[54] CARDIAC INSULATION FOR DEFIBRILLATION
[75] Inventor: Peter A. Altman, Woodside, Calif.
[73] Assignee: Ventritex, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.
[21] Appl. No.: 226,742
[22] Filed: Apr. 12,1994
[51] Int. CI.6 A61N 1/39
[52] U.S. CI 607/5; 607/63; 128/908;
128/897
[58] Field of Search 607/5, 63, 96,
607/113, 129; 128/908, 897, 899; 600/37;
601/153
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,034,501 5/1962 Hewson 601/153
3,983,863 10/1976 Janke et al 600/37
4,605,006 8/1986 Jacques 607/113
4,676,790 6/1987 Kem 623/5
4,947,843 8/1990 Wright et al 607/96
5,044,374 9/1991 Lindemans et al. .
5,249,574 10/1993 Bush et al 607/9
5,290,299 3/1994 Fain et al 606/142
4, Part 2, Oct. 1993, pp 1-592, No. 3185.
"Comparison of Defibrillation Probability of Success
Curves for an Endorcardial Lead Configuration With and
Without an Inactive Epicardial Patch" Callihan, eta 1., JACC,
vol. 25, No. 6, May 1995:1373-9.
"Cardiac Compression Significantly Improves Defibrillation
Efficacy", Salim F. Idriss, et al., Circulation, vol. 88, No. 4,
Part 2, Oct. 1993, pp. 1-592 No. 3186.
"ICD Implantation via Thoracoscopy without the Need for
Sternotomy or Thoractomy", Howard Furmin, et al., PACE,
vol. 16, Feb. 1993, pp. 257-260.
"Improved Internal Defibrillation Efficacy with a Biphasic Waveform", Eric S. Fain, et al., American Heart Journal, vol. 117, No. 2, Feb. 1989, pp. 358-364. "Current Concepts for Selecting the Location, Size and Shape of Defibrillation Electrodes", Raymond E. Ideker, et al., PACE, vol. 14, Feb. 1991, Part I, pp. 227-240.
Primary Examiner—William E. Kamm
Assistant Examiner—Jeffrey R. Jastrzab
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Steven M. Mitchell; M. Elizabeth
Bush; Mark J. Meltzer
[57] ABSTRACT
A defibrillation insulating device insulates the heart from the body. This forces current to flow through the heart without passing through surrounding tissues, thus increasing the current density throughout the heart, to depolarize the majority of the cardiac tissue with a minimum of energy.
25 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
