior of the patient;
determining impedance information representative of an impedance distribution across the interior of the body;
delivering an electromagnetic waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths, wherein at least one parameter of the waveform is selected using the impedance information to produce a selected current density distribution at one or more locations within the interior of the body. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of performing transthoracic defibrillation, comprising:
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attaching three or more electrodes to the thorax of a patient to establish a plurality of electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient; and
delivering a defibrillation waveform across each of at least two of the electrical paths;
wherein the area of each of the electrodes through which the waveforms are delivered is less than 70 percent of the projected area of the heart, and the sum of the areas of the electrodes on the same side of the thoracic cavity is greater than 80 percent of the projected area of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of performing transthoracic defibrillation, comprising:
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attaching three or more electrodes to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
delivering a biphasic or multiphasic defibrillation waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths, wherein under at least some circumstances the multiphasic waveforms delivered are different for the at least two electrical paths. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A defibrillation electrode comprising
a first electrical wire for conveying a defibrillation pulse to or from the electrode; -
a metallic layer connected to the electrical cable;
a conductive, skin-contacting layer for conveying the pulse from the metallic layer to the skin;
an ultrasound sensor; and
a second electrical wire for connecting the ultrasound sensor to an ultrasound imaging circuit.
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62. A method of performing transthoracic defibrillation, comprising:
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attaching three or more electrodes to the thorax of a patient to establish a plurality of electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
using at least two different defibrillation circuits to generate at least two generally different defibrillation waveforms;
delivering one of the at least two different defibrillation waveforms across each of the at least two electrical paths, and synchronizing delivery of the at least two defibrillation waveforms by communications between the at least two different defibrillation circuits. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification