Mode switching in a ventricular pacemaker to promote atrioventricular conduction

A method performed by a medical device, the method comprising:

• starting a conduction check time interval;
• operating in an atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode by:
• receiving a signal from a sensor;
• identifying atrial event signals from the signal;
• and
• controlling a pulse generator to generate ventricular pacing pulses synchronized to the identified atrial event signals;
• detecting an expiration of the conduction check time interval;
• responsive to the conduction check time interval expiring, switching from operating in the atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode to operating in an asynchronous ventricular pacing mode;
• determining that atrioventricular block criteria are met during the asynchronous ventricular pacing mode;
• and
• responsive to determining that atrioventricular block criteria are met, switching back to operating in the atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a control circuit of a pacemaker, cause the pacemaker to:

• start a conduction check time interval;
• operate in an atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode by:
• receiving a signal from a sensor;
• identifying atrial event signals from the signal;
• and
• controlling a pulse generator to generate ventricular pacing pulses synchronized to the identified atrial event signals;
• detect an expiration of the conduction check time interval;
• responsive to the conduction check time interval expiring, switch from operating in the atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode to operating in an asynchronous ventricular pacing mode;
• determine that atrioventricular block criteria are met during the asynchronous ventricular pacing mode;
• and
• responsive to determining that atrioventricular block criteria are met, switch back to operating in the atrial synchronous ventricular pacing mode.