Multi-path transthoracic defibrillation and cardioversion
AssigneeZOLL Medical Corporation
InventorsGary A. Freeman, James E. Brewer, Michael L. Lopin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
External electromagnetic stimulation of the interior of the body by applying three or more electrodes to the exterior of the patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the interior of the patient, determining impedance information representative of an impedance distribution across the interior of the body, delivering an electromagnetic waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths, wherein at least one parameter of the waveform is selected using the impedance information to produce a selected current density distribution at one or more locations within the interior of the body.
Claims50
A transthoracic defibrillator for delivering one or a series of shocks during external defibrillation, the defibrillator comprising:
- three or more electrodes configured to be attached to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
- cables to connect the three or more electrodes to a defibrillator circuit contained in a defibrillator housing;
- wherein the defibrillator circuit is configured to deliver a different and independently controllable waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths during the same defibrillation shock, and
- wherein the defibrillator circuit comprises a processing unit for determining a transthoracic impedance distribution and for selecting a waveform parameter of the at least two electrical paths based on the transthoracic impedance distribution.
A transthoracic defibrillator for delivering one or a series of shocks during external defibrillation, the defibrillator comprising:
- three or more electrodes configured to be attached to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient;
- cables to connect at least some of the electrodes to a defibrillator circuit contained in a defibrillator housing;
- wherein the defibrillator circuit is configured to deliver a first waveform across a first electrical path and a second waveform across a second electrical path during the same defibrillation shock, wherein the first and second waveforms are independently controllable and differ in shape and/or amplitude,
- wherein the locations and configurations of the electrodes and the first and second waveforms are configured so that the first waveform produces a first current vector at the heart that is substantially aligned with the long axis of the fibers of a first portion of the heart and so that the second waveform produces a second current vector at the heart that is substantially aligned with the long axis of the fibers of a second portion of the heart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.