Implantable device for diagnosing and distinguishing supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias

• US 20020035335A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Schauerte
• Original Assignee: Patrick Schauerte
• Inventors: Schauerte, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 6,611,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

An implantable device for diagnosing and distinguishing supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias includes electrodes for stimulating parasympathetic nerves of the atrioventricular and/or sinus node; electrodes for stimulating the atria and ventricles and/or for ventricular cardioversion/defibrillation; a device for producing electrical parasympathetic stimulation pulses passed to the electrodes; a device for detecting the atrial and/or ventricular rate, by ascertaining a time interval between atrial and/or ventricular depolarization; a device for programming a frequency limit above which a rate of the ventricles is recognized as tachycardia; a comparison device for comparing the measured heart rate during parasympathetic stimulation to the heart rate prior to or without parasympathetic stimulation and/or to the frequency limit, which delivers an output signal when with parasympathetic stimulation the heart rate falls below the comparison value by more than a predetermined amount; and an inhibition unit which responds to the output signal to inhibit ventricular myocardial over-stimulation therapy.

Claims

1. An implantable device for diagnosing and distinguishing supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias, comprising:

electrodes for the electrical stimulation of parasympathetic nerves which innervate the atrioventricular and/or sinus node;

electrodes for the electrical stimulation of the atria and ventricles and/or for ventricular cardioversion/defibrillation;

a device for producing electrical parasympathetic stimulation pulses which are passed to the electrodes;

a device for detecting the atrial and/or ventricular rate, by ascertaining a time interval between atrial and/or ventricular depolarization;

a device for programming a frequency limit above which a rate of the ventricles is recognized as tachycardia,

a comparison device for comparing a heart rate measured during parasympathetic stimulation by the detection device to the heart rate prior to or without parasympathetic stimulation and/or to the frequency limit, which delivers an output signal when with parasympathetic stimulation the heart rate falls below the comparison value by more than a predetermined amount, and

an inhibition unit that responds to the output signal of the comparison unit and which inhibits ventricular myocardial over-stimulation therapy and/or cardioversion/defibrillation therapy when it is triggered or restrained.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the parasympathetic stimulation pulses are delivered over a defined period of time continuously.

3. The device of claim 8, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation pulse trains are delivered asynchronously.

4. The device of claim 9, wherein the are synchronized by a different time delay relative to the measured atrial/ventricular heart contraction.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a stimulation unit for atrial and/or ventricular electrical myocardial stimulation.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs at a frequency of about 20 Hz with a pulse duration of between 0.1 and 4 ms.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs in steps which increase in a stage-wise manner.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the parasympathetic stimulation pulses are delivered over a defined period of time in short pulse trains.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation pulse trains are delivered in synchronized relationship with atrial or ventricular depolarization.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a stimulation unit for cardioversion/defibrillation.

11. The device of claim 3, further comprising a stimulation unit for atrial and/or ventricular electrical myocardial stimulation.

12. The device of claim 4, further comprising a stimulation unit for atrial and/or ventricular electrical myocardial stimulation.

13. The device of claim 5, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs at a frequency of about 20 Hz with a pulse duration of between 0.1 and 4 ms.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs at a frequency of about 20 Hz with a pulse duration of between 0.1 and 4 ms.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs at a frequency of about 20 Hz with a pulse duration of between 0.1 and 4 ms.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs in steps which increase in a stage-wise manner.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs in steps which increase in a stage-wise manner.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs in steps which increase in a stage-wise manner.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the parasympathetic stimulation occurs in steps which increase in a stage-wise manner.