Implantable cardioverter defibrillator having variable output capacitance
First Claim
1. An improved implantable cardioverter defibrillator system for producing a capacitive-discharge countershock, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator system being a self-contained human implantable device including a pulse-generating capacitor means for storing an electrical charge of greater than 1 joule, means for internally charging the pulse-generating capacitor means, and means for selectively discharging the electrical charge in the pulse-generating capacitor as a countershock to be delivered through electrodes adapted to be implanted in a human patient in response to a sensing of a myocardial arrhythmia in the human patient, the improvement comprising:
- the pulse generating capacitor means including;
two or more separate capacitor systems; and
means for selectively electrically connecting each of the capacitor systems in parallel with the other capacitor systems during the charging and discharging of the pulse-generating capacitor means,such that the pulse generating capacitor means has at least twodifferent selectable effective output capacitance values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system having a programmable switched and variable range of effective output capacitance values for the purpose of producing a capacitive-discharge countershock. The improvement comprises a pulse generating capacitor arrangement for the ICD system that includes two or more separate capacitor systems and a system for selectively electrically connecting each of the capacitor systems in parallel with the other capacitor systems during the charging and discharging of the pulse-generating capacitor arrangement, such that the pulse generating capacitor arrangement has at least two different selectable effective output capacitance values. With this type of capacitor arrangement, it is possible to reduce the countershock energy in discrete steps as the duration of the countershock is decreased, while still preserving the value of the initial discharge voltage, and hence the conversion effectiveness. Reducing countershock pulse duration in steps having differing output capacitance also preserves the fraction of stored energy that is delivered to the heart, and hence, preserves the efficiency of the system, thereby conserving battery life, reducing ICD system size, or both.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An improved implantable cardioverter defibrillator system for producing a capacitive-discharge countershock, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator system being a self-contained human implantable device including a pulse-generating capacitor means for storing an electrical charge of greater than 1 joule, means for internally charging the pulse-generating capacitor means, and means for selectively discharging the electrical charge in the pulse-generating capacitor as a countershock to be delivered through electrodes adapted to be implanted in a human patient in response to a sensing of a myocardial arrhythmia in the human patient, the improvement comprising:
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the pulse generating capacitor means including; two or more separate capacitor systems; and means for selectively electrically connecting each of the capacitor systems in parallel with the other capacitor systems during the charging and discharging of the pulse-generating capacitor means, such that the pulse generating capacitor means has at least two different selectable effective output capacitance values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification