Electrotherapy method
US5620470A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3912
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention provides an external defibrillator and defibrillation method that automatically compensates for patient-to-patient impedance differences in the delivery of electrotherapeutic pulses for defibrillation and cardioversion. In a preferred embodiment, the defibrillator has an energy source that may be discharged through electrodes on the patient to provide a biphasic voltage or current pulse. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second phase duration and initial first phase amplitude are predetermined values. In a second aspect of the invention, the duration of the first phase of the pulse may be extended if the amplitude of the first phase of the pulse fails to fall to a threshold value by the end of the predetermined first phase duration, as might occur with a high impedance patient. In a third aspect of the invention, the first phase ends when the first phase amplitude drops below a threshold value or when the first phase duration reaches a threshold time value, whichever comes first, as might occur with a low to average impedance patient. This method and apparatus of altering the delivered biphasic pulse thereby compensates for patient impedance differences b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.