METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALLEVIATING AND DIAGNOSING SYMPTOMS OF HEART BLOCK

摘要

A method for alleviating and diagnosing syndromes of heart block wherein a stimulus is continuously or intermittently delivered via a single electrode catheter at a site in a heart in close proximity to the A-V junction in the heart. The subthreshold stimuli were sufficient to cause impulses in the atrium to pass through the damaged his bundle to the ventricle and the stimuli were set at a level below a level required to excite the heart tissue. The delivery of the stimuli alleviates the symptoms of heart block. In one application, the delivery of the stimuli is used for diagnosing heart block when delivery of the stimuli induces the symptoms of heart block in the patient with partial or covert conduction disease.