Patent ID: 7917211

Claim:
A method carried out by a device for stimulating and/or potentiating heart muscle and/or myocardial cells, comprising: detecting an interval between at least the last two R waves of a cardiac cycle just completed; detecting a mechanical refractory zone of maximum myocardial contraction (MMRZ); determining, in real time, the duration of the electrical refractory period (ERZ) following the last R wave of said cycle; determining the position and duration of an effective critical zone (ECZ), which is placed immediately after the end of the ERZ and terminates at the end of a refractory zone of maximum myocardial contraction MMRZ; and sending, substantially without delay at the end of said refractory period (ERZ), at least one of a paired stimulating pulse and a coupled stimulating pulse adapted to said functional cell state, the transmission of said stimulating pulse intervening in said ECZ zone.