Method and apparatus for myocardial control

• US 6,751,501 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Medical Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Scott, Dale L., Schuler, Eleanor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/483,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/5
• US Class Current: 607/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39046 User protection from shock
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

A monolithic device (10) for providing defibrillation, pacing, and cardiac paralysis of a heart. Various electronic waveforms are generated by the device and are selected for the type of control required. Defibrillation and pacing of a human heart from outside the body employs defibrillation circuitry having an electromotive force of less than or equal to approximately 200 volts. Digital circuitry for generating direct current waveforms to the heart is employed.

Claims

1. A monolithic device for non-invasively providing defibrillation and pacing of a heart, said device comprising:

low voltage means for defibrillating the heart; and

means for pacing the heart once defibrillation has been accomplished.

2. A device for non-invasively providing defibrillation of a human heart from outside of a human body containing the heart, said device comprising:

means for generating an electromotive force of less than or equal to aproximately 200 volts; and

means for applying said electromotive force to defibrillate said heart.

3. A device for non-invasively providing pacing of a human heart from outside of a human body containing the heart, said device comprising:

pacing means having an adjustable current amplitude range of between approximately 20 milliamps and approximately 200 milliamps; and

means for applying said current to said heart.

4. A non-invasive device for modulating myocardial functioning, said device comprising:

means for generating variable low waveforms similar to waveforms naturally produced by a body each comprising at least one pulse; and

means for applying said waveforms to defibrillate said heart.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for varying the voltage magnitude of each of said at least one pulse to selected voltages.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for varying the polarity of each of said at least one pulse to selected polarities.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for providing a refractory period between selected ones of said at least one pulse.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising means for varying the pulse width of each of said at least one pulse to selected widths.