US4735206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for defibrillating and pacing the heart
Assignee: Brunswick Biomedical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1986-10-07
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Granted: 1988-04-05
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Expires: 2006-10-07
Abstract
Abstract When the heart is in ventricular fibrillation, the heart cells that stimulate the heart muscles produce rapid repetitive excitation without coordinated contraction of the ventricle. There is no effective simultaneous action to make the heart beat in a rhythmic fashion. A defibrillator delivers to the heart cells and muscles, enough voltage to override the erratic voltages in the heart (called repolarization) so they can rearrange themselves with order. The heart can then start over to deliver a regular rhythm. In accordance with the present invention, two small intimately located electrodes, one in the lower esophagus where it is intimate to the posterior section of the heart and the other small electrode on the chest over the sternum where it is close to the anterior portion of the heart, provide a precise electrical path between the two electrodes. A regulated power supply is turned on, and a relatively small voltage builds from zero over a period of approximately three-tenths of a second to its peak of approximately 150 volts. During this period, gentle repolarizing of the heart takes place. When the heart is repolarized, the heart cells become neutral. They are vulnerable to a stimulas. In accordance with a second embodiment of this invention, the defibrillation pulse is immediately followed by a stimulas in the form of pacing pulses that are at the rate of approximately 70 to 100 pulses per minute and of a magnitude of approximately 75 to 150 milliamps. The switch from one mode to the other is made without changing the location of the electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl E. Hewson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0517; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of defibrillating the heart of a patient comprising the step of impressing a voltage pulse to the heart having an initial value of zero and rising over approximately a three-tenths of a second period to a value in the order of 150 volts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of defibrillating the heart of a patient comprising the step of impressing a voltage pulse to the heart having an initial value of zero and rising over approximately a three-tenths of a second period to a value in the order of 150 volts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further characterized by placing electrodes on opposite sides of the heart and imposing the voltage across the electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further characterized by utilizing an ECG-type electrode placed on the chest of the patient.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of defibrillating the heart comprising the steps of placing a first electrode in the body posterior to the heart and a second electrode exterior of the body and anterior the heart, and impressing a voltage across the electrodes for a period of approximately three-tenths of a second and during which period the voltage goes from zero to a selected value of not more than 150 volts and then immediately returns to zero.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of defibrillating the heart comprising the steps of placing a first electrode in the body posterior to the heart and a second electrode exterior of the body and anterior the heart, and impressing a voltage across the electrodes for a period of approximately three-tenths of a second and during which period the voltage goes from zero to a selected value of not more than 150 volts and then immediately returns to zero.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of defibrillating the heart comprising the steps of placing a first electrode having at least one contact internally in the lower third of the patient's esophagus, placing a second electrode having an ECG-type contact externally on the patient's chest in the region of the sternum with the contact in electrical communication with the patient's skin, and impressing a voltage across the internal and external electrodes for a period of approximately three-tenths of a second during which period the voltage increases from zero to a selected voltage of not more than 150 volts and returns to zero.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of defibrillating the heart comprising the steps of placing a first electrode having at least one contact internally in the lower third of the patient's esophagus, placing a second electrode having an ECG-type contact externally on the patient's chest in the region of the sternum with the contact in electrical communication with the patient's skin, and impressing a voltage across the internal and external electrodes for a period of approximately three-tenths of a second during which period the voltage increases from zero to a selected voltage of not more than 150 volts and returns to zero.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 5 further characterized by said external electrode being an ECG-type electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
Medical apparatus for defibrillating the heart comprising an elongated electrode member for insertion into the esophagus of the subject, a plurality of spaced-apart electrical contacts on the member for location in the lower third of the subject's esophagus when the member is inserted, a second electrode member having a contact for placement externally on the chest of the subject in electrical contact with the skin, and an electrical circuit including a power source connected to the electrode member for imposing a voltage across the member increasing over a period of approximately three-tenths of a second from zero a selected voltage of not more than 150 volts and thereafter immediately returning to zero volts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
Medical apparatus for defibrillating the heart comprising an elongated electrode member for insertion into the esophagus of the subject, a plurality of spaced-apart electrical contacts on the member for location in the lower third of the subject's esophagus when the member is inserted, a second electrode member having a contact for placement externally on the chest of the subject in electrical contact with the skin, and an electrical circuit including a power source connected to the electrode member for imposing a voltage across the member increasing over a period of approximately three-tenths of a second from zero a selected voltage of not more than 150 volts and thereafter immediately returning to zero volts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Medical apparatus as defined in claim 7 further characterized by said electrical contacts on the elongated electrode member being ring contacts spaced longitudinally on said member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Medical apparatus as defined in claim 8 further characterized by said contact of the second electrode member being an ECG-type contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Medical apparatus as defined in claim 7 further characterized by said contact of the second electrode member being an ECG-type contact.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of conversion of the heart from a fibrillation mode comprising the steps of placing a first electrode in the body posterior to the heart and a second electrode exterior of the body and anterior the heart, and impressing a defibrillating pulse and immediately after the defibrillating pulse impressing pacing pulses across the electrodes as part of the conversion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of conversion of the heart from a fibrillation mode comprising the steps of placing a first electrode in the body posterior to the heart and a second electrode exterior of the body and anterior the heart, and impressing a defibrillating pulse and immediately after the defibrillating pulse impressing pacing pulses across the electrodes as part of the conversion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the defibrillating pulse increases from zero to approximately 150 volts and returns to zero in a period of approximately three-tenths of a second.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the pacing pulses are at a rate of approximately 70 to 100 pulses per minute and at a magnitude of approximately 75 to 150 milliamps.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
Medical apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising an elongated electrode member having at least one contact for insertion into the esophagus of the subject, a second electrode member having a contact for placement externally over the sternum of the subject in electrical contact with the skin, and an electrical circuit including a power source and connected to the electrode members for imposing a defibrillating pulse across the electrodes and immediately thereafter a series of pacing pulses across the electrodes as part of the conversion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
Medical apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising an elongated electrode member having at least one contact for insertion into the esophagus of the subject, a second electrode member having a contact for placement externally over the sternum of the subject in electrical contact with the skin, and an electrical circuit including a power source and connected to the electrode members for imposing a defibrillating pulse across the electrodes and immediately thereafter a series of pacing pulses across the electrodes as part of the conversion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the electrical circuit has a first part which generates a pulse for defibrillation having an initial value of zero and rising over approximately a three-tenths of a second period to a value in the order of 150 volts and a second part which generates a series of pacing pulses having a magnitude of approximately 70 at 150 milliamps, and means for connecting the first part first and automatically the second part second to the electrodes.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of conversion of the heart from a fibrillation mode comprising the steps of impressing a defibrillating pulse upon the heart to place the heart cells in a neutral condition, and immediately after the defibrillating pulse impressing pacing pulses on the heart as part of the conversion.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of conversion of the heart from a fibrillation mode comprising the steps of impressing a defibrillating pulse upon the heart to place the heart cells in a neutral condition, and immediately after the defibrillating pulse impressing pacing pulses on the heart as part of the conversion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising a pair of electrodes which may be positioned adjacent the heart, a first circuit connected to the electrodes for impressing a defibrillating pulse across the electrodes for placing the cells of the heart in a neutral condition, a second circuit connected to the electrodes for impressing pacing pulses across the electrodes for pacing the heart, and means connected to each of the circuits for activating the second circuit as part of the conversion immediately after the first circuit while the heart cells are in the nuetral condition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising a pair of electrodes which may be positioned adjacent the heart, a first circuit connected to the electrodes for impressing a defibrillating pulse across the electrodes for placing the cells of the heart in a neutral condition, a second circuit connected to the electrodes for impressing pacing pulses across the electrodes for pacing the heart, and means connected to each of the circuits for activating the second circuit as part of the conversion immediately after the first circuit while the heart cells are in the nuetral condition.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of defibrillating the heart of a patient comprising the step of impressing a voltage pulse to the heart having an initial value of zero and rising over approximately a three-tenths of a second period up to a selected value of not more than 150 volts.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of defibrillating the heart of a patient comprising the step of impressing a voltage pulse to the heart having an initial value of zero and rising over approximately a three-tenths of a second period up to a selected value of not more than 150 volts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising means including a first circuit for impressing a defibrillating pulse upon the heart, means including a second circuit for impressing pacing pulses upon the heart, and means connected to each of the circuits for automatically activating the second circuit immediately after the first circuit so that the pacing pulses immediately follow the defibrillating pulse as part of the conversion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for converting a fibrillating heart comprising means including a first circuit for impressing a defibrillating pulse upon the heart, means including a second circuit for impressing pacing pulses upon the heart, and means connected to each of the circuits for automatically activating the second circuit immediately after the first circuit so that the pacing pulses immediately follow the defibrillating pulse as part of the conversion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the first electrical circuit generates a pulse which in a period of three-tenths of a second increases from zero to a selected voltage up to 150 volts and returns to zero.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the second circuit generates a series of pulses having a magnitude of approximately 70 to 150 milliamps.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the second circuit generates a series of pulses having a magnitude of approximately 70 to 150 milliamps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-05 | 1991-10-05 | 1992-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-05 | 1995-10-05 | 1996-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-05 | 1999-10-05 | 2000-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |