Method for cardiac defibrillation

A method for cardiac defibrillation with an implanted defibrillator having means for sensing R-waves, energy storage means, charging means and discharging means for delivering a shock to the heart, which method comprises the steps of:

• sensing a patient's R-waves to detect R-R intervals;
• if an arrhythmia is detected, then commencing charging of said storage means;
• determining whether the arrhythmia is still in progress;
• if said arrhythmia is still in progress, then determining if said storage means is charged a predetermined amount;
• if said storage means is charged, said pre-determined amount, then detecting another R-R interval;
• if said another R-R interval is shorter than a selected amount, then delivering a shock to the heart.

A method for cardiac defibrillation with an implanted defibrillator having means for sensing R-waves, energy storage means, charging means and discharging means for delivering a shock to the heart, which method comprises the steps of:

• sensing a patient's R-waves to detect R-R intervals;
• if an arrhythmia is detected, then commencing charging of said storage means;
• determining whether the arrhythmia is still in progress;
• if said arrhythmia is not still in progress, then discontinuing the charging;
• if said arrhythmia is still in progress, then determining if said storage means is charged a predetermined amount;
• if said storage means is charged said predetermined amount, then detecting another R-R interval;
• if said another R-R interval is shorter than a selected amount, then delivering a shock to the heart;
• if said another R-R interval is not shorter than a predetermined amount, then determining whether the arrhythmia is still in progress;
• if said arrhythmia is still in progress then detecting another R-wave, determining whether the previous R-R interval was shorter than a selected amount, and delivering a shock to the heart if said previous R-R interval was shorter than a selected amount;
• and
• if said arrhythmia is not still in progress, then inhibiting the delivery of a shock to the heart.

A method for cardiac defibrillation with an implanted defibrillator having means for sensing R-waves, energy storage means, charging means and discharging means for delivering a shock to the heart, which method comprises the steps of:

• sensing a patient's R-waves to detect R-R intervals;
• if an arrhythmia is detected, then commencing charging of said storage means;
• determining whether the arrhythmia is still in progress;
• if said arrhythmia is still in progress, then determining if said storage means is charged a predetermined amount;
• if said storage means is charged said predetermined amount, then detecting another R-R interval;
• if said another R-R interval is shorter than a selected amount, then delivering a shock to the heart;
• and
• if said another R-R interval is not shorter than a predetermined amount, then determining whether the arrhythmia is still in progress;
• if said arrhythmia is still in progress then detecting another R-wave, determining whether the last R-R interval was shorter than a selected amount, and delivering a shock to the heart if said last R-R interval was shorter than a selected amount.