US4708145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sequential-pulse, multiple pathway defibrillation method
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-11
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Granted: 1987-11-24
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Expires: 2005-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling cardiac ventricular fibrillation and other tachyarrhythmias. A catheter carrying a first and second electrode is located in the right ventricle such that the first electrode is located in the right ventricle and the second electrode is located in the superior vena cava. A third electrode is located either at the chest wall or at the abdominal cavity. The third electrode can be implanted subcutaneously in the left chest wall. It can also be located in the abdomen immediately beneath the diaphragm. It could also be implanted in the epigastric area overlying the superficial abdominal muscles and underneath the skin and fat. The second and third electrodes are sequentially paired and pulsed with the first electrode to control ventricular fibrillation and other tachyarrhythmias.
Inventors
- 👤 Willis A. Tacker, Jr.
- 👤 Joe D. Bourland
- 👤 Charles F. Babbs
- 👤 Leslie A. Geddes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3918; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0587
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for controlling ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia comprising the steps of locating a first electrode adjacent the right ventricle, locating a second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava, locating a third electrode at the chest wall and sequentially pairing and pulsing two of said electrodes with the remaining electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for controlling ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia comprising the steps of locating a first electrode adjacent the right ventricle, locating a second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava, locating a third electrode at the chest wall and sequentially pairing and pulsing two of said electrodes with the remaining electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of sequentially pairing and pulsing the electrodes with each other comprises the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing the second and third electrodes with the first electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of locating the first electrode adjacent the right ventricle comprises the step of locating the first electrode in the right ventricle and the step of locating the second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior and inferior vena cava comprises locating the second electrode in the superior vena cava.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the steps of locating the first and second electrodes comprises inserting a catheter carrying the first and second electrodes into the right ventricle through the superior vena cava.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of locating the third electrode at the chest wall comprises the step of implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the chest wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the chest wall comprises implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the left chest wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of locating the third electrode at the chest wall comprises the step of implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the chest wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the chest wall comprises implanting the third electrode subcutaneously in the left chest wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing the second and third electrodes with the first electrode further comprises pulsing at a voltage between about 80 and 450 volts, the pulses being separated by an interval of at least 0.1 millisecond.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 3 wherein each pulse has a duration of about 0.1 millisecond to about 5 milliseconds and the pulses are separated by a time interval of about 0.1 millisecond to about 2 milliseconds.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for controlling ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia comprising the steps of locating a first electrode adjacent the right ventricle, locating a second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior and inferior vena cava, locating a third electrode at the abdominal cavity, and sequentially pairing and pulsing two of said electrodes with the remaining electrode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for controlling ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia comprising the steps of locating a first electrode adjacent the right ventricle, locating a second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior and inferior vena cava, locating a third electrode at the abdominal cavity, and sequentially pairing and pulsing two of said electrodes with the remaining electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing the electrodes with each other comprises the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing the second and third electrodes with the first electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of locating the first electrode adjacent the right ventricle comprises the step of locating the first electrode in the right ventricle and the step of locating the second electrode adjacent at least one of the superior and inferior vena cava comprises locating the second electrode in the superior vena cava.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the steps of locating the first and second electrodes comprises inserting a catheter carrying the first and second electrodes into the right ventricle through the superior vena cava.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the steps of locating the third electrode at the abdominal cavity comprises the step of locating the third electrode in the abdomen generally adjacent the diaphragm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of locating the third electrode in the abdomen generally adjacent the diaphragm comprises the step of locating the third electrode immediately beneath the diaphragm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of locating the third electrode at the abdominal cavity comprises the step of implanting the third electrode in the epigastric area overlying the superficial abdominal muscles and underneath the skin and fat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing the second and third electrodes with the first electrode further comprises pulsing at a voltage between about 80 and 450 volts, the pulses being separated by an interval of at least about 0.1 millisecond.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 18 wherein each pulse has a duration of about 0.1 millisecond to about 5 milliseconds and the pulses are separated by a time interval of about 0.1 millisecond to about 2 milliseconds.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of any of the claims 11-18 wherein the step of sequentially pairing and pulsing comprises applying time-separated truncated-exponential pulses having a tilt in a range of 40%-80% to each electrode pair.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-23 | 1991-05-25 | 1991-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-23 | 1995-05-25 | 1995-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-23 | 1999-05-25 | 1999-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |