Method and apparatus for optimizing ventricular synchrony during DDD resynchronization therapy using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays

A system, comprising:

• a signal input to receive at least one cardiac signal indicative of cardiac events including at least one atrial event and one ventricular event;
• an event detector, coupled to the signal input, to detect the at least one atrial event and one ventricular event;
• a measurement module, coupled to the event detector, to measure an atrio-ventricular time interval (AV) between an atrial event and a ventricular event of the at least one atrial event and one ventricular event;
• and
• an atrio-ventricular delay (AVD) calculator coupled to the measurement module, the AVD calculator adapted to calculate an AVD based on the AV to provide an approximately maximum positive rate of left ventricular pressure change during systole, LV+dp/dt, by delivering ventricular pacing pulses with the AVD.