Claims
- 1. An implantable system for treating cardiac arrhythmia with a cardioversion/defibrillation waveform, comprising:
- an implantable pulse generator including an electrically conductive housing and circuitry to detect the cardiac arrhythmia and deliver the cardioversion/defibrillation waveform,
- a first transvenous electrode connected to the circuitry and implantable in a right ventricle,
- a second transvenous electrode connected to the circuitry and implantable in a supraventricular region, and
- a third electrode connected to the circuitry and implantable in a subcutaneous region,
- in which the circuitry delivers the cardioversion/defibrillation waveform between the electrically conducting housing and one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode.
- 2. The system of claim 1, in which the circuitry is electrically connected to the electrically conductive housing such that the housing is a negative cathode relative to one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode, and the circuitry delivers the cardioversion/defibrillation waveform between the electrically conductive housing and one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode.
- 3. The system of claim 1, in which the circuitry is electrically connected to the electrically conductive housing such that the electrically conductive housing is a positive anode relative to one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode, and the circuitry delivers the cardioversion/defibrillation waveform between the housing and one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode.
- 4. The system of claim 1, in which the circuitry delivers the cardioversion/defibriilation waveform between the electrically conductive housing and, in response to detection of atrial arrhythmia by the circuitry, one or more of the second electrode and the third electrode.
- 5. The system of claim 1, in which the circuitry delivers the cardioversion/defibrillation waveform between the electrically conductive housing and the second electrode in response to detection of atrial arrhythmia by the circuitry, the second electrode being located in a right atrium of a heart.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/917,899, filed Jul. 24, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,574, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/514,251 filed Apr. 25, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,353.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
D. L. Jones, et al., "Internal Cardiac Defibrillation in Man: Pronounced Improvement with Sequential Pulse Delivery to Two Different Lead Orientations", Circulation, vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 484-491 (Mar. 1986). |
Continuations (1)
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Date |
Country |
Parent |
917899 |
Jul 1992 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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514251 |
Apr 1990 |
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