System for treating supraventricular tachyarrhythmias
First Claim
1. A system for treating a heart, comprising:
- an implantable housing;
a first atrial catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the first atrial catheter has a first atrial electrode and a first defibrillation electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first atrial electrode and the first defibrillation electrode in a supraventricular region of the heart;
a ventricular catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the ventricular catheter has a first ventricular electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first ventricular electrode in a right ventricular chamber of the heart; and
electronic control circuitry within the implantable housing, connected to the first atrial electrode, the first defibrillation electrode, and the first ventricular electrode and where the electronic control circuitry receives cardiac signals through the first atrial electrode and the first ventricular electrode, and upon detecting atrial fibrillation, delivers a plurality of pacing pulses to convert the atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia, analyzes the ventricular intervals for stability and delivers a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals.
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Abstract
A system and method for treating atrial fibrillation using atrial pacing pulses to convert an atrial fibrillation to non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia prior to delivering a low energy cardioversion/defibrillation shock. The system and method treats atrial fibrillations by first applying a plurality of pacing pulses to the atria which converts the atrial fibrillation to non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia. Ventricular intervals are concurrently sensed and analyzed while the plurality of electrical pacing pulses are being applied. Upon detecting a period of stable ventricular intervals, the system then proceeds to deliver a low-energy cardioverting/defibrillating pulse of electrical energy across the atria of the heart.
145 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for treating a heart, comprising:
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an implantable housing;
a first atrial catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the first atrial catheter has a first atrial electrode and a first defibrillation electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first atrial electrode and the first defibrillation electrode in a supraventricular region of the heart;
a ventricular catheter attached to the implantable housing of the system, where the ventricular catheter has a first ventricular electrode, and is positioned within the heart with the first ventricular electrode in a right ventricular chamber of the heart; and
electronic control circuitry within the implantable housing, connected to the first atrial electrode, the first defibrillation electrode, and the first ventricular electrode and where the electronic control circuitry receives cardiac signals through the first atrial electrode and the first ventricular electrode, and upon detecting atrial fibrillation, delivers a plurality of pacing pulses to convert the atrial fibrillation to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia, analyzes the ventricular intervals for stability and delivers a first level atrial shock to the heart during a period of stable ventricular intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for treating a heart, comprising:
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means for detecting an atrial fibrillation of the heart;
means for delivering a plurality of pacing pulses to the heart;
means for determining whether the atrial fibrillation has been converted to a non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia; and
means for delivering a low-energy shock to the heart if the atrial fibrillation has been converted to the non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia, the energy of the low-energy shock capable of restoring the heart to a sinus rhythm during the non-fibrillation atrial arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification