Ventritex, Inc.

James M Culp

Benjamin D Pless

John G Ryan

The present invention is directed to various features of an implantable combined defibrillation/pacemaker system. The system's defibrillation delivery circuit provides for delivery of a multi-phase defibrillation waveform. It also includes features for insuring low patient current leakage. Protection circuitry is provided for protecting the pacing circuitry from damage by the high voltage defibrillation output. The dual channel cardiac pacing circuit accommodates bipolar and pseudo-unipolar pacing. The system includes the ability to detect defibrillator lead breaks without delivering a defibrillation pulse to the patient. An additional advantage of the disclosed system is its ability to use the pacing output stage for extremely high rate pacing to induce ventricular fibrillation.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

James M Culp