摘要 |
<p>A hybrid tachyarrhythmia therapy utilizes a combination of two therapies: pacing therapy (optionally followed by therapy employing waveforms having morphologies congruent to defibrillation waveforms but at reduced strength); and defibrillation (including cardioversion) therapy. The two therapies are applied in either a temporally concident, or an immediately sequential, fashion. At least one pacing pulse that influences only a localized portion of selected cardiac tissue is applied, prior to or coincident with at least one defibrillation-level shock. The defibrillation shock strength (voltage and/or energy) required to terminate the tachyarrhythmia is less than would be required in the absence of the critically coupled pacing pulses. The therapy may be applied to atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmias. A variety of electrode configurations and defibrillation pulse schemes may be employed.</p> |