Modulate pacing rate to increase the percentage of effective ventricular capture during atrial fibrillation
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsRichard M.T. Lu, Subham Ghosh, Robert W. Stadler
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Abstract
The present disclosure pertains to cardiac pacing methods and systems, and, more particularly, to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In particular, the present disclosure pertains to determining whether a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF). If the patient is experiencing AF, the efficacy of CRT is determined. A signal is sensed in response to a ventricular pacing stimulus. Through signal processing, a number of features are parsed from the signal and a determination is made as to whether the ventricular pacing stimulus evoked a response from the ventricle.
Claims26
An apparatus for determining whether a ventricular pacing stimulus is capturing a paced ventricle during atrial fibrillation, comprising:
- processing means for determining whether a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation;
- delivering means for delivering the ventricular pacing stimulus in response to determining the patient is in atrial fibrillation;
- sensing means for sensing a signal in response to the ventricular pacing stimulus;
- processing means for determining whether the ventricular pacing stimulus is effectively capturing the paced ventricle;
- modifying means for modifying a pacing rate during atrial fibrillation in response to the determination of effective capture;
- and
- increasing a percentage of effective ventricular capture during atrial fibrillation responsive to modifying the pacing rate during atrial fibrillation.
A method for determining whether a ventricular pacing stimulus is capturing a paced ventricle during atrial fibrillation, comprising:
- determining whether a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation;
- delivering the ventricular pacing stimulus in response to determining the patient is in atrial fibrillation;
- sensing a signal in response to the ventricular pacing stimulus;
- determining whether the ventricular pacing stimulus is effectively capturing the paced ventricle;
- modifying a pacing rate during atrial fibrillation in response to the determination of effective capture;
- and
- increasing a percentage of effective ventricular capture during atrial fibrillation responsive to modifying the pacing rate during atrial fibrillation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.