Electrical cardiac output forcer

Abstract

An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. Forcing fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 693,551, filed Oct. 20, 2000, entitled, “ELECTRICAL CARDIAC OUTPUT FORCER;” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 139,822, filed Aug. 25, 1998, entitled, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY FORCING CARDIAC OUTPUT IN AN ARRHYTHMIA PATIENT,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,306, issued Dec. 26, 2000; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 754,712, filed Dec. 6, 1996, entitled, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY ELECTRICALLY FORCING CARDIAC OUTPUT IN A TACHYARRHYTHMIA PATIENT,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,703, issued Nov. 2, 1999; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 543,001, filed Oct. 13, 1995, entitled, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARILY ELECTRICALLY FORCING CARDIAC OUTPUTIN A TACHYARRHYTHMIA PATIENT,” now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 251,349, filed May 31, 1994, entit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a method and device for stimulating cardiac cells to force them to contract and pump blood during fibrillation, tachycardia, or asystole. The device can be used as a standalone external or internal device, or as a backup to other cardiac devices. It uses electrical fields to maintain some cardiac output and can be implanted in high-risk patients to provide enough time for them to reach a hospital. The method has been tested in animals and has been found to be effective in maintaining cardiac output. Previous attempts at defibrillation using multiple pulses have not been successful in reducing energy thresholds. The invention offers a new approach that eliminates the need for defibrillation shocks and can sustain life indefinitely."

Problems solved by technology

Paramedics cannot usually respond rapidly enough with their external defibrillators to restore life.

While it works well at restoring normal function, the ICD is large in size and not practical for a truly prophylactic device.

In addition, external defibrillators are limited in their performance.

The defibrillation approach does not work satisfactorily.

External devices are too slow in arrival and implantable defibrillators are excessively large (and expensive) for prophylactic use.

Images