Method and system for preventing atrial fibrillation by rapid pacing intervention

A method of pacing cardiac tissue using an implantable medical device, comprising:

• detecting a first premature atrial contraction, the first premature atrial contraction having a first coupling interval;
• calculating a first adjusted pacing interval based on the first coupling interval, wherein the first adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the first coupling interval;
• adjusting an initial pacing interval of the cardiac tissue to the first adjusted pacing interval;
• detecting a second premature atrial contraction, the second premature atrial contraction having a second coupling interval;
• calculating a second adjusted pacing interval based on the second coupling interval, wherein the second adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the second coupling interval;
• and
• further adjusting the first adjusted pacing interval to the second adjusted pacing interval.

An implantable medical device, comprising:

• a processor;
• at least one pacing circuit operably connected to the processor;
• and at least one pacing electrode wherein a first premature atrial contraction having a first coupling interval is detected;
• a first adjusted pacing interval which is shorter than the first coupling interval is calculated based on the first coupling interval;
• an initial pacing interval is adjusted to the first adjusted pacing interval;
• a second premature atrial contraction having a second coupling interval is detected;
• a second adjusted pacing interval which is shorter than the second coupling interval is calculated based on the second coupling interval;
• and the first adjusted pacing interval is further adjusted to the second adjusted pacing interval.

An implantable medical system, comprising:

• means for determining a first fibrillation-indicative interval based on a first fibrillation-indicative event;
• means for determining a first adjusted pacing interval, wherein the first adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the first fibrillation-indicative interval;
• means for pacing the cardiac tissue based on the first adjusted pacing interval;
• means for determining if the cardiac tissue is captured by pacing at the first adjusted pacing interval;
• if the cardiac tissue is not captured, means for determining an additional fibrillation-indicative interval based on an additional earlier fibrillation-indicative event;
• means for determining an additional adjusted pacing interval, wherein the additional adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the additional fibrillation indicative interval;
• and
• means for pacing the cardiac tissue based on the additional adjusted pacing interval to reduce atrial fibrillation.

An implantable medical system, comprising:

• means for detecting a first premature atrial contraction, the first premature atrial contraction having a first coupling interval;
• means for calculating a first adjusted pacing interval based on the first coupling interval, wherein the first adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the first coupling interval;
• means for adjusting an initial pacing interval of the cardiac tissue to the first adjusted pacing interval;
• means for detecting a second premature atrial contraction, the second premature atrial contraction having a second coupling interval;
• means for calculating a second adjusted pacing interval based on the second coupling interval, wherein the second adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the second coupling interval;
• and
• means for further adjusting the first adjusted pacing interval to the second adjusted pacing interval.

A computer usable medium including a program for pacing cardiac tissue, comprising:

• computer program code that determines a first fibrillation-indicative interval based on a first fibrillation-indicative event;
• computer program code that determines a first adjusted pacing interval, wherein the first adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the first fibrillation-indicative interval;
• computer program code that paves the cardiac tissue based on the first adjusted pacing interval;
• computer program code that determines if the cardiac tissue is captured by pacing at the first adjusted pacing interval;
• if the cardiac tissue is not captured, computer program code that determines an additional fibrillation-indicative interval based on an additional earlier fibrillation-indicative event;
• computer program code that determines an additional adjusted pacing interval, wherein the additional adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the additional fibrillation-indicative interval;
• and
• computer program code that paces the cardiac tissue based on the additional adjusted pacing interval.

A computer usable medium including a program for pacing cardiac tissue, comprising:

• computer program code that detects a first premature atrial contraction, the first premature atrial contraction having a first coupling interval;
• computer program code that calculates a first adjusted pacing interval based on the first coupling interval, wherein the first adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the first coupling interval;
• computer program code that adjusts an initial pacing interval of the cardiac tissue to the first adjusted pacing interval;
• computer program code that detects a second premature atrial contraction, the second premature atrial contraction having a second coupling interval;
• computer program code that calculates a second adjusted pacing interval based on the second coupling interval, wherein the second adjusted pacing interval is shorter than the second coupling interval;
• and
• computer program code that further adjusts the first adjusted pacing interval to the second adjusted pacing interval.