Implantable cardioverter
First Claim
1. A body implantable ventricular cardioverter which comprises:
- means for detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia;
means responsive to the detecting means for providing a cardioverting signal, said cardioverting signal having an energy level that is high relative to a typical pacing threshold of 50 microjoules and below 45 joules that is typically necessary for defibrillation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A body implantable ventricular cardioverting system. 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 threshhold 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 threshholds, 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.
70 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A body implantable ventricular cardioverter which comprises:
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means for detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means responsive to the detecting means for providing a cardioverting signal, said cardioverting signal having an energy level that is high relative to a typical pacing threshold of 50 microjoules and below 45 joules that is typically necessary for defibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A body implantable cardioverter which comprises:
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means for detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means responsive to the detecting means for providing a cardioverting signal having an energy level from 5 millijoules to 15 joules; and output means for delivering said cardioverting signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. The method of cardioverting malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias which comprises:
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detecting the onset of a malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia; and delivering, in response thereto, a cardioverting signal having an energy level that is high relative to a typical pacing threshold of 50 microjoules and below 45 joules that is typically necessary for defibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification