Atrial tachyarrhythmia detection system and method
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorsGary Seim, David Perschbacher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method provide for detecting atrial arrhythmias within an implantable medical device capable of sensing and pacing at least an atrium of a heart. Arrhythmia of the atrium is detected. In response to detecting atrial arrhythmia, delivery of pacing signals to the atrium is inhibited under certain conditions. While delivery of the pacing signals to the atrium is inhibited, the detected arrhythmia of the atrium is confirmed during a period of further evaluation. Delivery of pacing signals to the atrium is enabled upon ceasing of the atrial arrhythmia. Inhibiting delivery of the pacing signals during atrial arrhythmia evaluation advantageously provides for an increase in the rate at which the detected arrhythmia is confirmed.
Claims20
An implantable device, comprising:
- at least one lead comprising an atrial electrode configured for sensing and pacing an atrium of a heart;
- a pulse generator coupled to the at least one lead;
- a detector coupled to the at least one lead and configured to detect elevated atrial interval rates indicative of atrial arrhythmia based on atrial events occurring within a post-ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) during an atrial arrhythmia;
- memory configured to define a detection window having a length and a satisfaction criterion;
- and
- a controller coupled to the pulse generator, the detector and the memory, respectively, the controller configured to inhibit the pulse generator from delivering pacing signals to the atrium and from delivering atrial arrhythmia therapy in response to detecting the elevated atrial interval rates, and wherein the detector detects atrial intervals while delivery of the pacing signals to the atrium and the atrial arrhythmia therapy are inhibited, the controller further configured to classify the atrial intervals in the detection window and declare an atrial episode in response to satisfying the detection window by evaluating the atrial intervals in the detection window with respect to the satisfaction criterion.
An implantable device, comprising:
- at least one lead comprising an atrial electrode configured for sensing and pacing an atrium of a heart;
- a pulse generator coupled to the at least one lead;
- a detector coupled to the at least one lead and configured to detect atrial events occurring within a post-ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) during an atrial arrhythmia;
- memory configured to define a detection window having a length and a satisfaction criterion;
- and
- a controller coupled to the pulse generator, the detector and the memory, respectively, the controller configured to initiate the detection window in response to the detected atrial events, inhibit delivery of atrial pace signals for a duration of the detection window, classify, while inhibiting delivery of atrial pace signals, atrial intervals in the detection window, and declare an atrial episode in response to satisfying the detection window by evaluating the atrial intervals in the detection window with respect to the satisfaction criterion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.