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Abstract

Atrial fibrillation disorders are treated by locating low impedance electrodes positioned on a single catheter body passing through the pulmonary artery valve to locate the electrodes respectively in the right atrium and the pulmonary artery. Thus an electrical energy impulse of the order of three joules is passed through a heart and tissue path establishing a field gradient for resetting atrially fibrillating cells to convert atrial fibrillation into sinus rhythm. A special non-implantable catheter for temporary use provided for this treatment method is characterized by an inflatable balloon on the distal tip end, two low impedance energy discharging electrodes spaced to reside respectively in the right atrium and the pulmonary artery and a flexible polymer catheter body sheath of a diameter of the order of two millimeters. Inflating and deflating of the distal balloon facilitates the positioning of the catheter and guarantees a stable position during the application of the electrical energy shock for conversion of atrial fibrillation.

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