Claims
- 1. An implantable system for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart, said system comprising:
a first atrial defibrillation electrode configured for stimulating Bachmann's bundle and for positioning on or adjacent Bachmann's bundle along the superior aspect of the atrium and adjacent to the atrial septum; a second atrial defribrillation electrode which together with said first atrial defibrillation electrode provides a pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes; and a pulse generator operatively associated with said pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes for delivering an atrial defibrillation pulse.
- 2. The implantable system according to claim 1, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, said first catheter configured for insertion into the right atrium of said heart without extending into the right ventricle of said heart.
- 3. An implantable system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to be positioned within a trans-septal puncture in the atrial septum or in Bachmann's bundle.
- 4. An implantable system according to claim 1, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, said first catheter has a distal end portion and a terminal screw connected to the distal end portion, whereby said first electrode may be fixed to said atrial septum or Bachmann's bundle with said terminal screw.
- 5. An implantable system according to claim 1, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, and said first catheter has a distal end portion and a retractable hook connected to said distal end portion, whereby said first electrode may be fixed to the atrial septum or Bachmann's bundle with said hook.
- 6. An implantable system according to claim 1, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, said first catheter having a distal end portion and an expandable member connected to said distal end portion, with said first electrode connected to said expandable member.
- 7. An implantable system according to claim 1, further comprising a second catheter configured for insertion through the coronary sinus and into a vein on the surface of the left ventricle of the heart, wherein said second electrode is connected to the second catheter.
- 8. An implantable system according to claim 1, further comprising an implantable housing having an external surface portion, with said pulse generator contained within the housing, and with the second electrode connected to the external surface portion of the housing.
- 9. An implantable system according to claim 1, further comprising a second catheter, with said first catheter connected to said second catheter.
- 10. An implantable system according to claim 9, wherein said second catheter is configured for positioning in the right ventricle or coronary sinus of said heart.
- 11. A method for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart, said method comprising:
positioning a first atrial defibrillation electrode on or adjacent Bachmann's bundle along the superior aspect of the atrium and in or adjacent to the atrial septum for stimulating Bachmann's bundle; positioning a second atrial defribrillation electrode to provide a pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes together with said said first atrial defibrillation electrode; and administering an atrial defibrillation pulse through said pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes.
- 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, and said first catheter is inserted into the right atrium of said heart without extending into the right ventricle of said heart.
- 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the said first atrial defibrillation electrode is positioned within a trans-septal puncture in the atrial septum or in Bachmann's bundle.
- 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, said first catheter has a distal end portion and a terminal screw connected to the distal end portion, and said first atrial defibrillation electrode is fixed to the atrial septum with said terminal screw.
- 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, and said first catheter has a distal end portion and a retractable hook connected to said distal end portion, and said first atrial defibrillation electrode is fixed to the atrial septum or Bachmann's bundle with said hook.
- 16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first atrial defibrillation electrode is carried by a first catheter, said first catheter having a distal end portion and an expandable member connected to said distal end portion, with said first electrode connected to said expandable member, and said first atrial defibrillation electrode is positioned by expanding said expandable member.
- 17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising inserting a second catheter through the coronary sinus and into a vein on the surface of the left ventricle of the heart, wherein said second electrode is connected to said second catheter.
- 18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising inserting a second catheter into said subject, with said first catheter connected to said second catheter.
- 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said second catheter is positioned in the right ventricle or coronary sinus of said heart.
- 20. A transveneous catheter for stimulating the heart of a patient at separate locations therein, said catheter comprising:
a catheter body having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion; a first electrode connected to said catheter body distal portion; a catheter appendage having a proximal portion and a distal portion said appendage proximal portion connected to said catheter body intermediate portion; and a second electrode connected to said appendage distal portion.
- 21. A transveneous catheter according to claim 20, wherein said catheter body is configured for insertion into the right ventricle of the heart.
- 22. A transveneous catheter according to claim 20, wherein said catheter body is configured for insertion through the coronary sinus ostium and into the coronary sinus of the heart.
- 23. A transveneous catheter according to claim 20, wherein said second electrode is an aterial electrode.
- 24. A transveneous catheter according to claim 20, wherein said second electrode is an atrial septum electrode.
- 25. A transveneous catheter according to claim 20, wherein said second electrode is a Bachmann's bundle electrode.
- 26. A method for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart, comprising the steps of:
providing a set of atrial defibrillation electrodes for defibrillating said patient's heart, said set including a first atrial defibrillation electrode positioned in the superior vena cava of said patient; delivering a first defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, and then delivering a second defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, wherein at least one of said first and second defibrillation pulses is delivered with said first atrial defibrillation electrode.
- 27. A method according to claim 26, said set of atrial defibrillation electrodes further comprising a second atrial defibrillation electrode positioned in the coronary sinus of said heart, and wherein at least one of said first and second defibrillation pulses is delivered with said second atrial defibrillation electrode.
- 28. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least one of said first and second defibrillation pulses is delivered between said first and second defibrillation electrodes.
- 29. A method for defibrillating the atria of a patient's heart, comprising:
delivering a first defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, and then delivering a second defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, and wherein the leading edge peak voltage of said second defibrillation pulse is at least 95% of the leading edge peak voltage of said first defibrillation pulse.
- 30. A system for defibrillating the atria of a patient's heart, comprising:
a pulse generator configured for delivering a first defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, and then delivering a second defibrillation pulse to the atria of said heart, wherein the leading edge peak voltage of said second defibrillation pulse is at least 95% of the leading edge peak voltage of said first defibrillation pulse.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/827,535, filed Apr. 6, 2001, which in turn claims the benefit U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/196,722, filed Apr. 13, 2000, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
[0002] This invention was made with Government support under National Institute of Health grant HL-42760. The Government has certain rights to this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60196722 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09827535 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Child |
09978513 |
Oct 2001 |
US |