Published Online
on August 25, 2003

A more recent version of this article appeared on September 16, 2003

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Submitted on December 10, 2002
Revised on May 16, 2003
Accepted on May 16, 2003

Novel Passive Implantable Atrial Defibrillator Using Transcutaneous Radiofrequency Energy Transmission Successfully Cardioverts Atrial Fibrillation

Ganesh Manoharan MD^*, Noel Evans PhD, Bakthiar Kidwai MB, Desmond Allen MD, John Anderson DPhil, and Jennifer Adgey MD

From the Regional Medical Cardiology Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast (G.M., B.K., D.A., J. Adgey); the Department of Engineering, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland (G.M., N.E., J. Anderson); and the Department of Physiology, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast (G.M., B.K., D.A.), UK.

Background--Conventional methods for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm have numerous difficulties. A novel method for cardioversion using the passive implantable atrial defibrillator (PIAD) was tested in acute animal models. This device does not have a battery or a capacitor to store energy and is activated by transferring RF energy across the skin from an external transmitter to the subcutaneously implanted defibrillator. On activation, a novel monophasic shock waveform with 5% tilt is delivered to the heart via 2 intracardiac defibrillation leads.

Methods and Results--Cardioversion attempts with the device were assessed in 2 phases: a feasibility and efficacy study and randomized comparison against standard waveforms. Defibrillation leads were placed transvenously into the distal coronary sinus and the right atrial appendage. These were connected to the subcutaneously implanted PIAD. Sustained AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing. The transmitter coil was placed on the skin overlying the defibrillator, and defibrillation synchronized to the R wave was attempted. The method was found to be efficacious at very low voltage and energy, with 100% cardioversion success observed for 10-ms 100-V shocks (mean energy, 1.54±0.02 J). The PIAD waveform had a higher cardioversion success rate than a truncated, 70% tilt monophasic exponential pulse (100 V, 100% versus 78.0±7.57%; P=0.001). There were no postshock complications.

Conclusions--Considering these animal results, this method is promising for cardioverting AF in symptomatic patients.

Key words: arrhythmia • fibrillation • cardioversion

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