Method and apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmia
First Claim
1. An implantable defibrillation apparatus that detects and monitors spontaneous cardiac electrogram features in a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- an implantable cardiac defibrillator;
a plurality of subcutaneous cardiac sensing electrodes electrically connected to said defibrillator, said sensing electrodes configured for sensing cardiac electrogram features when implanted in spatially separate locations in a patient;
at least one elongate transveneous catheter flexibly configured for insertion into the heart of said patient, said catheter carrying at least one defibrillation electrode and said catheter connected to said defibrillator;
a detector carried within said defibrillator and operably associated with said sensing electrodes and said at least one defibrillation electrode, said detector configured for detecting the likelihood of a spontaneous cardiac arrhythmia and delivering a treatment pulse through said at least one defibrillation electrode, wherein said plurality of subcutaneous electrodes are carried by a single elongate lead.
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Abstract
An implantable apparatus for the detection and monitoring of spontaneous cardiac electrogram features in a comprises a cardiac monitoring device and a plurality of subcutaneous cardiac sensing electrodes electrically connected to the monitoring device. The sensing electrodes are configured for sensing cardiac electrogram features when implanted in spatially separate locations in a patient. A storage device contained within the monitoring device is operably associated with the subcutaneous electrodes and stores the cardiac electrogram features. Preferably, the plurality of subcutaneous electrodes are carried by a single elongate lead. A downloading device such as telemetry apparatus or transcutaneous electrical connectors may be provided so that the stored information can be downloaded to a separate apparatus external to the patient. In a preferred embodiment, the apparataus is a defibrillator. Methods of using such apparatus are also disclosed.
107 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An implantable defibrillation apparatus that detects and monitors spontaneous cardiac electrogram features in a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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an implantable cardiac defibrillator;
a plurality of subcutaneous cardiac sensing electrodes electrically connected to said defibrillator, said sensing electrodes configured for sensing cardiac electrogram features when implanted in spatially separate locations in a patient;
at least one elongate transveneous catheter flexibly configured for insertion into the heart of said patient, said catheter carrying at least one defibrillation electrode and said catheter connected to said defibrillator;
a detector carried within said defibrillator and operably associated with said sensing electrodes and said at least one defibrillation electrode, said detector configured for detecting the likelihood of a spontaneous cardiac arrhythmia and delivering a treatment pulse through said at least one defibrillation electrode, wherein said plurality of subcutaneous electrodes are carried by a single elongate lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A defibrillation method that includes detecting cardiac electrogram features in a patient in need thereof, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of subcutaneous sensing electrodes implanted in spatially separate locations in said patient;
providing an implantable cardiac defibrillator operably associated with said subcutaneous sensing electrodes;
detecting cardiac electrogram features through said plurality of sensing electrodes;
providing at least one elongate transveneous catheter inserted into the heart of said patient, said catheter connected to said defibrillator and carrying at least one defibrillation electrode;
detecting electrical activity of the heart of said patient through said subcutaneous sensing electrodes;
determining the likelihood of a spontaneous cardiac arrhythmia from said detected electrical activity; and
thenadministering a therapeutic pulse to said heart through said at least one defibrillation electrode upon the determination of a likelihood of occurrence of a spontaneous cardiac arrhythmia, wherein said plurality of subcutaneous electrodes are carried by a single elongate lead. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification