Multi-Path Transthoracic Defibrillation and Cardioversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016193473-A1
Application number	US-201514930576-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2003
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

External electromagnetic stimulation of the interior of the body by applying three or more electrodes to the exterior of the patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the interior of the patient, determining impedance information representative of an impedance distribution across the interior of the body, delivering an electromagnetic waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths, wherein at least one parameter of the waveform is selected using the impedance information to produce a selected current density distribution at one or more locations within the interior of the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of performing transthoracic defibrillation, comprising:
attaching three or more electrodes to the thorax of a patient to establish a plurality of electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient; using at least two different defibrillation circuits to generate at least two generally different defibrillation waveforms; delivering one of the at least two different defibrillation waveforms across each of the at least two electrical paths, and synchronizing delivery of the at least two defibrillation waveforms by communications between the at least two different defibrillation circuits.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the defibrillation circuits each comprise a processor, an energy delivery circuit, and a switching circuit.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the defibrillation circuits are contained in separate housings, and the communications occurs between the housings.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the switching circuit is capable of generating a biphasic or multiphasic defibrillation waveform.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing delivering includes analog communication between the defibrillation circuits.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing delivering includes digital communication between the defibrillation circuits.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the defibrillation circuits are contained in separate housings.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein there are at least first and second defibrillation waveforms, and wherein delivery of the second defibrillation waveform is initiated after a delay interval following initiation of delivery of the first waveform.

Assignees

• Zoll Medical Corp

Inventors

• Freeman Gary A
• Brewer James E
• Lopin Michael L

Classifications

• A61N1/3912 Primary

  Output circuitry therefor, e.g. switches · CPC title

• A61B5/0536

  Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography · CPC title

• A61N1/3987

  characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock · CPC title

• A61N1/3918 Primary

  characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration · CPC title

• A61N1/3906

  characterised by the form of the shockwave · CPC title