Apparatus and method for antitachycardia pacing using a virtual electrode
First Claim
1. An implantable device for treating cardiac arrhythmias in a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
- detecting means for detecting a tachycardia having a site of focus in the heart;
an electrode system including at least three electrodes for delivering antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart;
means for determining the relative distances of said electrodes from said tachycardia focus site;
antitachycardia pacing therapy means for supplying antitachycardia pacing therapy to said electrodes;
orienting means responsive to said relative distances determining means for connecting at least three selected ones of said at least three electrodes to said antitachycardia pacing therapy means in such a manner as to create a virtual electrode at or near said tachycardia focus site when said antitachycardia pacing therapy is supplied to said selected electrodes; and
,means operative when said selected electrodes have been connected to said antitachycardia pacing therapy means for actuating said antitachycardia pacing therapy means to supply said antitachycardia pacing therapy to said selected electrodes.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable device and method for treating cardiac arrhythmias in a patient'"'"'s heart are disclosed. A source of antitachycardia pacing therapy and an electrode system including at least three electrodes for delivering the antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart are provided. Circuitry and software for detecting a tachycardia having a site of focus in the heart and for determining the relative distances of the electrodes from the focus site are also provided. The three or more electrodes are connected to the source of antitachycardia pacing therapy based on the relative distances determined and in such a manner as to create a virtual electrode at the focus site upon delivery of the therapy to the heart.
175 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An implantable device for treating cardiac arrhythmias in a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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detecting means for detecting a tachycardia having a site of focus in the heart; an electrode system including at least three electrodes for delivering antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart; means for determining the relative distances of said electrodes from said tachycardia focus site; antitachycardia pacing therapy means for supplying antitachycardia pacing therapy to said electrodes; orienting means responsive to said relative distances determining means for connecting at least three selected ones of said at least three electrodes to said antitachycardia pacing therapy means in such a manner as to create a virtual electrode at or near said tachycardia focus site when said antitachycardia pacing therapy is supplied to said selected electrodes; and
,means operative when said selected electrodes have been connected to said antitachycardia pacing therapy means for actuating said antitachycardia pacing therapy means to supply said antitachycardia pacing therapy to said selected electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of treating cardiac arrhythmias in a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrode system including at least three electrodes for delivering antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart; providing a source of antitachycardia pacing therapy for supplying antitachycardia pacing therapy to said electrodes; detecting a tachycardia having a site of focus in the heart; determining the relative distances of said electrodes from said tachycardia focus site; connecting at least three selected ones of said at least three electrodes to said source of antitachycardia pacing therapy based on said relative distances determination and in such a manner as to create a virtual electrode at said tachycardia focus site during the delivery of said antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart; and
,delivering said antitachycardia pacing therapy to said selected electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification