Cardiac rhythm management system with remotely activated capture verification for CHF and other patients
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorsJay A. Warren, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cardiac rhythm management device capable of delivering multiple uni-chamber stimulation pulses to a patient's heart and suitable for verifying capture independently for each uni-chamber stimulation pulse. The uni-chamber capture verification mode of the cardiac rhythm management device may be activated via telemetry or by applying a magnetic field proximate the device. During the capture verification mode, bi-chamber pacing, for example, may precede or follow uni-chamber pacing to allow for pacing support. Also, the energy levels of the pacing stimulus over several beats may be varied, thereby verifying the programmed safety margins.
Claims33
A cardiac rhythm management device for treating congestive heart failure in a patient wherein the device may be implemented to determine whether a stimulation evokes a response for each pre-selected chamber, said device comprising:
- (a) stimulation means for transmitting at least first and second stimulation pulses to an electrically continuous area of the heart;
- (b) detection means for independently detecting a response associated with each stimulation pulse;
- and
- (c) a controller connected to the stimulation means and detection means, wherein said controller implements a predetermined capture verification mode when said mode is activated.
A method for verifying capture of stimulation pulses delivered to pre-selected chambers of a patient's heart, by a cardiac rhythm management device of the type having means for sensing cardiac electrogram signals, a programmable controller coupled to receive sensed electrogram signals, and stimulation means for applying cardiac stimulation pulses to a patient's heart in response to control signals from the controller, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) setting predetermined parameters of the cardiac rhythm management device;
- (b) delivering first and second stimulation pulses to an electrically continuous area of the heart in accordance with the predetermined parameters;
- (c) identifying depolarization waveforms corresponding to each stimulation pulse;
- and
- (d) determining whether each stimulation results in capture.
A cardiac rhythm management device for treating congestive heart failure in a patient wherein the device may be implemented to determine whether a stimulation evokes a response for each pre-selected chamber, said device comprising:
- (a) a pulse generator that transmits at least first and second stimulation pulses during a cardiac cycle to an electrically continuous area of the heart;
- (b) a detector that independently detects a response associated with each stimulation pulse;
- and
- (c) a controller connected to the pulse generator and detector, wherein said controller implements a predetermined capture verification mode when said mode is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.