Implantable device for treating atrial fibrillation and method of using same
OwnerYoung D. Kiminventor
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Abstract
A device for treating atrial fibrillation includes a pad which houses the distal end of an electrode which is adapted to deliver a substantially uniform shock gradient to an atrial surface of a postoperative cardiac patient, if atrial fibrillation is detected. The device also includes a catheter for delivering anti-arrhythmic and/or anesthetic drugs to the pad. After a treatment period, the device may be removed by pulling the electrode and the pad, if the pad is not bioabsorbable, into the catheter and then pulling the catheter through the patient's chest wall.
Claims47
A device for treating atrial fibrillation in a postoperative cardiac patient, the device comprising:
- a bioabsorbable pad adapted to be placed on an atrial surface of the patient;
- an electrode a distal end of which is provided in the pad, wherein the distal end of the electrode is adapted to deliver a substantially uniform electrical shock to the atrial surface, and wherein a proximal end of the electrode is adapted to be connected to an energy source;
- and
- a catheter adapted to deliver at least one drug to the pad.
A device for treating atrial fibrillation in a postoperative cardiac patient, the device comprising:
- a first bioabsorbable pad adapted to be placed on an atrial surface of a right atrium of the patient;
- a first electrode a distal end of which is provided in the first pad, wherein the distal end of the first electrode is adapted to deliver a substantially uniform electrical shock to the atrial surface of the right atrium, and wherein a proximal end of the first electrode is adapted to be electrically connected to an energy source;
- a second bioabsorbable pad adapted to be placed on an atrial surface of a left atrium of the patient;
- a second electrode a distal end of which is provided in the second pad, wherein the distal end of the second electrode is adapted to deliver a substantially uniform electrical shock to the atrial surface of the left atrium, and wherein a proximal end of the second electrode is adapted to be connected electrically to the energy source;
- and
- at least one catheter adapted to deliver at least one drug to at least one of said right and left atrial surfaces.
A method of treating atrial fibrillation in a postoperative cardiac patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a bioabsorbable pad on an atrial surface of the patient, wherein the pad contains a distal end of an electrode which is adapted to deliver a substantially uniform electrical shock to the atrial surface;
- (b) passing a proximal end of the electrode through a chest wall of the patient;
- (c) connecting the proximal end of the electrode to an energy source;
- (d) monitoring the atrial surface for atrial fibrillation;
- if atrial fibrillation is detected, (e) shocking the atrial surface with a predetermined amount of energy to defibrillate the heart;
- and
- (f) delivering at least one drug to the pad in contact with the atrial surface via a catheter passing through the chest wall,
- wherein the energy is delivered from the energy source to the atrial surface via the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.