Implantable cardioverter
First Claim
1. A body implantable cardioverter which comprises:
- means for detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia;
means for detecting a predetermined progression of said malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia;
means responsive to said onset detecting means for providing a first cardioverting signal having an energy level that is high relative to a typical pacing threshold of 50 microjoules but below 45 joules that is typically necessary for defibrillation; and
means responsive to said progression detecting means for providing a second cardioverting signal having an energy level higher than the energy level of said first cardioverting signal.
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Abstract
A body implantable ventricular cardioverter. Circuitry is provided which detects the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia and provides a cardioverting signal in response thereto. The cardioverting signal has an energy level that is high relative to the pacing threshold but below that necessary for defibrillation. In this manner, a ventricular tachyarrhythmia can be cardioverted before the onset of fibrillation and at a lower energy than required for defibrillation. Dependent on such factors as patient thresholds, the tissue/electrode interface and the electrode system employed, the energy level of the cardioverting signal is from 5 millijoules to 15 joules. The system can be configured such that increasingly malignant tachyarrhythmias result in higher energy cardioverting signals, including signals capable of defibrillation. Successful cardioversion with a signal having an energy level lower than necessary for defibrillation reduces the physical damage to the heart as well as the trauma to and discomfort of the patient.
397 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A body implantable cardioverter which comprises:
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means for detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means for detecting a predetermined progression of said malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means responsive to said onset detecting means for providing a first cardioverting signal having an energy level that is high relative to a typical pacing threshold of 50 microjoules but below 45 joules that is typically necessary for defibrillation; and means responsive to said progression detecting means for providing a second cardioverting signal having an energy level higher than the energy level of said first cardioverting signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification