Method and apparatus for electrically forcing cardiac output in an arrhythmia patient
First Claim
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1. A method for forcing cardiac output during cardiac malfunction in a patient, comprising the steps of:
- (a) attaching a plurality of electrodes to external portions of a patient'"'"'s body proximate the patient'"'"'s thoracic region so that the electrodes may deliver electrical pulses which will be transmitted through portions of the patient'"'"'s upper body;
(b) detecting the presence of cardiac malfunction in the patient; and
(c) delivering electrical current pulses through the patient'"'"'s body, via said electrodes after detecting the malfunction, at a rate between about 60 and 200 pulses per minute, said electrical current pulses having a voltage less than a normal defibrillation voltage level and more than a normal pacemaker voltage level, to force contraction in the patient'"'"'s heart and facilitate a minimum level of cardiac output until cessation of the cardiac malfunction or until other medical intervention is provided.
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Abstract
An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. Forcing fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for forcing cardiac output during cardiac malfunction in a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a plurality of electrodes to external portions of a patient'"'"'s body proximate the patient'"'"'s thoracic region so that the electrodes may deliver electrical pulses which will be transmitted through portions of the patient'"'"'s upper body;
(b) detecting the presence of cardiac malfunction in the patient; and
(c) delivering electrical current pulses through the patient'"'"'s body, via said electrodes after detecting the malfunction, at a rate between about 60 and 200 pulses per minute, said electrical current pulses having a voltage less than a normal defibrillation voltage level and more than a normal pacemaker voltage level, to force contraction in the patient'"'"'s heart and facilitate a minimum level of cardiac output until cessation of the cardiac malfunction or until other medical intervention is provided. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for forcing cardiac output during cardiac malfunction in a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a plurality of electrodes to external portions of a patient'"'"'s body proximate the patient'"'"'s thoracic region so that the electrodes may deliver electrical pulses which will be transmitted through portions of the patient'"'"'s upper body;
(b) providing circuitry for detecting the presence of cardiac malfunction in the patient;
(c) detecting the presence of cardiac malfunction in the patient, using the circuitry for detecting the presence of cardiac malfunction; and
(d) delivering electrical current pulses through the patient'"'"'s body, via said electrodes after detecting tachyarrhythmia, at a rate between about 60 and 200 pulses per minute, said electrical current pulses having a voltage less than a normal defibrillation voltage level and more than a normal pacemaker voltage level, to force contractions in the patient'"'"'s thoracic region and facilitate a minimum level of cardiac output until cessation of the cardiac malfunction or until other medical intervention is provided; and
(e) reassessing the presence of the malfunction at predetermined intervals and terminating said delivery of electrical pulses if the arrhythmia is no longer present. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification