Method and apparatus for preventing clotting during a trial fibrillation
US6230056A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/395
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for preventing clotting during atrial fibrillation includes optional electrical cardiac output forcing (ECOF) or ICD/AED back up. The device includes a power supply for operating the device and for providing the necessary output forcing signals. The power supply is located in a housing which may be implantable into a human patient. In one embodiment, the housing acts as an electrode. At least one additional electrode is connected to the housing and may be inserted into the human heart. A ventricular lead is mounted to the electrode along with an atrial lead. The housing also contains an electrical cardiac stimulator. When a certain cardiac event, such as atrial fibrillation, is detected, anti-clotting pulses are applied to the heart via the atrial lead. If and when ventricular fibrillation is detected, further pulses of a different voltage level are applied to the heart via the ventricular lead. In one embodiment, the anti-clotting pulses are synchronized to the R-wave sensed by the ventricular lead.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.