Method and device for low-energy termination of atrial tachyarrhythmias

An atrial arrhythmia treatment apparatus, comprising:

• an implantable therapy generator adapted to be implanted in a patient, including:
• means for detecting an atrial arrhythmia;
• means for generating a phased unpinning far field therapy having an energy level above a pacing threshold and below a pain threshold of the patient;
• and means for controlling delivery of the phased unpinning far field therapy in response to detection of the atrial arrhythmia;
• and
• at least two leads operably connected to the implantable therapy generator, each lead having at least two electrodes adapted to be positioned proximate an atrium of a heart of the patient through which the phased unpinning far field therapy is selectively delivered to the atrium of the heart;
• wherein the implantable therapy generator is configured to selectively excite the electrodes to create a plurality of different electric fields between the electrodes and the device to deliver a rotating set of phased unpinning far field electrical fields, each of the individual electrical fields of the rotating set of phased unpinning far-field electrical established by a pulse train comprising from two to ten pulses and atrial pacing thresholds having a minimum cycle length ranging from 20% to 99% of a cycle length of the atrial arrhythmia, and each of the individual electrical fields associated with a unique electrode configuration.