Cardioversion energy reduction system

US5836976A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Xiaoyi Min · Thousand Oaks, US
• Li Wang · Mahtomedi, US
• Rahul Mehra · Stillwater, US
• Paul J. DeGroot · Brooklyn Park, US
• Walter H. Olson · North Oaks, US
• Luc R. Mongeon · Minneapolis, US
• Michael R. S. Hill · Minneapolis, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 1997
• Grant date: Nov 17, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/3987
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In an implantable pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator, a system for correlating the delivery of a cardioversion therapy to an optimum point or phase of the respiratory cycle of the patient to effect delivery of the therapy when the impedance between the cardioversion electrodes is minimized. In a first application for use with cardioversion electrodes located substantially in contact with the heart chamber, the optimum point or phase is at the end of inspiration. In a second application for use with at least one cardioversion electrode located remotely from the heart chamber, the optimum point or phase is at end expiration or beginning of inspiration. The cardioversion therapy is delivered in synchrony with a ventricular sense event, if present. If the optimum point or phase of the respiratory cycle cannot be determined during a therapy time, a pre-shock may be delivered to elicit a respiration cycle through a stimulated contraction of the diaphragm.