Apparatus and method for setting the parameters of an alert window used for timing the delivery of ETC signals to a heart under varying cardiac conditions

A method for setting the parameters of an alert time window in an excitable tissue control device operative under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing said excitable tissue control device with a set of data, said set of data comprises a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters, each set of alert time window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of said plurality of different cardiac conditions, each set of alert time window parameters of said plurality of sets of alert time window parameters comprises at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point for said alert time window, each set of alert time window parameters of said plurality of sets of alert time window parameters is obtained by processing data collected from a plurality of cardiac beats of said heart of said patient under said plurality of different cardiac conditions within a data collection session prior to said step of providing;
• updating for a current beat cycle of said heart the values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining variables corresponding to said cardiac condition defining parameters;
• automatically selecting for said current beat cycle a current set of alert time window parameters of said plurality of sets of alert time window parameters based on the current values of said cardiac condition defining variables;
• using, for said current beat cycle, said current set of alert time window parameters selected in said step of automatically selecting to start and terminate said alert time window based on the time of detecting a first depolarization event at or about a first cardiac site;
• detecting within the duration of said alert time window of said current beat cycle a second depolarization event at a second cardiac site of said heart;
• and
• triggering the delivery of a delayed non-excitatory excitable tissue control signal at or about said second cardiac site based on the time of detection of said second depolarization event.

An excitable tissue control device for setting on a beat by beat basis the parameters of an alert time window under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient, the device comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes adapted to be implanted in or about said heart;
• detection circuitry for detecting electrical depolarization events in a first cardiac site through at least a first electrode of said plurality of electrodes, said at least first electrode is disposed in or about said first cardiac site, and for detecting electrical depolarization events in a second cardiac site through at least a second electrode of said plurality of electrodes, said at least second electrode is disposed in or about said second cardiac site;
• an excitable tissue control unit for delivering non-excitatory excitable tissue control signals to at least part of said second cardiac site through one or more electrodes of said plurality of electrodes;
• a memory unit for storing a set of data, said set of data comprises a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters, each set of alert time window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of said plurality of different cardiac conditions, each set of alert time window parameters comprises at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point for said alert time window, each set of alert time window parameters is obtained by processing data collected from a plurality of cardiac beats of said heart of said patient under said plurality of different cardiac conditions within a data collection session performed in said patient;
• a processor unit operatively connected to said detection circuitry, said excitable tissue control unit and said memory unit, for receiving detection signals from said detection circuitry, for controlling said excitable tissue control unit by using the received detection signals, for updating in a current beat cycle of said heart the values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining variables corresponding to said cardiac condition defining parameters, for automatically selecting for said current beat cycle a current set of alert time window parameters of said plurality of sets of alert time window parameters based on the current values of said cardiac condition defining variables, for applying said current set of alert time window parameters to start said alert time window within said current beat cycle after detecting a first depolarization event at or about said first cardiac site and to terminate said alert time window, and for initiating the delivery of a delayed excitable tissue control signal at or about said second cardiac site upon detecting within the duration of said alert time window a depolarization event in or about said second cardiac site of said heart;
• and
• a power source for providing power to said detection circuitry, said processor unit said memory unit and said excitable tissue control unit.

An excitable tissue control device for setting on a beat by beat basis the parameters of an alert time window under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient, the device comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes adapted to be implanted in or about said heart;
• means for detecting electrical depolarization events in a first cardiac site through at least a first electrode of said plurality of electrodes, said at least first electrode is disposed in or about said first cardiac site, and for detecting electrical depolarization events in a second cardiac site through at least a second electrode of said plurality of electrodes, said at least second electrode is disposed in or about said second cardiac site;
• excitable tissue control means for delivering non-excitatory excitable tissue control signals to at least part of said second cardiac site through one or more electrodes of said plurality of electrodes;
• memory means for storing a set of data, said set of data comprises a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters, each set of alert time window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of said plurality of different cardiac conditions, each set of alert time window parameters comprises at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point for said alert time window, each set of alert time window parameters is obtained by processing data collected from a plurality of cardiac beats of said heart of said patient under said plurality of different cardiac conditions within a data collection session performed in said patient;
• processing means operatively connected to said detection means, said excitable tissue control means and said memory means, for receiving detection signals from said detection means, for controlling said excitable tissue control means by using the received detection signals, for updating in a current beat cycle of said heart the values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining variables corresponding to said cardiac condition defining parameters, for automatically selecting for said current beat cycle a current set of alert time window parameters of said plurality of sets of alert time window parameters based on the current values of said cardiac condition defining variables, for applying said current set of alert time window parameters to start said alert time window within said current beat cycle after detecting a first depolarization event at or about said first cardiac site and to terminate said alert time window, and for initiating the delivery of a delayed excitable tissue control signal at or about said second cardiac site upon detecting within the duration of said alert time window a depolarization event in or about said second cardiac site of said heart;
• and
• a power source for providing power to said detection means, said processing means said memory means and said excitable tissue control means.