Method and apparatus for automatic, adaptive, active facilitation to assess myocardial electrical instability
US5694943A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/7275
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus continuously, automatically, and adaptively facilitate the electrical activity of a patient's heart by pulsing the heart with current. The method and apparatus further continuously, automatically, and adaptively monitor the resulting electrical activity of the patient's heart to assess the patient's likelihood for myocardial electrical instability. The method comprises the steps of injecting current across the patient's heart, monitoring the patient's electrocardiogram for the effects of these current pulses, and adapting the current pulses continuously and automatically to maximize the effects, thereby assessing a patient's likelihood of sudden cardiac death.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.