System and method for automatically and adaptively segmenting an atrial blanking period

A simulation device that automatically adjusts a post-ventricular atrial blanking period, comprising:

• a pulse generator for generating a ventricular stimulation pulse to trigger an evoked response so as to produce an atrial signal;
• an atrial sense circuit for sensing the atrial signal;
• and
• a control system connected to the pulse generator and the atrial sense circuit for segmenting the post-ventricular atrial blanking period in a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being initiated upon delivery of the ventricular stimulation pulse, wherein events detected outside the first and second segments are identified as intrinsic atrial events;
• and
• wherein the first and second segments are temporally separated by an alert period.

A stimulation device for automatically adjusting a post-ventricular atrial blanking period, comprising:

• a ventricular sense circuit for sensing a ventricular event and for causing a far-field ventricular signal to be sensed on an atrial channel;
• an atrial sense circuit for sensing the far-field ventricular signal;
• and
• a control system connected to the ventricular sense circuit and the atrial sense circuit, for initiating a far-field interval window centered substantially about the far-field ventricular signal, wherein events detected outside the far-field interval window are identified as an intrinsic atrial event, and events detected within the far-field interval window are identified as non-atrial events.

A method for automatically adjusting a post-ventrcular atrial blanking period in a stimulation device, comprising;

• generating a ventricular stimulation pulse to trigger an evoked response so as to produce a corresponding atrial signal;
• sensing the atrial signal;
• segmenting the post-ventricular atrial blanking period in a first segment and a second segment;
• initiating the first segment upon the delivery of the ventricular stimulation pulse;
• initiating the second segment relative to a ventricular stimulation pulse at a time that is based upon the sensed atrial signal;
• and
• identifying events detected outside the first and second segments as intrinsic atrial events.

A method for automatically adjusting a post-ventricular atrial blanking period in a stimulation device, comprising:

• sensing a ventricular event;
• sensing a far-field ventricular signal on an atrial channel;
• initiating a far-field interval window centered substantially about the far-field ventricular signal;
• and
• identifying events detected outside the far-field interval window as intrinsic atrial events, and events detected within the far-field interval window as non-atrial events.

A method for automatically adjusting a post-ventricular atrial blanking period in a stimulation device, comprising:

• generating a ventricular stimulation pulse to trigger a ventricular event and a corresponding far-field ventricular signal when ventricular stimulation is needed;
• sensing the ventricular event;
• sensing the far-field ventricular signal;
• if a ventricular stimulation pulse is generated:
• segmenting the post-ventricular atrial blanking period in a post-ventricular absolute refractory period and a far-field interval window;
• initiating the post-ventricular absolute refractory period upon the delivery of the ventricular stimulation pulse;
• initiating the far-field interval window at a time based on the sensed far-field ventricular signal;
• and
• identifying events detected outside the post-ventricular absolute refractory period and the far-field interval window as intrinsic atrial events;
• and
• if a ventricular event is sensed:
• initiating a far-field interval window;
• and
• identifying events detected outside the far-field interval window as intrinsic atrial events, and events detected within the far-field interval window as non-atrial events.