Patent ID: 7894899

Claim:
An implantable device for terminating ventricular tachycardia comprising: a processor having means for generating a first antitachycardia pulse routine of N pulses comprising N−X pulses separated by a first cycle length and a second pulse routine of N pulses comprising N−X+1 pulses separated by a second cycle length that is shorter than the first cycle length; wherein x is a number of final pulses; and means for generating additional antitachycardia pulse routines of N−X pulses separated by the second cycle length and N−X+1 to Nth pulses separated by the second cycle length selected based on a return cycle length until the ventricular tachycardia is terminated, if the first antitachycardia pulse routine failed to terminate the ventricular antitachycardia; and a lead coupled to the processor, the lead comprising an electrode configured to sense the ventricular tachycardia and further configured, under control of the processor, to administer the first antitachycardia pulse routine and the additional antitachycardia pulse routines.