Method of using electrical energy to produce temporary conduction block for defibrillation and cardioversion
US6070590A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3956
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for treating arrhythmias which includes the steps of detecting an arrhythmia, and, in response to detection of the arrhythmia, delivering electrical energy to a targeted part of myocardial tissue in such a manner as to create a transient conduction block in the targeted part of the myocardial tissue without causing permanent damage to the targeted part of the myocardial tissue. The electrical energy can be continuous or pulsed RF, or continuous or pulsed DC. The detected arrhythmia can be atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular fibrillation, or other type of arrhythmia. The targeted part of the myocardial tissue constitutes a critical part of the reentrant pathway or reentrant circuit required to sustain the detected arrhythmia. The electrical energy is preferably delivered via a catheter-based electrode which is in direct contact with the targeted part of the myocardial tissue, for either a prescribed period of time or until the arrhythmia is no longer detected (i.e., is terminated). In the former case, the prescribed period of time can be either sufficient to ensure that the arrhythmia can no longer be sustained, or sufficient to ensure that the arrhythmia is or…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.