Apparatus for recognition and termination of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation
OwnerDavid W. Daviesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For automatic recognition of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, pulse sequences are compared which are obtained when sensing at at least one position on each ventricular epicardial surface of a heart. Changes in the sequence of activations and in the timing from pulsing at one sensor position to a next pulsing at that same position will indicate both ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation so as to enable a response to be made to restore a pulse sequence representing normal ventricular activity of the heart.
Claims18
A system for automatic recognition of either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation of a heart, comprising:
- at least a first sensor connected to a left ventricle at a cardial surface thereof and at least a second sensor attached to a right ventricle at a cardial surface thereof;
- first means for detecting first and second respective pulse sequences derived from signals from the first and second sensors and determining whether activation sequence and time duration between detection of onset of depolarization for the two pulse sequences compared to each other indicate acceptable sinus rhythm;
- second means for treating ventricular fibrillation;
- third means for treating ventricular tachycardia;
- and
- fourth means connected to the first means for identifying and distinguishing between ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia by detection of a lack of synchrony of the activation sequence, and for activating the third means to treat ventricular fibrillation when such treatment is identified and for activating said fourth means when ventricular tachycardia is identified.
A method for detecting ventricular fibrillation, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least a first sensor at a first location of a heart and providing at least a second sensor at a second different location of the heart;
- sensing for ventricular fibrillation as a result of a loss of synchrony of activation in respective pulse sequences from the two sensors relative to each other;
- and
- activating a defibrillator when ventricular fibrillation is sensed.
A system for detecting ventricular fibrillation, comprising:
- at least a first sensor means for placement at a first location of a heart and at least a second sensor means for placement at a second different location of the heart;
- first means connected to the first and second sensor means for producing first and second respective pulse sequences corresponding to signals from the first and second sensors;
- second means connected to the first means for sensing ventricular fibrillation as a result of a loss of synchrony of activation between the first and second pulse sequences from the two sensor means relative to each other;
- and
- means for activating a defibrillator when ventricular fibrillation is detected by said second means for sensing ventricular fibrillation.
An apparatus for automatic recognition of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation as distinguished from normal rhythm of a heart, comprising:
- a first sensor means adapted to be placed at a first location of the heart for detecting an electrical signal from said first location of the heart;
- at least a second sensor means adapted to be placed at a second location of the heart for detecting electrical signal from detecting an second location of the heart;
- detecting means electrically connected to said first and second sensor means for creating first and second pulse sequences each of which represents electrical activity of the heart at the respective first and second locations;
- and
- rhythm abnormality detection means electrically connected to the detecting means for distinguishing ventricular tachycardia from normal rhythm by sensing for a change in sequence of activation between the at least first and second pulse sequences, and for distinguishing ventricular fibrillation from ventricular tachycardia through loss of synchrony in the sequence of activation between the first and second pulse sequences.
A method for automatic recognition of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation as distinguished from normal rhythm of a heart, comprising steps of:
- sensing heart electrical activity at first and second separate locations of the heart;
- determining abnormal ventricular rhythm by sensing for a change in sequence of activation of the first and second pulse sequences derived from the first and second locations sensed on the heart;
- and
- distinguishing between ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation by sensing for a loss of synchrony in the sequence of activation between the pulse sequences.
An apparatus for recognition and treatment of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, comprising:
- a plurality of sensor means at respective plural locations of a heart;
- means for creating a plurality of pulse sequences based on signals received from the plurality of sensor means;
- heartbeat detector means for determining a heartbeat rate of the plurality of pulse sequences;
- activation sequence detector means also connected to the plurality of sensor means for detecting a change in sequence of activation of the plurality of pulse sequences relative to one another as a result of a change from normal heart rhythm to an abnormal rhythm indicative of either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, and for detecting a loss of synchrony of sequence of activation of the plurality of pulse sequences relative to each other indicative of ventricular fibrillation;
- ventricular fibrillation treatment means activated by the abnormality detector means when ventricular tachycardia is recognized;
- and
- ventricular fibrillation treatment means connected to the activation sequence detector means when ventricular fibrillation is indicated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.