Method and apparatus for applying electrical signals to a heart for therapy or diagnosis
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for applying electrical signals to a heart comprising:
- means for generating a voltage signal, during an activation interval, having amplitude changes with each amplitude change having a first derivative associated therewith having an absolute value which is less than an absolute value of a first derivative of an electrical signal which would cause a triggering of a heartbeat in a patient to whom said voltage signal is delivered, said voltage signal having a duration of at least 30 milliseconds; and
voltage signal delivery means connected to said means for generating a voltage signal and adapted for in vivo interaction with the heart of said patient, for applying said voltage signal over at least a portion of said heart.
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for stimulating and/or diagnosing the heart, a voltage is applied to the heart over at least a selected portion of the heart during an activation interval with a rise and fall, with the voltage having a first derivative with an absolute value that is less than the value of the derivative which, for a patient in question, would trigger the patient'"'"'s heartbeat, and with a duration from beginning to end of each applied voltage signal of at least 30 ms.
87 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying electrical signals to a heart comprising:
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means for generating a voltage signal, during an activation interval, having amplitude changes with each amplitude change having a first derivative associated therewith having an absolute value which is less than an absolute value of a first derivative of an electrical signal which would cause a triggering of a heartbeat in a patient to whom said voltage signal is delivered, said voltage signal having a duration of at least 30 milliseconds; and voltage signal delivery means connected to said means for generating a voltage signal and adapted for in vivo interaction with the heart of said patient, for applying said voltage signal over at least a portion of said heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for applying electrical signals to a heart comprising the steps of:
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generating a voltage signal having amplitude changes with each amplitude change having a first derivative associated therewith having an absolute value which is less than an absolute value of a first derivative of an electrical signal for a patient which would cause a triggering of a heartbeat in a patient; and applying said voltage in vivo signal over at least a portion of said heart for an application interval of at least 30 milliseconds. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification