Current-based defibrillating method
First Claim
1. A method of treatment of a patient in ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or supraventricular tachycardia, using a resistance, inductance, capacitance discharge pulse and comprising the steps of:
- selecting a particular peak current level suitable for said treatment;
applying a low amplitude exploration current from electrodes forming part of a defibrillating apparatus applied to the chest of said patient and sensing a response voltage developed thereby between said electrodes;
calculating an explored transthoracic resistance from said exploration current and response voltage; and
charging a discharge capacitor of said defibrillating apparatus, based on said selected peak current and explored transthoracic resistance, sufficiently to create a capacitor discharge voltage generative of said selected peak current level, and thereafter discharging said capacitor through said resistance and inductance via said electrodes thereby delivering said selected peak current for treatment of said patient.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for the treatment of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or supraventricular tachycardia. The method being to prospectively ascertain a patient'"'"'s transthoracic resistance by application of a low amplitude current via the apparatus electrodes applied to a patient'"'"'s chest, charging a capacitor of the apparatus sufficiently for delivery of a minimal peak current, e.g., 25 amperes for treatment of ventricular fibrillation preselected by the operator as appropriate for attaining defibrillation, and the capacitor is discharged through the electrodes to effect the defibrillation. The apparatus can be made by modifying conventional direct current defibrillator devices.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of treatment of a patient in ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or supraventricular tachycardia, using a resistance, inductance, capacitance discharge pulse and comprising the steps of:
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selecting a particular peak current level suitable for said treatment; applying a low amplitude exploration current from electrodes forming part of a defibrillating apparatus applied to the chest of said patient and sensing a response voltage developed thereby between said electrodes; calculating an explored transthoracic resistance from said exploration current and response voltage; and charging a discharge capacitor of said defibrillating apparatus, based on said selected peak current and explored transthoracic resistance, sufficiently to create a capacitor discharge voltage generative of said selected peak current level, and thereafter discharging said capacitor through said resistance and inductance via said electrodes thereby delivering said selected peak current for treatment of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an apparatus for treatment of a patient having ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia by delivering a resistance, inductance, capacitance discharge pulse through electrodes applied to the chest of said patient, the improvement comprising:
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selection means for selecting a particular peak current level suitable for said treatment; current generating means connectable to electrodes for generating a low amplitude exploration current through said electrodes when applied to the chest of a patient sensing means for measuring said exploration current and for measuring a response voltage developed between said electrodes by said exploration current; computing means connected to said selection means, said current generating means and said sensing means for applying said exploration current and calculating explored transthoracic resistance from said exploration current and said voltage; charging means connected to said computing means and connectable to a discharge capacitor for charging said capacitor based on said selected peak current level and said calculated explored transthoracic resistance sufficiently to create a discharge pulse generative of said selected peak current level; and means connected to said computing means and said electrodes for applying said discharge pulse to said patient thereby delivering said selected peak current for said treatment. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification