| abstract |
An electrode arrangement for stimulating the heart by means of the following elements: an implantable cardiac pacemaker which generates electrical pulses; a first electrode ( 11 ) connected to a first output of the pacemaker and mounted on an electrode line ( 10 ) fitted intracardially and not attached to the heart wall (i.e., floating); and a second electrode ( 12 ) for transmitting the electrical stimulation pulses to the excitable heart tissue, situated on the electrode line away from the first electrode and connected to a second pacemaker output. The voltage pulses at the two electrodes have differing polarities relative to another electrode and the electrodes ( 11, 12 ) are arranged on the electrode line in such a way that the electrical dipole field which forms is distorted towards the stimulation point in such a way that a raised potential gradient above the stimulus threshold is formed there. |