Patent ID: 6731979
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A cardiac assist system comprising means for delivering a first pacing pulse from said system to a heart, means for ceasing the delivery of said first pacing pulse to said heart, means for sensing whether said heart is beating, and means for delivering a second pacing pulse from said system to said heart, wherein:(a) said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse are delivered to said heart within a period of less than about 100 milliseconds, wherein: 1. each of said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse has a voltage of from about 2 to about 5 volts direct current, 2. a time between said delivery of said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse is at least about 1 microsecond, (b) said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse are delivered to said heart at a frequency of from about 2 kilohertz to about 5 megahertz, (c) said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse each have a duration of from about 0.1 microseconds to about 500 milliseconds, and (d) said cardiac assist system is comprised of means for varying at least one property of a pacing pulse selected from the group consisting of said first pacing pulse, said second pacing pulse, and both said first pacing pulse and said second pacing pulse.