Atrial defibrillator and method

Patent 5282837 Issued on February 1, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 12, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3614954

3614955

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Inventors

Assignee

InControl, Inc.

Application

No. 685130 filed on 04/12/1991

US Classes:

607/5, Cardioverting/defibrillating607/4Combined cardioverting/defibrillating and pacing

Examiners

Primary: Kamm, William E.
Assistant: Schaetzle, Kennedy J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foley & Lardner

Foreign Patent References

0060117 EP. 09/13/1982
0191404 EP. 08/13/1986
0202748 EP 11/13/1986
0206248 EP. 12/13/1986
0373953 EP. 06/13/1990
0401962 EP. 12/13/1990
0410954 EP. 01/13/1991

International Class

A61N 001/39

Abstract

An implantable atrial defibrillator provides a pulse of defibrillating electrical energy to the atria of the heart in synchronism with sensed R waves in response to non-coincident sensing of an R wave at first and second areas of the heart. The defibrillating pulse is provided after a predetermined number of consecutive R waves are non-coincidently sensed to assure reliable synchronization. The atrial defibrillator is also operational in a marker mode wherein a number of synchronization marker pulses are delivered to the heart for detection on an externally generated electrocardiogram. The atrial fibrillation detector of the defibrillator is normally disabled and is activated when the sensed ventricular activity indicates a probability of atrial fibrillation to conserve a depletable power source. An endocardial lead is also described which ensures that the delivered atrial defibrillating electrical energy is substantially confined to the atria of the heart.