Difibrillation system
First Claim
1. A defibrillation system comprising:
- stimulator means for generating defibrillation pulses;
at least two defibrillation electrodes connected to said stimulator means, at least one of said defibrillation electrodes being adapted for intracardiac placement;
said at least one defibrillation electrode adapted intracardiac placement including a flexible electrode cable having a proximal end connected to said stimulator means and a distal end having an electrode head with an expandable component carrying at least one defibrillation surface for delivering said defibrillation pulses to a heart;
means for expanding said expandable component from a non-expanded state wherein said electrode head does not impede blood flow to said heart, to an expanded state;
control means for sensing conditions indicative of a fibrillation episode of said heart and for supplying a control signal identifying a duration of said fibrillation episode to said stimulator means and to said means for expanding for causing said means for expanding to expand said expandable component of said electrode head from said non-expanded state to said expanded state for said duration of said fibrillation episode and for causing said stimulator means to generate said defibrillation pulses while said expandable component is in said expanded state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A defibrillation system includes circuitry and other components contained in a defibrillator housing, to which at least two defibrillation electrodes are connected, at least one defibrillation electrode being intended for intracardiac placement. This defibrillation electrode contains a flexible electrode cable with at least one elongate, electrically insulated conductor and at least one defibrillation surface disposed at the distal end of the electrode cable for delivering defibrillation pulses to the heart. The system further includes control components and circuitry for determining when defibrillation therapy, in the form of one or more pulses is to be administered. In order to provide defibrillation employing the intracardiac electrode, with a defibrillation surface that is relatively large so that the defibrillation current can be distributed so as to prevent damage to the heart, while still achieving optimum defibrillation, and so that the defibrillation electrode does not impede the flow of blood in the heart during periods when it is not used to emit pulses, the electrode head is constructed so as to be expandable, and the defibrillator housing includes control elements and circuitry operable on the electrode head via the electrode cable to cause the electrode head to expand, as needed, and to subsequently return to a non-expanded state.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A defibrillation system comprising:
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stimulator means for generating defibrillation pulses; at least two defibrillation electrodes connected to said stimulator means, at least one of said defibrillation electrodes being adapted for intracardiac placement; said at least one defibrillation electrode adapted intracardiac placement including a flexible electrode cable having a proximal end connected to said stimulator means and a distal end having an electrode head with an expandable component carrying at least one defibrillation surface for delivering said defibrillation pulses to a heart; means for expanding said expandable component from a non-expanded state wherein said electrode head does not impede blood flow to said heart, to an expanded state; control means for sensing conditions indicative of a fibrillation episode of said heart and for supplying a control signal identifying a duration of said fibrillation episode to said stimulator means and to said means for expanding for causing said means for expanding to expand said expandable component of said electrode head from said non-expanded state to said expanded state for said duration of said fibrillation episode and for causing said stimulator means to generate said defibrillation pulses while said expandable component is in said expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for defibrillating a heart comprising the steps of:
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disposing at least one of a plurality of defibrillation electrodes in a ventricle of said heart; providing said electrode disposed in said ventricle with an electrode head formed by substantially fluid-tight material and having an electrically conductive defibrillation surface thereon; detecting conditions indicating the presence of cardiac fibrillation; in the presence of cardiac fibrillation, expanding said electrode head by filling said electrode head with fluid to bring said electrode surfaces into contact with cardiac tissue; and delivering defibrillation pulses to a heart via said plurality of defibrillation electrodes.
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Specification