[54] ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC
DEFIBRILLATOR CARDIOVERTER AND
METHOD OF OPERATION
[75] Inventor: Alain Ripart. Gif sur Yvette. France
[73] Assignee: Ela Medical S.A., Montrouge. France
[21] Appl. No.: 745,808
[22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1996
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Oct. 11, 1995 [FR] France 95 13362
[51] Int CI.6 A61N 1/39
[52] U.S.C1 607/5
[58] Field of Search 607/5
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,224.476 7/1993 Ideker et al. .
5.306,241 4/1994 Kroll et al 607/5
5,360,435 11/1994 DeGroot 128/419 PG
5,376,103 12/1994 Anderson et al 128/419 PG
5,411,528 5/1995 Mffler et al 607/5
5,470.341 11/1995 Kuehn et al 607/5
5,545,181 8/1996 Jacobson et al 607/4
5,545,783 8/1996 Altaian 607/5
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0253505A2 6/1987 European Pat. Off. A61N 1/365
0522693A1 5/1992 European Pat. Off. A61N 1/39
W095/16494 6/1995 WIPO A61N 1/39
An active implanted medical device of the implantable defibrillatory cardioverter type. This device comprises an atrial electrode (40). a ventricular electrode (50), at least one electrode external to the heart (70.80) and a pulse generator (60). The pulse generator comprises a means for delivering a shock energy pulse for defibrillation or cardioversion, and means for switching the electrode configuration, that determines between which electrodes the defibrillation or cardioversion shock energy pulse is to be applied. The switching means operates in response to the determined delivery of a cardioversion shock pulse energy, by disconnecting the atrial electrode from the means for delivering the shock energy pulse for defibrillation or cardioversion, and, if the configuration of electrodes determined by the switching means foresees the commutation of the atrial electrodes a return electrode, then to substitute for the atrial electrode at least one of electrodes external to the heart.
8 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
