Apparatus and method for arrhythmia detection by variations in the transcardiac impedance between defibrillation patches
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring the haemodynamic condition of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
- at least two cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes adapted to be positioned on the outer surface of the ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart generally across the short axis of said ventricles whereby at least the major portion of one of said electrodes is positioned on the left ventricular free wall;
means coupled to said electrodes for sensing normal variations in the transcardiac impedance between said electrodes and determining the magnitude thereof;
means for determining changes in the magnitude of the pulsations of said normal variations of said transcardiac impedance; and
means responsive to said pulsation magnitude changes in normal variations of said transcardiac impedance for providing signals indicative of changes in the haemodynamic condition of the patient'"'"'s heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable device for the treatment of malfunctions of a patient'"'"'s heart is disclosed. The device employs defibrillation patch electrodes positioned on the outer surface of the heart generally outwardly of the left and right ventricles of the heart, in conjunction with a non-polarizing sub-threshold constant current or constant voltage signal and appropriate electronic signal sensing and processing circuitry, to determine changes in variations of the transcardiac impedance of a patient'"'"'s heart, such changes being representative of corresponding changes in the level of haemodynamic compromise of the heart. Bradycardia support pacing therapy, antitachycardia pacing therapy, cardioversion therapy and defibrillation therapy, or no therapy, are selectively initiated by the device, depending on the level of haemodynamic compromise determined to be extent by the device. Conventional electrical function sensing may be employed in conjunction with the sensed changes in variations of the transcardiac impedance to control the device. Corresponding methods of treating malfunctions of a patient'"'"'s heart are also disclosed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring the haemodynamic condition of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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at least two cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes adapted to be positioned on the outer surface of the ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart generally across the short axis of said ventricles whereby at least the major portion of one of said electrodes is positioned on the left ventricular free wall; means coupled to said electrodes for sensing normal variations in the transcardiac impedance between said electrodes and determining the magnitude thereof; means for determining changes in the magnitude of the pulsations of said normal variations of said transcardiac impedance; and means responsive to said pulsation magnitude changes in normal variations of said transcardiac impedance for providing signals indicative of changes in the haemodynamic condition of the patient'"'"'s heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of measuring the haemodynamic condition of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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positioning at least two cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes on the outer surface of the ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart generally across the short axis of said ventricles whereby at least the major portion one of said electrodes is positioned on the left ventricular free wall; sensing normal variations in the transcardiac impedance between said electrodes and determining the magnitude thereof; determining changes in the magnitude of pulsations of said normal variations of said transcardiac impedance; and
,providing signals indicative of changes in the haemodynamic condition of the patient'"'"'s heart responsive to said pulsation magnitude changes in normal variations of said transcardiac impedance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification