Method and apparatus for affecting atrial defibrillation with bi-atrial pacing
First Claim
1. A method for implementing atrial defibrillation, comprising the steps of:
- delivering a first therapy in response to detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia of a patient;
determining whether the first therapy was successful;
determining, following a determination that the first therapy was successful, variations in morphology of a subsequent waveform representation of a cardiac cycle of the patient; and
delivering a second therapy in response to both determining the first therapy was successful and the determined variations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for cardioverting the atrium of a human heart that includes insertion of first and second elongated electrodes tranvenously into the heart and associated vessels. One electrode is preferably located in the coronary sinus and great vein of the heart. The other electrode is preferably located in the vicinity of the right atrium of the heart, spaced from the electrode located in the coronary sinus. In response to detection of fibrillation or in response to manual triggering, a defibrillation pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to effect atrial cardioversion. Further, after delivery of a successful defibrillation shock, the width of intrinsic p-waves are monitored and bi-atrial pacing is temporarily initiated if the width exceeds a preset or programmable threshold.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for implementing atrial defibrillation, comprising the steps of:
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delivering a first therapy in response to detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia of a patient; determining whether the first therapy was successful; determining, following a determination that the first therapy was successful, variations in morphology of a subsequent waveform representation of a cardiac cycle of the patient; and delivering a second therapy in response to both determining the first therapy was successful and the determined variations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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means for delivering a first therapy in response to detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia; means for determining whether the first therapy was successful; an amplifier sensing p-waves between electrodes and providing an output signal representative of the morphology of a sensed p-wave; a pacer timing/control circuit receiving the amplifier output signal and, following a determination that the first therapy was successful, delivering a second therapy in response to both determining the first therapy was successful and detection of variations in morphology of subsequent sensed p-waves. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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means for delivering a first therapy in response to detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia of a patient; means for determining whether the first therapy was successful; means for determining, following a determination that the first therapy was successful, variations in morphology of a subsequent waveform representation of a cardiac cycle of the patient; and means for delivering a second therapy in response to both the atrial tachyarrhythmia not being detected subsequent to the delivered first therapy and the determined variations. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification