EP0280526A2
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EP
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Biphasic waveforms for defibrillation
Assignee: Intermedics Inc
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Filing: 1988-02-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-02-24
Abstract
Abstract An implantable defibrillator is described comprising means for detecting fibrillation, electrical generating means responsive to the detection of fibrillation for producing a biphasic waveform (33-35, 42-46) in which each phase is characterised by an impulse of predetermined polarty, magnitude and duration, in which the first phase is of greater duration than the second phase, and means for delivering the biphasic waveform to provide electrical shock to the ventricles of the heart.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross G. Baker, Jr.
- 👤 Stephen J. Whistler
- 👤 Richard V. Calfee
- 👤 Raymond E. Ideker
- 👤 Edward A. Haluska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3956; A61N1/3906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of defibrillating a heart in fibrillation, comprising the steps of: detecting the onset of fibrillation of the heart, and applying to the fibrillating heart a multiphasic waveform having at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase of the waveform being characterized by a predetermined time duration and by a predetermined polarity and magnitude of voltage, in which the duration of the first phase of the applied waveform is greater than the duration of the second phase.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of defibrillating a heart in fibrillation, comprising the steps of: detecting the onset of fibrillation of the heart, and applying to the fibrillating heart a multiphasic waveform having at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase of the waveform being characterized by a predetermined time duration and by a predetermined polarity and magnitude of voltage, in which the duration of the first phase of the applied waveform is greater than the duration of the second phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of Claim 1, in which: the initial voltage magnitude of the first phase of the applied multiphasic waveform is greater than the initial voltage magnitude of the second phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 1, in which: the step of applying is performed by delivering the multiphasic waveform to a pair of patch electrodes respectively affixed over the right and left ventricles of the heart.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of Claim 3, in which: the patch electrodes are affixed to the epicardium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of Claim 3, in which: the patch electrodes are affixed to the pericardium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 3, in which: the left ventricular patch electrode is used as the cathode for the first phase of the applied multiphasic waveform, and as the anode for the second phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of Claim 1, in which: the waveform is a biphasic waveform.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of terminating ventricular fibrillation by direct internal defibrillation, comprising the steps of: detecting the onset of ventricular defibrillation, responding to that detection by applying a defibrillation shock directly to the ventricles, in which the shock is a voltage of predetermined magnitude, polarity and duration, and thereafter applying a second defibrillating shock directly to the ventricles, in which the second shock is a voltage of opposite polarity and shorter duration than the initially applied shock.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of terminating ventricular fibrillation by direct internal defibrillation, comprising the steps of: detecting the onset of ventricular defibrillation, responding to that detection by applying a defibrillation shock directly to the ventricles, in which the shock is a voltage of predetermined magnitude, polarity and duration, and thereafter applying a second defibrillating shock directly to the ventricles, in which the second shock is a voltage of opposite polarity and shorter duration than the initially applied shock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 8, in which: the second shock is of lower magnitude than the initially applied shock.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of defibrillating the heart, comprising the steps of: placing a first patch electrode over the right ventricle of the heart, placing a second patch electrode over the left ventricle of the heart in spaced relationship to the first patch electrode to form a uniform gap between confronting borders of the two patch electrodes, while encompassing a substantial portion of the ventricular myocardium between the two patch electrodes, toward establishing a uniform potential gradient field throughout the entire ventricular mass when a defibrillating electrical waveform is applied to the electrodes, and applying a defibrillating electrical waveform constituting a biphasic shock having a first phase of longer duration than the second phase thereof, to the electrodes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of defibrillating the heart, comprising the steps of: placing a first patch electrode over the right ventricle of the heart, placing a second patch electrode over the left ventricle of the heart in spaced relationship to the first patch electrode to form a uniform gap between confronting borders of the two patch electrodes, while encompassing a substantial portion of the ventricular myocardium between the two patch electrodes, toward establishing a uniform potential gradient field throughout the entire ventricular mass when a defibrillating electrical waveform is applied to the electrodes, and applying a defibrillating electrical waveform constituting a biphasic shock having a first phase of longer duration than the second phase thereof, to the electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 10, in which the first phase is a voltage of greater magnitude than the second phase.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of Claim 11, further including making the gap between the confronting borders of the two patch electrodes of sufficient width to prevent shunting of current between the confronting borders during application of the defibrillating waveform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of Claim 12, further including making the gap between the confronting borders of the patch electrodes of sufficient width to accommodate the ventricular septum therein, to establish preferential current flow through one ventricle across the septum to the free wall of the other ventricle during application of a defibrillating waveform to the electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of Claim 13, further including making the gap between the confronting borders of the patch electrodes of sufficient width to accommodate the left anterior descending coronary artery and the posterior descending coronary artery therein, to avoid vascular damage from the application of defibrillating waveforms to the electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
An implantable defibrillator, comprising means for detecting fibrillation, electrical generating means responsive to the detection of fibrillation for producing a biphasic waveform in which each phase is characterised by an impulse of predermined polarity, magnitude and duration, in which the first phase is of greater duration than the second phase, and means for delivering said waveform to provide electrical shock to the ventricles of the heart.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
An implantable defibrillator, comprising means for detecting fibrillation, electrical generating means responsive to the detection of fibrillation for producing a biphasic waveform in which each phase is characterised by an impulse of predermined polarity, magnitude and duration, in which the first phase is of greater duration than the second phase, and means for delivering said waveform to provide electrical shock to the ventricles of the heart.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable defibrillator of Claim 15, wherein said generating means produces biphasic waveforms in which each phase ia a truncated exponential pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The implantable defibrillator of Claim 15, wherein said delivering means comprises a pair of patch electrodes, one having a size and shape to be placed over the right ventricle and the other having a size and shape to be placed over the left ventricle, the pair of electrodes cooperating to encompass virtually the entire ventricular myocardium therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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