Automatic fibrillation detector and defibrillator apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting fibrillation comprising the steps of:
- locating two electrodes at two different positions in the heart, one electrode in the right atrium to monitor local electrical signals, and locating the other electrode in the coronary sinus proximal to the left atrium to monitor local electrical signals;
monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation;
measuring the time interval between said activations; and
comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value to thereby ascertain the presence of fibrillation.
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Abstract
The present invention involves an apparatus and method for detecting and treating fibrillation in the heart. Electrodes sense electrical activity in two distinct locations of the heart. The electrocardiac activations are monitored and the interval between activations at the two locations is measured and checked for variation. Upon detection of significant variation in the length of the intervals, the fibrillation condition is determined and a defibrillator is activated, so that a defibrillating shock may be delivered to the heart. For atrial fibrillation, the first defibrillating shock is relatively low and is increased until the fibrillation is no longer detected.
128 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of detecting fibrillation comprising the steps of:
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locating two electrodes at two different positions in the heart, one electrode in the right atrium to monitor local electrical signals, and locating the other electrode in the coronary sinus proximal to the left atrium to monitor local electrical signals; monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation; measuring the time interval between said activations; and comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value to thereby ascertain the presence of fibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting fibrillation comprising the steps of:
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locating two electrodes at two different positions in the atrium, each electrode being adapted to sense electrical signals; monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation; measuring the time interval between said activations; comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value; determining the presence of fibrillation based upon whether a substantial deviation is calculated in comparing step.
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11. A method of detecting and treating fibrillation comprising the steps of:
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locating two electrodes at two different positions in the atrium, each electrode being adapted to sense electrical signals; monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation; measuring the time interval between said activations; comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value to thereby ascertain the presence of fibrillation; and if fibrillation is indicated, delivering defibrillation shocks to the heart with the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for detecting arrhythmia, the apparatus adapted for use on a heart, said apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes adapted to contact the heart and sense electrical signals from the heart, said electrodes being disposed at two different locations; means for monitoring said electrical signals detected by said first and second electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, said monitoring means including means for measuring the time interval between said activations, said monitoring means further including means for disregarding the electrical signal after an activation is indicated for a refractory period before again monitoring the electrical signal; and means for comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value, said comparing means including means for indicating the presence of a fibrillation condition in the heart. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for detecting and treating arrhythmia, the apparatus adapted for use on a heart, said apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes adapted to contact the heart and sense electrical signals from the heart, said electrodes being disposed at two different locations; means for monitoring said electrical signals detected by said first and second electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, said monitoring means including means for measuring the time interval between said electrical activations, said monitoring means further including means for disregarding the electrical signal after an activation is indicated for a refractory period before again monitoring the electrical signal; means for comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value, said comparing means including means for indicating the presence of a fibrillation condition in the heart; and means for delivering defibrillating shocks to the heart, said defibrillating means being responsive to said indicating means. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of detecting fibrillation comprising the steps of:
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locating two electrodes at two different positions in the heart, each electrode being adapted to sense electrical signals; monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, and after an activation is indicated, said monitoring step further including disregarding the electrical signal for a refractory period before again monitoring the electrical signals; measuring the time interval between said activations; and comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value to thereby ascertain the presence of fibrillation.
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48. A method of detecting and treating fibrillation comprising the steps of:
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locating two electrodes at two different positions in the heart, each electrode being adapted to sense electrical signals; monitoring said electrical signals detected by the two electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, and after an activation is indicated, said monitoring step further including disregarding the electrical signal for a refractory period before again monitoring the electrical signals; measuring the time interval between said activations; comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value to thereby ascertain the presence of fibrillation; and if fibrillation is indicated, delivering defibrillation shocks to the heart with the electrodes.
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49. An apparatus for use in detecting fibrillation in the atrium, said apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes capable of being disposed at different locations in the atrium, each of said first and second electrodes having means for detecting local electrical signals in the atrium; means for monitoring said electrical signals detected by said first and second electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, said monitoring means including means for measuring the time interval between said activations; and means for comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value, said comparing means including means for indicating the presence of a fibrillation condition in the heart.
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50. An apparatus for use in detecting and treating fibrillation in the atrium, said apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes capable of being disposed at different locations in the atrium, each of said first and second electrodes having means for detecting local electrical signals in the atrium; means for monitoring said electrical signals detected by said first and second electrodes to determine the occurrence of an activation, said monitoring means including means for measuring the time interval between said electrical activations; means for comparing the measured time interval with a reference time interval value and calculating whether the measured time interval substantially deviates from the reference time interval value, said comparing means including means for indicating the presence of a fibrillation condition in the heart; and means for delivering defibrillating shocks to the heart, said defibrillating means being responsive to said indicating means.
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Specification