Atrial defibrillator, lead systems, and method
US5433729A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2001/0585
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable atrial defibrillator provides a pulse of defibrillating electrical energy to the atria of the heart in synchronism with sensed R waves in response to non-coincident sensing of an R wave at first and second areas of the heart. The defibrillating pulse is provided after a predetermined number of consecutive R waves are non-coincidently sensed to assure reliable synchronization. The atrial defibrillator is also operational in a marker mode wherein a number of synchronization marker pulses are delivered to the heart for detection on an externally generated electrocardiogram. The atrial fibrillation detector of the defibrillator is normally disabled and is activated when the sensed ventricular activity indicates a probability of atrial fibrillation to conserve a depletable power source. A plurality of lead systems are also described for use with the atrial defibrillator which reduce the quantity of electrical energy required to defibrillate the heart and ensure that the delivered atrial defibrillating electrical energy is substantially confined to the atria of the heart.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.