System having a surrogate defibrillation electrode for testing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during implant
First Claim
1. A system for testing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during implant, the system having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means for applying rescue cardioversion-defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient in conjunction with implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means, the system comprising:
- first electrode means for implant in the heart;
second electrode means for positioning adjacent said heart;
the cardioverter-defibrillator means including;
circuitry means connected to the first electrode means and the second electrode means, the circuitry means for applying cardioversion-defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first electrode means and the second electrode means for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means;
removable external surrogate electrode means for temporary attachment to the skin of the patient and for detachable connection to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means in parallel with the second electrode means during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means; and
switch means for electrically connecting the external surrogate electrode means to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means for applying a rescue shock from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means between the external surrogate electrode means attached to the skin of the patient and the first electrode means during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means wherein the external surrogate electrode means and the switch means include means for detaching the external surrogate electrode means and the switch means from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An external surrogate defibrillation electrode is provided that increases the safety of performing implantation testing of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The surrogate electrode has an electrode pad that is attached to the patient'"'"'s skin. If the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is not capable of providing a sufficiently high-energy defibrillation shock during the implantation procedure, the surrogate electrode attached to the patient'"'"'s skin can be electrically connected to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, thereby allowing the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to effectively apply a rescue shock to the patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for testing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during implant, the system having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means for applying rescue cardioversion-defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient in conjunction with implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means, the system comprising:
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first electrode means for implant in the heart; second electrode means for positioning adjacent said heart; the cardioverter-defibrillator means including; circuitry means connected to the first electrode means and the second electrode means, the circuitry means for applying cardioversion-defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first electrode means and the second electrode means for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means; removable external surrogate electrode means for temporary attachment to the skin of the patient and for detachable connection to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means in parallel with the second electrode means during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means; and switch means for electrically connecting the external surrogate electrode means to the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means for applying a rescue shock from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means between the external surrogate electrode means attached to the skin of the patient and the first electrode means during implantation of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means wherein the external surrogate electrode means and the switch means include means for detaching the external surrogate electrode means and the switch means from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation of an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities, the implantable cardiac device being connected to a first electrode that is inserted in the heart and a second electrode that is located adjacent the heart, the implantable cardiac device applying defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first electrode and the second electrode for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching an external surrogate electrode to the skin of the patient; connecting the external surrogate electrode to the implantable cardiac device with a switch, so that the external surrogate electrode is in parallel with the second electrode; and closing the switch to electrically connect the external surrogate electrode to the implantable cardiac device to allow the implantable cardiac device to apply a rescue shock between the external surrogate electrode attached to the skin of the patient and the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for testing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during implant comprising:
- an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities and having an apparatus for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation of the implantable cardiac device, the system further comprising;
a first electrode sized to be inserted in said heart; a second electrode configured to be positioned adjacent said heart; circuitry connected to the first and second electrodes, the circuitry capable of applying defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first and second electrodes for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart during implantation of the implantable cardiac device; an external surrogate electrode configured to be attached to the skin of the patient and to be connected to the implantable cardiac device in parallel with the second electrode during implantation of the implantable cardiac device; and switch means for electrically connecting the external surrogate electrode to the implantable cardiac device to apply a rescue shock from the implantable cardiac device between the external surrogate electrode attached to the skin of the patient and the first electrode during implantation of the implantable cardiac device wherein the external surrogate electrode and the switch means include means for disconnecting said surrogate electrode and the switch means from the implantable cardiac device following implantation of the implanted cardiac device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities and having an apparatus for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation of the implantable cardiac device, the system further comprising;
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16. A system for testing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during implant comprising:
- an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities and having an apparatus for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation, the system further comprising;
a first electrode sized to be inserted in the heart; a second electrode configured to be positioned adjacent the heart; circuitry connected to the first and second electrodes and capable of applying defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first and second electrodes for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart during implantation; a surrogate electrode pad attachable to the skin of the patient during implantation of the implantable cardiac device; means for connecting the surrogate electrode pad in parallel with the second electrode when determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart by applying test shocks between the first electrode and the second electrode; and means for disconnecting the surrogate electrode pad from the second electrode when the defibrillation threshold has been determined.
- an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities and having an apparatus for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation, the system further comprising;
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17. A method for applying rescue defibrillation shocks to the heart of a patient during implantation of an implantable cardiac device having cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities, the implantable cardiac device being connected to a first electrode that is inserted in the heart and a second electrode, the implantable cardiac device applying defibrillation shocks to the heart between the first electrode and the second electrode for determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a surrogate electrode pad to the skin of the patient; connecting the surrogate electrode pad in parallel with the second electrode when determining the defibrillation threshold of the heart by applying test shocks between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the surrogate electrode pad reduces the effective defibrillation threshold of the heart; and disconnecting the surrogate electrode pad from the second electrode when the defibrillation threshold has been determined.
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Specification