US 4,809,681 AGranted

Electrocardiographic measurement method for controlling an intra-aortic balloon pump

AssigneeAisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsAdrian Kantrowitz, Paul S. Freed, Hiroyuki Tachi, Akira Suzuki

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Abstract

A pair of spaced electrodes are disposed inside the thoracic aorta near the heart and are used to sense R- and P-waves in an ECG signal. The electrodes are moved to an ideal intra-aortic position, which is that where R- and P-waves are sensed to have the same magnitude, the P-wave, which occurs earlier than the R-wave, serving as means for accurately predicting the occurrence of the R-wave. The electrodes are affixed to the distal end of an intra-aortic balloon, which is capable of being disposed at the ideal position by monitoring of the R- and P-waves sensed by the electrodes. The balloon is deflated at the occurrence of the R-wave, which has been correctly predicted by the earlier P-wave.

Claims2

Dependent claims

An electrocardiographic measurement method for assistance in controlling deflation of an intra-aortic balloon pump disposed in the thoracic aorta of a patient, comprising the steps of:

disposing at least a pair of spaced electrodes inside the thoracic aorta near the patient's heart;
sensing R-waves and P-waves by said electrodes;
moving said electrodes to a position in the thoracic aorta where the R- and P-waves are substantially equal in magnitude for accurately detecting the occurrence of the P-wave;
predicting subsequent occurrences of the R-waves in accordance with the detected occurrences of the P-waves;
and
initiating deflation of the intra-aortic balloon pump in accordance with the predicted subsequent occurrences of the R-waves such that the balloon pump is deflated synchronously with each R-wave occurrence.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.