Method for atrial defibrillation
First Claim
1. A method of applying cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of a human heart while minimizing the electrical energy applied to the right and left ventricles, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing lead means including a first electrode and a second electrode;
establishing electrical contact between said first electrode and a point within the coronary sinus or the great cardiac vein near the left atrium;
establishing electrical contact between said second electrode and a region near to or within the right atrium;
sensing atrial activity of the heart between said first and second electrodes;
determining from the sensed atrial activity if the atria of the heart are in need of cardioversion; and
applying cardioverting electrical energy between said first and said second electrodes when the atria of the heart are in need of cardioversion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable atrial defibrillator provides a pulse of defibrillating electrical energy to the atria of the heart in synchronism with sensed R waves in response to non-coincident sensing of an R wave at first and second areas of the heart. The defibrillating pulse is provided after a predetermined number of consecutive R waves are non-coincidently sensed to assure reliable synchronization. The atrial defibrillator is also operational in a marker mode wherein a number of synchronization marker pulses are delivered to the heart for detection on an externally generated electrocardiogram. The atrial fibrillation detector of the defibrillator is normally disabled and is activated when the sensed ventricular activity indicates a probability of atrial fibrillation to conserve a depletable power source. An endocardial lead is also described which ensures that the delivered atrial defibrillating electrical energy is substantially confined to the atria of the heart.
28 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of applying cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of a human heart while minimizing the electrical energy applied to the right and left ventricles, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing lead means including a first electrode and a second electrode; establishing electrical contact between said first electrode and a point within the coronary sinus or the great cardiac vein near the left atrium; establishing electrical contact between said second electrode and a region near to or within the right atrium; sensing atrial activity of the heart between said first and second electrodes; determining from the sensed atrial activity if the atria of the heart are in need of cardioversion; and applying cardioverting electrical energy between said first and said second electrodes when the atria of the heart are in need of cardioversion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of applying cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of a human heart while minimizing the electrical energy applied to the right and left ventricles, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electrode; establishing electrical contact between said first electrode and a point within the coronary sinus beneath the left atrium; providing a second electrode; establishing electrical contact between said second electrode and a region adjacent to or within the right atrium; sensing an electrical activation of the heart at first and second areas of the heart; and applying cardioverting electrical energy between said first and second electrodes responsive to the sensing of the electrical activation at the first and second areas of the heart being non-coincident. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification