Importance

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Abstract

A cardioversion system includes a bipolar sensing circuit with two sensing electrodes, and a cardioversion circuit with two spaced apart spring electrodes. The sensing electrodes are spaced apart from one another but kept sufficiently close to one another for isolated, localized R-wave sensing. The sensing electrodes further are positioned remotely of the cardioversion electrodes, to avoid post-shock abnormalities which otherwise would interfere with a timely R-wave sensing, to substantially prevent the discharge of an unnecessary cardioversion pulse after return of the heart to normal cardiac rhythm. One preferred version of the system is a unitary catheter including a distal tip electrode and ring electrode as the sensing electrodes, and to substantially larger, more proximal spring electrodes for defibrillation. Alternatively, the defibrillation electrodes and the sensing electrodes can be provided on two separate catheters. Yet another alternative involves providing one or more patch electrodes as defibrillation electrodes.

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First Claim