# Painless Defibrillation

> **NIH NIH R44** · CORIDEA, LLC · 2020 · $982,600

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The purpose of the proposed work is first-in-man testing of novel painless defibrillation
(PaDe) therapy. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains the number one killer in western
civilization. The underlying mechanism of SCA is usually ventricular fibrillation (VF), and survival
depends on prompt defibrillation. Existing defibrillators rely on the delivery of a brief high voltage
shock to the heart. While this is life-saving, the shock is extremely painful when delivered to a
conscious patient, as typically happens when the therapy is provided by an ICD.
 The pain caused by standard ICD shocks is due to the abrupt contraction of skeletal muscles
of the chest and abdomen when the shock is applied to the heart. Our team has developed a
novel means to accomplish painless defibrillation using a burst of high frequency alternating
current to tetanize skeletal muscle so it does not further contract when a defibrillatory shock is
then applied. We have already proven substantial reduction in skeletal muscle activation in
animals defibrillated using this technology, and therefore believe that delivery of this novel therapy
in humans will be a far less painful alternative to standard defibrillation shocks.
 In the proposed work, a table-top PaDe system developed in our Phase II grant will undergo
final verification and validation testing needed to obtain FDA approval of an IDE, which will then
enable us to evaluate this therapy in patients coming for elective ICD replacement. Patients will
receive one PaDe therapy and one standard shock in random order, and will report the pain
perceived with each of these, blinded to which is which. We intend to show that PaDe therapy is
safe and effective, and will then seek FDA approval of the therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9920774
- **Project number:** 5R44HL127771-05
- **Recipient organization:** CORIDEA, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Howard Levin
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $982,600
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-04-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9920774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9920774, Painless Defibrillation (5R44HL127771-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9920774. Licensed CC0.

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