Method and device for treating cardiac arrhythmias

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717694-B2
Application number	US-202117342405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2021
Priority date	Sep 3, 2009
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

The present invention provides both methods and devices for termination of arrhythmias, such as ventricular or atrial tachyarrhythmias. The device and method involves application of alternating current (AC) for clinically significant durations at selected therapeutic frequencies through the cardiac tissue to a subject experiencing arrhythmia. Methods are also provided to minimize or eliminate pain during defibrillation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a housing configured to be positioned external to a patient; and
a waveform generator configured to generate an alternating current (AC) and an electrical shock, the waveform generator being disposed in the housing and the waveform generator is configured to be connected electrically to at least one electrode configured to be positioned externally on the patient;
wherein the electrical shock is at least 400 volts (V), and
wherein the AC has a frequency in a range between 50 Hz to 20 kHz, has a duration, and includes a ramped amplitude waveform defined by a gradually increasing peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC during at least sixty percent of the duration.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the AC has a frequency between about 50 Hz to 310 Hz.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to administer the AC after a delay from onset of cardiac excitation.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical shock is a biphasic electrical shock following application of the AC.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the AC has a frequency between 50 Hz and 500 Hz.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the AC has a frequency between 500 Hz and 1 kHz.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the AC has a frequency between 250 Hz and 500 Hz.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical shock is delivered by the waveform generator immediately after the application of the AC.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC increases until the application of the electrical shock.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC increases throughout the duration of the AC.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ramped amplitude waveform is a gradually increasing sine wave.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ramped amplitude waveform is a gradually increasing triangular wave.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ramped amplitude waveform is a gradually increasing square wave.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical shock is administered after offset of the AC.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical shock is administered after onset of the AC and no later than offset of the AC.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the duration is in a range of 0.025 to 5 seconds.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the duration is in a range of 0.025 to 2.0 seconds.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the gradually increasing peak-to-peak amplitude increases for at least seventy percent of the duration of the AC.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical shock is a biphasic electrical shock following application of the AC.

20. The device of claim 1 , wherein the frequency between 50 Hz and 20 kHz is a plurality of frequencies between 50 Hz and 20 kHz generated during the duration.

Assignees

• Univ Johns Hopkins

Inventors

• Tandri Harikrishna
• Berger Ronald David
• Weinberg Seth
• Tung Leslie
• Halperin Henry
• Hunter David

Classifications

• A61N1/3962 Primary

  in combination with another heart therapy · CPC title

• A61N1/06

  for high-frequency therapy · CPC title

• A61N1/3621

  for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate · CPC title

• A61N1/3624

  occurring in the atrium, i.e. atrial tachycardia · CPC title

• A61N1/3625

  External stimulators · CPC title