Systems and methods for automated capture threshold testing and associated his bundle pacing

A method of pacing a patient heart using a stimulation device, the method comprising:

• applying an impulse to a His bundle of the patient's heart using the stimulation device;
• measuring, using the stimulation device, a response of the patient's heart to application of the impulse, the response including a response of a ventricle of the patient's heart;
• calculating a ventricular delay, the ventricular delay being a time from application of the impulse to onset of the response of the ventricle;
• and
• entering a backup pacing mode of the stimulation device at least when the ventricular delay exceeds a delay value stored in the memory of the stimulation device,
• wherein in the backup pacing mode a backup impulse is applied to the ventricle by the stimulation device.

A stimulation device for use in applying His bundle pacing of a patient's heart, the stimulation device comprising:

• a housing containing a memory and a controller;
• a His bundle lead coupleable to each of the housing and the patient's heart and a His bundle of the patient's heart;
• and
• a ventricular lead coupleable to each of the housing and a ventricle of the patient's heart;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• apply, through the His bundle lead, a pacing impulse to the His bundle;
• measure, using the ventricular lead, a response of the patient's heart to application of the impulse, the response including a response of the ventricle;
• calculate a ventricular delay, the ventricular delay being a time from application of the pacing impulse to onset of the response of the ventricle;
• and
• apply, using the ventricular lead, a backup impulse to the ventricle when at least the ventricular delay exceeds a delay value stored in the memory.