Method and apparatus for treatment of atrial fibrillation
First Claim
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1. An anti-fibrillation pacemaker, comprising:
- means for detecting the presence of fibrillation in said chamber;
electrode means for simultaneously delivering pacing pulses to multiple sites dispersed over a chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart; and
pulse generator means responsive to the detection of fibrillation for providing a series of cardiac pacing pulses to said electrode means to simultaneously stimulate said multiple sites until fibrillation is terminated.
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Abstract
A pacemaker system adapted to deliver pacing pulses in the presence of fibrillation. The pacing pulses are delivered via large surface area electrodes of the type normally used to accomplish defibrillation or cardioversion using high voltage pulses. An extended pulse train is delivered in order to gradually entrain greater portions of heart tissue, until a sufficient percentage of tissue is entrained to interrupt fibrillation. The invention is believed most applicable to treatment of atrial fibrillation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An anti-fibrillation pacemaker, comprising:
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means for detecting the presence of fibrillation in said chamber; electrode means for simultaneously delivering pacing pulses to multiple sites dispersed over a chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart; and pulse generator means responsive to the detection of fibrillation for providing a series of cardiac pacing pulses to said electrode means to simultaneously stimulate said multiple sites until fibrillation is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of treating fibrillation, comprising:
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mounting an electrode on or in a chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart, such that said electrode is located adjacent multiple sites dispersed over said chamber; detecting the presence of fibrillation; response to the detection of fibrillation, providing a series of cardiac pacing pulses to said electrode to simultaneously stimulate said multiple sites, unsynchronized to depolarizations of said chamber, to terminate fibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating fibrillation, comprising:
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mounting an electrode lead having an electrode on or in a chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart, such that said electrode is located adjacent multiple sites dispersed over said chamber; detecting the presence of fibrillation; responsive to the detection of fibrillation, providing a series of cardiac pacing pulses to said electrode to simultaneously stimulate said multiple sites to terminate fibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification