Method and apparatus for delivering pre-shock defibrillation therapy
First Claim
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1. A cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:
- a sensing channel for generating electrograms reflecting cardiac electrical activity;
a defibrillation shocking channel for delivering a defibrillation shock pulse to the heart;
a stimulation channel for delivering stimulation pulses to improve post-shock cardiac function;
a controller for causing the defibrillation shocking channel to deliver a first defibrillation shock with no preceding stimulation pulses upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia from the sensed electrogram;
wherein the controller is programmed to deliver subsequent defibrillation shocks with increasing energy until the tachyarrhythmia is terminated or a specified maximum energy is reached; and
,wherein the controller is programmed to cause the delivery of a series of stimulation pulses to the heart prior to delivery of a subsequent defibrillation shock if the energy of the subsequent defibrillation shock is above a specified threshold and if the tachyarrhythmia has been present for a minimum specified time.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is presented for improving cardiac function after successful termination of a tachyarrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation. A series of electrical stimulation pulses are delivered prior to a defibrillation shock if one or more specific criteria are met.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:
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a sensing channel for generating electrograms reflecting cardiac electrical activity; a defibrillation shocking channel for delivering a defibrillation shock pulse to the heart; a stimulation channel for delivering stimulation pulses to improve post-shock cardiac function; a controller for causing the defibrillation shocking channel to deliver a first defibrillation shock with no preceding stimulation pulses upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia from the sensed electrogram; wherein the controller is programmed to deliver subsequent defibrillation shocks with increasing energy until the tachyarrhythmia is terminated or a specified maximum energy is reached; and
,wherein the controller is programmed to cause the delivery of a series of stimulation pulses to the heart prior to delivery of a subsequent defibrillation shock if the energy of the subsequent defibrillation shock is above a specified threshold and if the tachyarrhythmia has been present for a minimum specified time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for operating a cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:
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generating electrograms reflecting cardiac electrical activity; delivering a first defibrillation shock upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia from a sensed electrogram; delivering subsequent defibrillation shocks with increasing energy until the tachyarrhythmia is terminated or a specified maximum energy is reached; and
,delivering of a series of stimulation pulses to the heart prior to delivery of a subsequent defibrillation shock if the energy of the subsequent defibrillation shock is above a specified threshold and if the tachyarrhythmia has been present for a minimum specified time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification