Importance

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Abstract

A defibrillator and demand pacer catheter is defined by a flexible, electrically nonconductive probe having an electrically conductive pathway longitudinally disposed therein. Attached to one end of the probe is a defibrillator electrode capable of anchoring the probe to the septum of a heart and of transmitting from said conductive pathway directly to the interior of the septum a portion of an electrical defibrillation pulse sufficient to defibrillate the heart. The defibrillation pulse is delivered in such a manner so as to avoid injuring the heart tissue immediately adjacent to the defibrillator electrode. In the preferred embodiment, the defibrillator electrode is helical; however, it is also envisioned as being a lance. Alternatively, the catheter further comprises a ground electrode, a demand pacer electrode, and a supplemental defibrillator electrode attached to the probe.

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First Claim