Patent · US Expired

Passive defibrillation electrodes for use with cardiac assist device

US6282445A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
3References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 1999
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/3904
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A cardiac support system includes a ventricular assist device adapted to be extended over a portion of a patient's heart to assist the ventricles of the heart to properly contract. One or more stimulating electrodes are mounted on the ventricular assist device in selected locations such that when the ventricular assist device is extended over the heart, the stimulation electrodes are in close proximity to the surface of the heart. The system further includes one or more external pick-up electrodes that receive externally applied energy and conduct that energy to the one or more stimulating electrodes via conductive leads. The external pick-up electrodes may be mounted on the outer surface of the ventricular assist device, or can be located at some other location inside the patient's body. The externally-applied energy will typically be supplied by standard defibrillation paddles located outside of the patient's body. In place of the pick-up electrodes, the stimulating electrodes can be wired directly to, respectively, a source of electrical energy and a ground plate.

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