Mode switching algorithm for AV block
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorsAndrew P. Kramer, Gary T. Seim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is presented for treating patients with sinus node dysfunction who have apparently normal intrinsic AV conduction and thus do not require ventricular pacing unless there is an unexpected AV conduction failure. In one embodiment, a cardiac device with dual-chamber pacing capability is programmed to operate in a primary DDI (or DDI(R)) mode adjusted to pace only the atria if intrinsic AV conduction is intact and switch to a secondary DDD (or DDD(R)) mode upon detection of AV block.
Claims20
A method for operating an implantable cardiac device with dual-chamber pacing capability in order to provide atrial pacing to a patient in a primary pacing mode and to provide ventricular pacing in a secondary mode upon failure of intrinsic AV conduction, comprising:
- operating the device in a primary DDI pacing mode adjusted to pace only the atria if intrinsic AV conduction is intact;
- and
- switching the device to a secondary DDD pacing mode if N out of the last K cardiac cycles in the primary pacing mode were ventricular paced cycles, where N and K are specified integers greater than 1.
An implantable cardiac device, comprising:
- sensing channels for sensing cardiac activity in an atrium and a ventricle;
- pacing channels for delivering paces to an atrium and a ventricle;
- a controller for controlling the delivery of paces in accordance with a programmed pacing mode, wherein the controller is programmed to:
- operate the device in a primary DDI pacing mode adjusted to pace only the atria if intrinsic AV conduction is intact;
- and, switch the device to a secondary DDD pacing mode if N out of the last K cardiac cycles in the primary pacing mode were ventricular paced cycles, where N and K are specified integers greater than 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.