System and method for rate modulated cardiac therapy utilizing a temperature sensor

An implantable medical system, comprising:

• one or more pulse generators configured to selectively produce pacing pulses;
• one or more electrodes configured to deliver pacing pulses produced by at least one of the one or more pulse generators to a heart of a patient within which the implantable medical system is implanted;
• a temperature sensor configured to produce a blood temperature signal indicative of a core body temperature of the patient within which the implantable medical system is implanted;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• produce a relative temperature signal based on the blood temperature signal;
• produce a moving baseline temperature signal based on the relative temperature signal, wherein the moving baseline temperature signal follows the relative temperature signal during an initial drop in the blood temperature signal that occurs during an onset of activity, and the moving baseline temperature signal decays towards zero during an upswing in the blood temperature signal that follows the initial drop in the blood temperature signal;
• produce a proportional response signal based on the relative temperature signal and the moving baseline temperature signal;
• produce a sensor indicated rate response signal based on the proportional response signal and a base rate;
• and
• control delivery of the pacing pulses to thereby control a pacing rate based on the sensor indicated rate response signal.

For use with an implantable medical system, a method for providing a temperature based rate response for a patient within which the implantable medical system is implanted, the method comprising:

• sensing a blood temperature signal indicative of a core body temperature of the patient within which the implantable medical system is implanted;
• producing a relative temperature signal based on the blood temperature signal;
• producing a moving baseline temperature signal based on the relative temperature signal;
• producing a proportional response signal based on the relative temperature signal and the moving baseline temperature signal;
• producing a dip response signal and a slope response signal based on the relative temperature signal;
• producing a sensor indicated rate response signal based on a sum of the proportional response signal, the dip response signal, and the slope response signal;
• and
• controlling a pacing rate of the implantable medical system based on the sensor indicated rate response signal.