Importance

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Abstract

A bipolar electrode 10 capable of sensing the electrical activity in a localized portion of body tissue includes a disc 12 having a surface 12A adapted to be brought into proximity to a surface of the body tissue, and an inner electrode or conductive spike 14 and a first outer electrode or helix 16 that are supported by disc 12 and that extend from surface 12A. Corkscrew 16 surrounds spike 14, and the tip 16A of helix 16 is located at a greater distance away from surface 12A than is tip 14A of spike 14. Tripolar electrodes 30, 50 utilize this structure along with a second outer electrode or helix 38 (in tripolar electrode 30) and an annular conductive ring 58 (in tripolar electrode 50) for respectively applying pacing and defibrillation pulses to the heart.

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First Claim