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Method and apparatus for delivering defibrillation shocks with improved effectiveness

  • US 5,749,901 A
  • Filed: 05/07/1996
  • Issued: 05/12/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for defibrillating a patient'"'"'s heart with an implantable defibrillator, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) detecting fibrillation in said patient'"'"'s heart;

    (b) charging a high voltage capacitor in said implantable defibrillator;

    (c) sensing first and second far-field fibrillation signals, and detecting peak to peak envelope voltages of said first and second far-field fibrillation signals;

    (d) summing said peak to peak envelope voltages of said first and second far-field fibrillation signals to obtain a sum voltage;

    (e) determining a maximum strength of said sum voltage during said charging step;

    (f) after completion of said charging step, determining a time window when said sum is at least a predetermined percentage of said maximum strength determined in step (e); and

    (g) delivering a defibrillation shock to said patient'"'"'s heart during said time window.

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