Patent EA-002068-B1 (EA)
Title: Augmentation of electrical conduction and contractility by biphasic cardiac pacing
Inventor: MOWER MORTON M
IPC: A61B/
Filed: 1998-07-02
Abstract: 1. A method for biphasic electrical cardiac pacing, comprising two phases of applying to cardiac tissue, of which a first phase is for preconditioning the myocardium, and a second phase with a polarity opposite to the first phase polarity, a second phase amplitude that is larger in absolute value than the first phase amplitude for stimulation of myocardium. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first phase polarity is positive. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first phase amplitude is ramped from a baseline value to a second value. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stimulation phase further comprises a series of stimulating pulses of a predetermined amplitude, polarity and duration. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first stimulation phase further comprises a series of rest periods. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein applying the first stimulation phase further comprises applying a rest period of a baseline amplitude after at least one stimulating pulse. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the rest period is of equal duration to the stimulating pulse. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first phase amplitude is at a maximum subthreshold amplitude. 9. The method claim 8 wherein the maximum subthreshold amplitude of the first phase is about 0.5 to 3.5 volts. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first phase duration is at least as long as the second phase duration. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first phase duration is about one to nine milliseconds. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second phase duration is about 0.2 to 0.9 milliseconds. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the second phase amplitude is about two volts to twenty volts. 14. The method for biphasic electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1 wherein the second phase duration is less than 0.3 milliseconds and the second phase amplitude is greater than 20 volts. 15. The method of claim 3 wherein the second value is at a maximum subthreshold amplitude. 16. The method for biphasic electrical cardiac pacing of claim 15 wherein the maximum subthreshold amplitude is about 0.5 to 3.5 volts. 17. The method of claim 3 wherein the first phase duration is at least as long as the second phase duration. 18. The method of claim 3 wherein the first phase duration is about one to nine milliseconds. 19. The method of claim 3 wherein the second phase duration is about 0.2 to 0.9 milliseconds. 20. The method of claim 3 wherein the second phase amplitude is about two volts to twenty volts. 21. The method of claim 3 wherein the second phase duration is less than 0.3 milliseconds and the second phase amplitude is greater than 20 volts. 22. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stimulation phase is initiated greater than 200 milliseconds after completion of a cardiac beating cycle. 23. A method for biphasic electrical cardiac pacing, comprising two phases of applying to cardiac tissue, of which a first phase is applied for preconditioning the myocardium, and a second phase is applied for the myocardium stimulation, wherein the first phase comprises a positive polarity, an amplitude from about 0.5 to 3.5 volts, a duration from about one to nine milliseconds and is initiated greater than 200 milliseconds after completion of a cardiac beating cycle and the second phase comprises a negative polarity, an amplitude from about four volts to twenty volts and a duration from about 0.2 to 0.9 milliseconds.