External noninvasive electric cardiac stimulation
First Claim
1. An external noninvasive electric cardiac stimulation system comprisinga pair of electrodes having nonmetallic skin-contacting members that provide low current density to reduce stimulation of local sensory nerves and resulting pain,a pulse generator electrically connected to said electrodes,said generator including means to provide constant current pulses without high current spikes that cause skeletal muscle contraction,said pulses being greater than 5 milliseconds in duration to reduce the threshold current required for cardiac stimulation, to permit the use of lower current pulses to provide effective stimulation at the same time that skeletal muscle contraction is reduced by the lower current, andmeans to activate said pulse generator to provide said current pulses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Reducing pain from external noninvasive electric cardiac stimulation through the use of electrodes with large-surface, non-metallic, skin-contacting members providing low current density, and also through the use of a pulse generator for the electrodes that provides constant current without spikes throughout a prolonged pulse of greater than 5 milliseconds duration.
59 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An external noninvasive electric cardiac stimulation system comprising
a pair of electrodes having nonmetallic skin-contacting members that provide low current density to reduce stimulation of local sensory nerves and resulting pain, a pulse generator electrically connected to said electrodes, said generator including means to provide constant current pulses without high current spikes that cause skeletal muscle contraction, said pulses being greater than 5 milliseconds in duration to reduce the threshold current required for cardiac stimulation, to permit the use of lower current pulses to provide effective stimulation at the same time that skeletal muscle contraction is reduced by the lower current, and means to activate said pulse generator to provide said current pulses.
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14. A method for providing external noninvasive electric cardiac stimulation comprising
attaching two electrodes to a patient'"'"'s chest, said electrodes having nonmetallic skin-contacting members providing low current density to reduce stimulation of local sensory nerves, and sending electric pulses between said electrodes, said pulses having constant current without high current spikes that cause skeletal muscle contraction and being of greater than 5 milliseconds duration to reduce the threshold current required for cardiac stimulation, to permit the use of lower current pulses to provide effective stimulation at the same that skeletal muscle contraction is reduced at the lower current.
Specification