Implantable apparatus for the early diagnosis and suppression of tachycardia in the heart

US5871511A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BIOTRONIK MESS-UND THERAPIEGERATE · DE

Inventors

• Armin Bolz · Buckenhof, DE
• Klaus Bartels · Schreiber, CA
• Erhard Flach · Berlin, DE
• Rainer Hintsche · Berlin, DE
• Manfred Paeschke · Wandlitz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 1997
• Grant date: Feb 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 15, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/3622
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An implantable apparatus for the early diagnosis of tachycardia in the heart is provided with PA1 a microelectrode array, which is in contact with the cardiac muscle tissue, for detecting stimulus conduction potentials in the cardiac muscle tissue, PA1 a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the refractory time of the cardiac muscle cells in the monitored cardiac region, PA1 a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the stimulus conduction velocity in the monitored cardiac muscle region, PA1 a computing device for determining the product value of the refractory time and the stimulus conduction velocity, PA1 a comparator for comparing the product value with a tachycardia threshold, any falling short of the tachycardia threshold signaling a condition of the heart in risk of tachycardia, PA1 a stimulation arrangement for generating antitachycardia stimulation upon detection of a condition of risk of tachycardia in particular via the microelectrode array, and PA1 a control unit for controlling the measuring and evaluation processes within the apparatus.