Patent ID: 7177680
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of applying pacing pulses to cardiac tissue having a myocardial space constant to effect depolarization of a cardiac tissue mass of a heart chamber comprising: forming a discontinuity in the cardiac tissue of the heart chamber; disposing a first pacing electrode at a distance approximately less than the space constant of the cardiac tissue from the discontinuity in the cardiac tissue; disposing a second pacing electrode on a side of the discontinuity opposite the first pacing electrode and at a distance approximately less than the space constant of the cardiac tissue from the discontinuity in the cardiac tissue; and applying a stimulus to the cardiac tissue through the pacing electrodes to form a depolarization region at the pacing electrodes insufficient to propagate a depolarization wave front through the cardiac tissue mass of the heart chamber but sufficient to induce a transmembrane potential change at the tissue adjacent to the discontinuity that results in a propagated depolarization wave front to effect a contraction of the heart chamber.