Patent · US Expired

Switched discharge pathways for ICD having multiple output capacitors

US5766226A · kind A · utility

155Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 1996
Grant dateJun 16, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/3912
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A high voltage output system for use with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system provides for switched discharge pathways utilized to achieve a windshield wiper-like output. The high voltage output system includes at least two output capacitors each having at least a separately electrically accessible one of the cathode and anode of the capacitor system. A switching control system selectively discharges the at least two capacitor systems in a repeated alternating sequence such that the one of the cathode and anode of the capacitor systems is discharged through a common electrode and the other of the cathode and anode is electrically connected for at least a portion of the discharge to a second and third defibrillation electrode, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the cathode of each of the capacitor systems would be connected to a right ventricular (RV) defibrillation electrode, with the second and third defibrillation electrodes being a superior vena cava (SVC) electrode and a housing can (CAN) electrode. By utilizing the selectively switched discharge pathway system of the present invention, the size of the capacitor system can be reduced because the duratio…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.