Patent ID: 6157859
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61N,G06F

Abstract:
An implantable medical interventional device adapted to provide therapy to a patient in whom the device is implanted to treat cardiac dysrhythmias including tachyarrhythmia, said device comprising a therapy function generator for providing a plurality of functions corresponding to different levels of therapy for treatment of sensed dysrhythmias, said functions including an electric shock waveform of predetermined energy content for delivery to the patient's heart to terminate at least one type of sensed tachyarrhythmia; said function generator being responsive to cessation of the tachyarrhythmia following delivery of the electric shock waveform for promptly thereafter applying post-shock pacing pulses to the heart with a magnitude exceeding a predetermined threshold greater than the threshold for normal pacing of the patient's heart by the device, for the duration of a period of time sufficient to allow the heart to recover from the shock and to commence sinus rhythm.