Method and apparatus for gauging severity of myocardial ischemic episodes

A method of gauging the severity of ischemia in a patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• gathering electogram (EGM) data from a heart via an implantable medical device (IMD);
• processing the EGM data to isolate an ST segment for the patient;
• determining if the ST segment is one of elevated from a baseline and depressed from a baseline, and in the event that the ST segment is deemed elevated then classifying the event as an acutely severe episode of cardiac ischemia and in the event that the ST segment is deemed depressed then classifying the event as a relatively benign ischemic episode;
• in the event that the ST segment is deemed depressed, then evaluating accelerometer data to determine is the ischemic episode can be further classified as one of a stable episode and an unstable episode;
• and
• issuing a response to the patient, wherein the response is determined as a function of whether the ischemic episode is one of:
• an acutely severe episode and an unstable episode.

An implantable medical device for gauging the severity of ischemia in a patient's heart, the device comprising:

• a data collection module configured to receive electrogram (EGM) data and accelerometer data about the condition of a patient's heart;
• a data processing module in communication with the data collection module and configured to process the EGM data and the accelerometer data to identify an episode of ischemia in the patient, wherein the data processing module is further configured to evaluate the EGM data and the accelerometer data to determine the relative severity of the episode;
• and
• a response module configured to provide a response to the patient as a function of the severity of the episode, said response including the delivering a modulated anti-ischemia therpy, wherein said therapy is modulated in relation to the relative severity of the episode
• wherein the processing module is further configured to identify the episode as a function of a depression in an ST segment portion of the EGM data and
• wherein the processing module is further configured to determine if the episode is stable or unstable as a function of the accelerometer data.

An implantable medical device (IMD) for gauging the severity of ischemia in a patient's heart, the device comprising:

• means for gathering electrogram (EGM) data from an implanted location disposed in electrical communication with a patient's heart;
• means for processing the EGM data to isolate an ST segment for the patient;
• means for determining if the ST segment is one or elevated from and depressed from a baseline level, wherein both an elevated and a depressed ST segment is deemed to indicate the detection of an ischemic episode;
• means for evaluating, if the ischemic episode is indicated, an accelerometer-based data set to determine if the ischemic episode is stable or unstable, wherein an accelerometer used to provide the accelerometer-based data set is adapted to mechanically couple to a portion of contractile tissue of the heart;
• and
• means for issuing a response to the patient, wherein the response is determined as a function of whether the ischemic episode is one of a stable episode and an unstable episode.