Electrical cardiac output forcer
First Claim
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1. A method for forcing cardiac output during hemodynamically compromising malfunction in a patient, comprising:
- (a) detecting the presence of a hemodynamically compromising malfunction in the patient;
(b) delivering a first electrical signal through at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, the first electrical signal including at least one pulse having sufficiently high energy for achieving a defibrillating effect in the patient; and
(c) delivering a second electrical signal through at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, the second electrical signal having energy insufficient to achieve a defibrillating effect in the patient but sufficient to achieve a hemodynamic effect in the patient.
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Abstract
An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. Forcing fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for forcing cardiac output during hemodynamically compromising malfunction in a patient, comprising:
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(a) detecting the presence of a hemodynamically compromising malfunction in the patient;
(b) delivering a first electrical signal through at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, the first electrical signal including at least one pulse having sufficiently high energy for achieving a defibrillating effect in the patient; and
(c) delivering a second electrical signal through at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s body, the second electrical signal having energy insufficient to achieve a defibrillating effect in the patient but sufficient to achieve a hemodynamic effect in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An at least partially implantable device for maintaining some cardiac output of a patient'"'"'s heart during hemodynamically compromising malfunction using electrical forcing fields, comprising:
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a power supply circuit;
a hemodynamically compromising malfunction detector circuit (HCMD) operatively coupled with the power supply circuit;
electrotherapy circuitry operatively coupled with the HCMD and the power supply circuit, and adapted to deliver first type and second type electrotherapy signals to at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s upper body region, wherein the first type electrotherapy signal includes at least one pulse having sufficiently high energy for achieving a defibrillating effect in the patient and the second type electrotherapy signal has energy insufficient to achieve a defibrillating effect in the patient but sufficient to achieve a hemodynamic effect in the patient; and
a controller circuit operatively coupled with the power supply circuit and interfaced with the HCMD and the electrotherapy circuitry, the controller circuit configured to;
recognize a hemodynamically compromising malfunction in the patient based on an indication from the HCMD; and
cause the electrotherapy circuitry to deliver at least one of the first type and second type electrotherapy signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43)
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Specification