Patent US5261400A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5261400A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Defibrillator employing transvenous and subcutaneous electrodes and method of use

Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-12
•
Granted: 1993-11-16
•
Expires: 2012-02-12
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A defibrillation pulse generator and lead system particularly adapted to allow for implant via a single incision. The electrode system consists of a right ventricular electrode and a single subcutaneous electrode, which is preferably located on the housing of the implantable defibrillator. The defibrillator is preferably implanted in the left pectoral region of the heart, and is employed as the cathodal electrode during the initial phase of a biphasic defibrillation pulse applied between the two electrodes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gust H. Bardy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 19:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3918

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
An apparatus for defibrillating a human heart, comprising: a first defibrillation electrode means for location in the right ventricle of said human heart; an implantable defibrillation pulse generator having a housing and having a first output coupled to said first defibrillation electrode; and a second defibrillation electrode comprising a conductive portion of said housing of said defibrillation pulse generator and coupled to a second output of said defibrillation pulse generator; and wherein said defibrillation pulse generator is coupled only to said first and second defibrillation electrodes and comprises means for delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse having first and second phases, to said first and second electrodes, such that during said first phase of said biphasic pulse, said first electrode is the anode and said second electrode is the cathode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 129 words
An apparatus for defibrillating a human heart, comprising: a first defibrillation electrode means for location in the right ventricle of said human heart; an implantable defibrillation pulse generator having a housing and having a first output coupled to said first defibrillation electrode; and a second defibrillation electrode comprising a conductive portion of said housing of said defibrillation pulse generator and coupled to a second output of said defibrillation pulse generator; and wherein said defibrillation pulse generator is coupled only to said first and second defibrillation electrodes and comprises means for delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse having first and second phases, to said first and second electrodes, such that during said first phase of said biphasic pulse, said first electrode is the anode and said second electrode is the cathode.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 93 words
An apparatus for defibrillating a human heart, comprising: a first defibrillation electrode means for location in the right ventricle of said human heart; a second defibrillation electrode means for subcutaneous location; an implantable defibrillation pulse generator coupled to said first and second defibrillation electrodes; and wherein said defibrillation pulse generator comprises means for delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse having first and second phases, only to said first and second electrodes, such that during said first phase of said biphasic pulse, said first electrode is the anode and said second electrode is the cathode.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 93 words
An apparatus for defibrillating a human heart, comprising: a first defibrillation electrode means for location in the right ventricle of said human heart; a second defibrillation electrode means for subcutaneous location; an implantable defibrillation pulse generator coupled to said first and second defibrillation electrodes; and wherein said defibrillation pulse generator comprises means for delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse having first and second phases, only to said first and second electrodes, such that during said first phase of said biphasic pulse, said first electrode is the anode and said second electrode is the cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first defibrillation electrode comprises a defibrillation electrode fabricated of platinum or platinum alloy.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of defibrillating a patient's heart, comprising: implanting a transvenous electrode lead in the right ventricle of said patient's heart; subcutaneously implanting a defibrillation pulse generator, having a housing and employing a portion of said metallic housing as a defibrillation electrode, in the left pectoral region of said patient's body such that said portion of said housing is facing inward; and delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse only between said transvenous electrode and said portion of said housing of said defibrillation pulse generator such that during the first phase of said pulse, said transvenous electrode is the anode and said portion of said defibrillation pulse generator's housing is the cathode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of defibrillating a patient's heart, comprising: implanting a transvenous electrode lead in the right ventricle of said patient's heart; subcutaneously implanting a defibrillation pulse generator, having a housing and employing a portion of said metallic housing as a defibrillation electrode, in the left pectoral region of said patient's body such that said portion of said housing is facing inward; and delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse only between said transvenous electrode and said portion of said housing of said defibrillation pulse generator such that during the first phase of said pulse, said transvenous electrode is the anode and said portion of said defibrillation pulse generator's housing is the cathode.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of defibrillating a patient's heart, comprising: implanting transvenous electrode lead in the right ventricle of said patient's heart; subcutaneously implanting a subcutaneous defibrillation electrode, in the left pectoral region of said patient's body; and delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse only between said transvenous electrode and said subcutaneous defibrillation electrode such that during the first phase of said pulse, said transvenous electrode is the anode and said subcutaneous defibrillation electrode is the cathode.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of defibrillating a patient's heart, comprising: implanting transvenous electrode lead in the right ventricle of said patient's heart; subcutaneously implanting a subcutaneous defibrillation electrode, in the left pectoral region of said patient's body; and delivering a biphasic defibrillation pulse only between said transvenous electrode and said subcutaneous defibrillation electrode such that during the first phase of said pulse, said transvenous electrode is the anode and said subcutaneous defibrillation electrode is the cathode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said step of implanting said first transvenous electrode lead comprises implanting a lead having a defibrillation electrode fabricated of platinum or platinum alloy.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4727877A Cited
US4953551A Cited
US5014696A Cited
US4922927A Cited
EP0453761A1 Cited
US5144960A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-11-15 1997-05-17 1997-11-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-11-15 2001-05-17 2001-11-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-11-15 2005-05-17 2005-11-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag