CARDIAC ASSIST DEVICE HAVING MUSCLE AUGMENTATION AFTER CONFIRMED ARRHYTHMIA

摘要

A cardiac assist device provides muscle augmentation after a confirmed arrhythmia. One form of the device senses a cardiac event and then it determines whether the cardiac event is a cardiac arrhythmia. If the event is not a cardiac arrhythmia the device delivers stimulation to a skeletal muscle grafted about a heart but if the event is a cardiac arrhythmia the device inhibits delivery of skeletal muscle stimulation. Once the arrhythmia is confirmed the device then delivers therapeutic stimulation to the heart. In a modified form the device operates to re-initiate skeletal muscle stimulation once the arrhythmia is confirmed but prior to the delivery of the therapeutic stimulation to the heart.