IMPROVED ATRIAL DEFIBRILLATOR, LEAD SYSTEMS AND METHOD

摘要

An implantable atrial cardioverter is arranged to be powered by a depletable power source for delivering electrical energy to the atria of a human heart in nee d of cardiversion. The atrial cardioverter comprises: sensing means for sensing electrical activations of the heart, the sensing means being continuously operable. Means are provided, responsive to the sensing means, for determining the time intervals between said sensed electrical activations. The cardioverter also comprises atrial arrhythmia detector means for detecti ng the presence of an atrial arrhythmia of the heart, disable means for maintaining the atrial arrhythmia detector means normally disabled to avoid excessive consumption of the depeletable power source, and enable means for enabling said atrial arrhythmia detector means responsi ve to the determined time intervals. Delivery means are provided, responsive to the atrial arrhythmia detector means for delivering the electrical energy to the atria of the hear t in response to the atrial arrhythmia detector means detecting atrial arrhythmia of the hear t.