US 6,473,645 B1 · System and method for programmably controlling electrode activation sequence in a multi-site cardiac stimulation device

Abstract

An implant able multi-chamber cardiac stimulation device includes flexibly programmable electrode sensing configurations, and is capable of precisely controlling the stimulation sequence between multiple sites. The stimulation device provides a plurality of connection ports that allow independent connection of each electrical lead associated with a particular stimulation site in the heart. Each connection port further provides a unique terminal for making electrical contact with only one electrode such that no two electrodes are required to be electrically coupled. Furthermore, each electrode, whether residing on a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar lead, may be selectively connected or disconnected through programmable switching circuitry that determines the electrode configurations to be used for sensing and for stimulating at each stimulation site. The stimulation device possesses unique sensing and output configurations associated with each stimulation site, such that depolarizations occurring at each stimulation site can be detected independently of events occurring at other sites within the heart, and such that each site can be stimulated independently of other sites or on a precisely timed basis triggered by events occurring at other sites. The stimulation device is further capable of uniquely programming coupling intervals for precisely controlling the activation sequence of stimulated sites. Coupling intervals are selected so as to provide optimal hemodynamic benefit to the patient.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A method of automatically controlling an activation sequence of a plurality of electrodes that are positioned in multiple cardiac chambers, for use with a multi-site cardiac stimulation device, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of electrode configurations corresponding to available activation sequences of the electrodes;
selectively delivering a stimulus, on demand, to a cardiac chamber;
sensing a cardiac event in the cardiac chamber by using a first electrode configuration;
initiating a coupling interval for the multiple cardiac chambers;
controlling the activation sequence of the electrodes by selecting an electrode configuration based on the cardiac chamber in which the cardiac event is sensed or a stimulus delivered;
automatically acquiring a measurement of the cardiac event using the electrode configuration;
and
automatically adjusting the coupling interval in response to the measurement of the cardiac event.

5 more elements

A multi-site cardiac stimulation device capable of automatically controlling an activation sequence of a plurality of electrodes that are positioned in multiple cardiac chambers, comprising:

means for sensing a cardiac signal in each of the multiple cardiac chambers;
means for detecting a cardiac chamber of origin in which the cardiac signal originates;
means for selectively generating stimulation energy, on demand, to the multiple cardiac chambers;
and
means for initiating coupling intervals for the multiple cardiac chambers based on the cardiac chamber of origin in which an intrinsic depolarization is sensed or a stimulus is delivered, for controlling a timing of the activation sequence, and for automatically adjusting the coupling intervals based on measurements acquired by the sensing means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for programmably controlling electrode activation sequence in a multi-site cardiac stimulation device

Life of this patent

System and method for programmably controlling electrode activation sequence in a multi-site cardiac stimulation device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43