초록 ▼

An implantable electrical device comprising an RV coil and a pacing probe. The RV coil provides defibrillation and cardioversion waveforms to the heart and the pacing probe provides pacing signals to the heart and also acts as a sensor of the heart's intrinsic activity. The pacing probe is advantage

An implantable electrical device comprising an RV coil and a pacing probe. The RV coil provides defibrillation and cardioversion waveforms to the heart and the pacing probe provides pacing signals to the heart and also acts as a sensor of the heart's intrinsic activity. The pacing probe is advantageously positioned within the apex of the heart. The device includes a controllable interconnect circuit that interconnects the RV coil and the pacing probe so that when the RV coil provides a defibrillation or cardioversion therapeutic shock to the heart, a portion of the energy provided to the RV coil is provided to the pacing probe so that an electrical shock is simultaneously provided to the apex for defibrillation or cardioversion purposes. In the preferred embodiment, a shunt resistor is positioned in series with the pacing probe so that the current being supplied to the pacing probe is limited. This protects the pacing probe from damage and also reduces the possibility that the cardiac cells surrounding the pacing probe will be stunned as a result of the pacing probe applying a therapeutic shock to the apex of the heart for defibrillation or cardioversion purposes.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An implantable electrical device for applying a therapeutic stimulation pulse to a heart of a patient comprising:first electrode adapted to be positioned within a ventricle of the heart in a first position and configured to provide a first therapeutic stimulation pulse to

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An implantable electrical device for applying a therapeutic stimulation pulse to a heart of a patient comprising:first electrode adapted to be positioned within a ventricle of the heart in a first position and configured to provide a first therapeutic stimulation pulse to the heart wherein the first therapeutic stimulation pulse is configured to be provided for defibrillation or cardioversion purposes;a second electrode adapted to be positioned within the ventricle of the heart in a second position wherein the second electrode is further configured to provide pacing pulses to a second region of the heart adjacent the second position;a current limiting circuit being configured so that, when the first electrode is providing the first therapeutic stimulation pulse to the heart, the second electrode provides an additional therapeutic stimulation pulse to the second region of the heart for cardioversion or defibrillation purposes wherein the circuit includes a means for limiting the current provided by the second electrode to the second region during delivery of the additional stimulation pulse; anda controller that provides therapeutic stimulation pulses to the heart via the first and second electrodes and wherein the controller enables the current limiting means when providing the first therapeutic stimulation pulse to the heart and wherein the current limiting means is disabled during delivery of pacing pulses to the second region of the heart via the second electrode.