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US 7,734,346 B2Granted
Identification of premature atrial contractions that trigger arrhythmia
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsHarm H. Van Bolhuis, Willem Stegnik, Henk Westendorp
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Abstract
In general, the invention is directed to techniques for delivery of pacing in response to a premature atrial contraction (PAC) to prevent atrial arrhythmia, i.e., delivery of post-PAC pacing pulses. The techniques may involve monitoring the success rate of prior post-PAC pacing sequences, and adjusting the number of post-PAC pacing pulses delivered subsequent post-PAC pacing sequences based on a success rate. In addition, the techniques may involve adjusting the post-PAC pacing interval based on the success rate.
Claims12
An implantable medical device comprising:
- an electrode adapted for implantation relative to a chamber of the heart for sensing cardiac signals;
- a pulse generator, coupled to the electrode, to deliver pacing pulses to a chamber of the heart;
- and
- a processor for receiving the cardiac signals sensed by the electrode and to discriminate between a sensed cardiac signal being an arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction and a sensed cardiac signal being a non-arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction, and to selectively control the pulse generator based on the determination of the type of sensed cardiac signal, the processor comprising means for performing the following functions:
- identifying signals indicative of premature contractions within a chamber of a heart;
- determining whether arrhythmias follow the sensed signals indicative of premature contractions;
- using the sensed signals indicative of premature contractions and the following arrhythmias to define criteria indicative of whether a subsequent sensed signal indicative of a premature contraction is an arrhythmia triggering type and storing the criteria in the pacemaker;
- identifying a subsequent signal indicative of a premature contraction within the chamber of the heart;
- determining whether the subsequent signal indicative of a premature contraction is an arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction or a non-arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction;
- and
- controlling delivery of pacing pulses by the pulse generator based on the determination.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- using a pacemaker to sense premature contractions within a chamber of a heart;
- using the pacemaker to sense whether arrhythmias follow the sensed premature contractions;
- using the sensed premature contractions and the following sensed arrhythmias to define criteria indicative of whether a subsequent sensed premature contraction is an arrhythmia triggering type and storing the criteria in the pacemaker;
- using the pacemaker, sensing a subsequent premature contraction within the chamber of the heart;
- determining whether the sensed subsequent premature contraction is an arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction or a non-arrhythmia triggering type premature contraction;
- and
- controlling delivery of pacing pulses by the pacemaker based on the determination.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.