Method and apparatus for transvascular treatment of tachycardia and fibrillation

• US 6,292,695 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Webster, Wilton W. Jr., Scherlag, Benjamin J., Schauerte, Patrick, Scherlag, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/334,822
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 607/14, 607/9, 607/98, 607/99, 607/101, 607/113, 607/122, 607/126, 607/128, 607/148, 607/149, 607/154, 606/32, 606/41
• US Class Current: 607/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of controlling cardiac fibrillation, tachycardia, or cardiac arrhythmia by the use of an electrophysiology catheter having a tip section that contains at least one stimulating electrode, the electrode being stably placed at a selected intravascular location. The electrode is connected to a stimulating means, and stimulation is applied across the wall of the vessel, transvascularly, to a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve that innervates the heart at a strength sufficient to depolarize the nerve and effect the control of the heart.

Claims