Method and apparatus for tachyarrhythmia detection and treatment
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorWalter H. Olson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable cardioverter capable of delivering pacing and cardioversion level therapies. The device distinguishes between stable and unstable ventricular tachyarrhythmias by monitoring the progression of atrial cycle lengths during the detected ventricular tachyarrhythmia. A detected increase in atrial cycle lengths during the early stages of the detected ventricular tachycardia is taken as an indication of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia.
Claims18
A method of detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias of a living patient's heart comprising the steps of:
- sensing the atrium and ventricle of the patient's heart and providing atrial (AS) and ventricular (VS) event detection signals;
- measuring the time intervals (ACL's) between successive atrial event detection signals and the time intervals (VCL's) between successive ventricular event detection signals;
- detecting the presence of tachycardia by comparing said VCL's to predetermined tachycardia detection criteria;
- if tachycardia is detected, comparing said ACLs and VCLs with one another to determine whether said patient exhibits a greater ventricular than atrial rate during said detected tachycardia;
- monitoring said ACL's during a predetermined time period during said detected tachycardia;
- if said ACL's tend to shorten during said predetermined time period, delivering a first predetermined therapy to said patient's heart;
- and
- if said ACL's tend to lengthen during said predetermined time period during, delivering a second therapy differing from said first therapy to said patient's heart.
An apparatus for detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias of a living patient's heart comprising:
- means for sensing the atrium and ventricle of the patient's heart and providing atrial (AS) and ventricular (VS) event detection signals;
- means for measuring and storing the time intervals (ACL's) between successive atrial event detection signals and the time intervals (VCL's) between successive ventricular event detection signals;
- means for detecting the presence of tachycardia by comparing the measured VCL's to predetermined tachycardia detection criteria;
- means for comparing said stored ACLs and VCLs with one another if tachycardia is detected, to determine whether said patient exhibits a greater ventricular than atrial rate during said detect tachycardia;
- means for defining a predetermined time period during said detected tachycardia;
- means for monitoring the patient's ACLs during said predetermined time period, if said ventricular rate is greater than said atrial rate;
- means for delivering a first predetermined therapy to said patient's heart if said ACL's tend to shorten during said predetermined time period;
- and
- means for delivering a second therapy differing from said first therapy to said patient's heart if said ACL's tend to lengthen during said predetermined time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.