Methods and apparatus for applying charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shocks
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for applying a charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shock to the heart of a patient to reduce the effects of post shock block, comprising:
- means for applying at least one positive shock phase to the heart, said positive shock phase having a positive shock phase current; and
means for applying at least one negative shock phase to the heart, said negative shock phase having a negative shock phase current, wherein the time-integrated positive shock phase current substantially equals the time-integrated negative shock phase current, and further wherein each shock phase is a portion of a single exponential decay waveform.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating multiphasic charge-balanced cardioversion and defibrillation shocks to apply to a patient'"'"'s heart to terminate episodes of arrhythmia such as tachycardia and fibrillation. The time-integrated positive shock phase current equals the time-integrated negative shock phase current. The use of charge-balanced shocks has been determined to significantly reduce the effects of post shock block that result when conventional shocks are applied to the heart.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for applying a charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shock to the heart of a patient to reduce the effects of post shock block, comprising:
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means for applying at least one positive shock phase to the heart, said positive shock phase having a positive shock phase current; and means for applying at least one negative shock phase to the heart, said negative shock phase having a negative shock phase current, wherein the time-integrated positive shock phase current substantially equals the time-integrated negative shock phase current, and further wherein each shock phase is a portion of a single exponential decay waveform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for applying a charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shock to the heart of a patient to reduce the effects of post shock block, comprising the steps of:
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applying at least one positive shock phase to the heart, said at least one positive shock phase having a positive shock phase current; and applying at least one negative shock phase to the heart, said at least one negative shock phase having a negative shock phase current, wherein the time-integrated positive shock phase current substantially equals the time-integrated negative shock phase current, and further wherein each shock phase is a portion of a single exponential decay waveform. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A cardiac stimulating device for applying a charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shock to the heart of a patient to reduce the effects of post shock block, comprising:
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a battery; a capacitor; means for charging said capacitor with said battery when it is desired to apply said charge-balanced antiarrhythmia shock to the heart; means for applying at least one positive shock phase to the heart from said capacitor, said at least one positive shock phase having a positive shock phase current; and means for applying at least one negative shock phase to the heart from said capacitor, said at least one negative shock phase having a negative shock phase current, wherein the time-integrated positive shock phase current substantially equals the time-integrated negative shock phase current, and further wherein each shock phase is a portion of a single exponential decay waveform. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification