Method and apparatus for controlling a pacemaker using respiration
AssigneePacesetter, Inc.
InventorSaul E. Greenhut
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an implantable pacemaker the pacing rate is adjusted in synchrony with the respiration of the patient to thereby mimic respiratory sinus arrhythmia noted in healthy patients. Preferably, first a metabolic demand parameter pacing parameter is derived from a metabolic demand of the patient, such as minute volume, and then this parameter is adjusted using a respiration detector. The adjustment may be made dependent on the exercise level of the patient, his age and his physical fitness.
Claims46
A rate responsive implantable pacemaker comprising:
- a sensor for sensing intrinsic activity in a patient's heart and generating a sensed signal;
- a pace generator generating pacing signals on demand in response to pacing commands;
- a metabolic demand detector detecting a metabolic demand of said patient and generating a metabolic demand parameter;
- a respiration detector detecting a respiration of said patient and generating a respiration parameter;
- an adjuster circuit receiving said metabolic parameter and said respiration parameter and adjusting said metabolic parameter cyclically in accordance with said respiration parameter to generate an adjusted metabolic parameter which follows said respiration;
- and
- a controller receiving said sensed signal and said adjusted metabolic parameter to generate said command, whereby said pace generator generates said paces dependent on the patient's respiration.
An implantable pacemaker comprising:
- a cardiac sensor that senses intrinsic cardiac activity in a patient's heart and generating sensed signals;
- a pacing generator that generates pacing pulses in response to commands;
- a respiration sensor that senses a respiration of said patient and generates corresponding respiration signals;
- and
- a controller receiving said sensed and respiration signals and generating in response said commands;
- wherein said controller generates said commands for pacing said heart at a base pacing parameter, said pacemaker further comprising a rate adjusting circuit that adjusts said commands cyclically in accordance with said respiration signal to pace said heart at an adjusted rate from said base rate, said adjusted rate following said respiration signal.
A method of controlling the pacing rate of a pacemaker implanted in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a base pacing parameter for said pacemaker;
- detecting a respiration for the patient;
- adjusting said base pacing parameter by increasing and decreasing said base pacing parameter in synchronism and cyclically with said respiration to derive an adjusted pacing parameter which follows said respiration;
- and
- generating pacing commands in accordance with said adjusted pacing parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.