Implantable electrical vagal stimulation for prevention or interruption of life threatening arrhythmias
US5330507A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36585
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for stimulating the right or left vagus nerve with continuous and/or phasic electrical pulses, the latter in a specific relationship with the R-wave of the patient's electrogram. The automatic detection of the need for vagal stimulation is responsive to increases in the heart rate greater than a predetermined threshold, the occurrence of frequent or complex ventricular arrhythmias, and/or a change in the ST segment elevation greater than a predetermined or programmed threshold. The system is described with a microprocessor driven, brady therapy device with programming and telemetry capabilities for recording in memory the aforementioned stimulation triggering indicia, including electrogram segments for periods of time preceding and following each instance of vagal stimulation for telemetry out on command.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.