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US 2004/0002739 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for delivering pre-shock defibrillation therapy
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorsAdam W. Cates, Eric G. Lovett, Douglas J. Lang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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;
- and
- 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 cause the delivery of a series of stimulation pulses to the heart prior to delivery of a subsequent defibrillation shock if the first defibrillation shock was unsuccessful in terminating the tachyarrhythmia.
3 more elements
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 drug delivery device having contained therein a quantity of a pharmacological or neurohumoral agent for improving post-shock cardiac function;
- and
- a controller for causing the defibrillation shocking channel to deliver a first defibrillation shock upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia from the sensed electrogram;
- wherein the controller is programmed to cause the delivery of the pharmacological or neurohumoral agent upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia.
3 more elements
A method for operating a cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:
- generating electrograms reflecting cardiac electrical activity;
- delivering a first defibrillation shock upon detection of a tachyarrhythmia from a sensed electrogram;
- and
- delivering a series of stimulation pulses for improving post-shock cardiac function prior to delivery of a subsequent defibrillation shock if the first defibrillation shock was unsuccessful in terminating the tachyarrhythmia, wherein the first defibrillation shock is not preceded by stimulation pulses.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.