US Patent 7110811 Method and apparatus for atrial tachyarrhythmia cardioversion

An apparatus and method for delivering electrical shock therapy in order to treat atrial tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation is presented. The ventricular rhythm of certain patients during an episode of atrial fibrillation may be such that shockable R—R intervals are infrequent or do not occur at all. Continuous electrical stimulation of the atria after detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia may be utilized to modify the ventricular rhythm in such patients to increase the frequency of shockable R—R intervals.