Method of transvenous defibrillation/cardioversion employing an endocardial lead system
First Claim
1. A method of defibrillating a ventricular arrhythmia or cardioverting the heart of a human by employing an electrically-powered device comprising connecting terminals, said terminals being adapted to be electrically connected to at least one of the electrodes defined hereinafter, and circuitry adapted to sense the occurrence of fibrillation or an arrhythmia occurring in a ventricle of said heart and in response thereto, generate an electrical shock between at least two of the defibrillation electrodes of opposing polarity as defined hereinafter, which method comprises:
- A. transvenously inserting the distal end of a pulmonary arterial lead into said human'"'"'s lower left pulmonary artery or a branch thereof, said pulmonary arterial lead comprising a distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode, the distal end of which is disposed an or close to the distal tip of said pulmonary arterial lead, said distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode being electrically connected to an appropriate terminal of said device,B. transvenously inserting the distal end of a second lead through the right atrium and into the right ventricle of said heart, said second lead comprising said at least one ventricular defibrillation electrode located at or near the distal end thereof, and positioning at least a portion of said ventricular defibrillation electrode in or near the apex of said right ventricle, said ventricular defibrillation electrode being connected to an appropriate terminal of said device in a polarity opposed to the polarity of said pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode,C. sensing the occurrence, if any, of ventricular fibrillation or arrhythmia in said heart; and
D. thereupon defibrillating or cardioverting said heart by at least one electrical shock between said distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode and said ventricular defibrillation electrode.
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Abstract
The method comprises defibrillating or cardioverting a heart, employing either an implanted or an external defibrillation/cardioversion device capable of generating electrical shocks, by transvenously inserting into the lower left pulmonary artery a pulmonary arterial lead comprising a distal defibrillation electrode, sensing the occurrence of fibrillation or an arrhythmia, and defibrillating or cardioverting the heart by electrical shocks between such electrode and a transvenously-inserted additional defibrillation electrode. The additional defibrillation electrode may comprise a proximal defibrillation electrode located on the pulmonary arterial lead, with its distal end having been positioned in the right atrium/superior vena cava. Alternatively, the method comprises transvenously inserting a second lead comprising said additional electrode, and positioning the same in the right ventricle, the right atrium, or the superior vena cava. Sensing/pacing electrode means may be positioned in the right ventricle, and optionally also in the right atrium, for sensing and pacing the heart.
127 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of defibrillating a ventricular arrhythmia or cardioverting the heart of a human by employing an electrically-powered device comprising connecting terminals, said terminals being adapted to be electrically connected to at least one of the electrodes defined hereinafter, and circuitry adapted to sense the occurrence of fibrillation or an arrhythmia occurring in a ventricle of said heart and in response thereto, generate an electrical shock between at least two of the defibrillation electrodes of opposing polarity as defined hereinafter, which method comprises:
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A. transvenously inserting the distal end of a pulmonary arterial lead into said human'"'"'s lower left pulmonary artery or a branch thereof, said pulmonary arterial lead comprising a distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode, the distal end of which is disposed an or close to the distal tip of said pulmonary arterial lead, said distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode being electrically connected to an appropriate terminal of said device, B. transvenously inserting the distal end of a second lead through the right atrium and into the right ventricle of said heart, said second lead comprising said at least one ventricular defibrillation electrode located at or near the distal end thereof, and positioning at least a portion of said ventricular defibrillation electrode in or near the apex of said right ventricle, said ventricular defibrillation electrode being connected to an appropriate terminal of said device in a polarity opposed to the polarity of said pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode, C. sensing the occurrence, if any, of ventricular fibrillation or arrhythmia in said heart; and D. thereupon defibrillating or cardioverting said heart by at least one electrical shock between said distal pulmonary arterial defibrillation electrode and said ventricular defibrillation electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification