Fast recovery sensor amplifier circuit for implantable medical device

Abstract

Therapeutic shocks generated by implantable cardiac stimulators, such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices, may result in residual charges being deposited on the defibrillation electrodes and/or polarization of the tissues surrounding the defibrillation electrodes. These parasitic charges and polarization may mask a possible ventricular fibrillation of the heart following the application of the therapeutic shocks because such a ventricular fibrillation is characterized by intrinsic signals of very small amplitudes. A small duration pulse is applied to the electrodes right after a therapeutic shock. In addition, or alternatively, the electrodes can also be shorted together to dissipate the parasitic charges and the polarization of the tissue. As a result, a ventricular fibrillation can be detected earlier than in previous cardiac stimulators.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.