Method and circuit for detecting cardiac rhythm abnormalities by analyzing time differences between unipolar signals from a lead with a multi-electrode tip
First Claim
1. A method for detecting cardiac rhythm abnormality, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of electrodes at a tip of a cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other;
placing said tip of said cardiac lead in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
obtaining individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes, said unipolar signals exhibiting a time relationship relative to each other; and
analyzing said time relationship to obtain an analysis result and generating a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said analysis result.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit and method for detecting cardiac rhythm abnormalities employ unipolar signals respectively obtained from a cardiac lead having a tip at which a number of separate electrodes are disposed, the electrodes being simultaneously in contact with cardiac tissue. The respective unipolar signals which are obtained from the multiple electrodes exhibit a time relationship relative to each other, and this time relationship is analyzed to determine whether a cardiac rhythm abnormality is present or one or more of the unipolar signals is compared to a template which is known to represent a cardiac abnormality. Analysis of the time relation is undertaken by determining the absolute value of a time offset between any two of the unipolar signals, or by correlating any two of the unipolar signals.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for detecting cardiac rhythm abnormality, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrodes at a tip of a cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other;
placing said tip of said cardiac lead in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
obtaining individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes, said unipolar signals exhibiting a time relationship relative to each other; and
analyzing said time relationship to obtain an analysis result and generating a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said analysis result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting cardiac rhythm abnormality, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrodes a tip of a cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other;
placing said tip of said cardiac lead in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
obtaining detections of individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes;
selecting a heartbeat representing a cardiac rhythm abnormality;
storing a detection pattern for the individual unipolar electrical signals obtained during said heartbeat as a template; and
subsequently obtaining further detections of individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes and comparing said subsequently obtained detections of unipolar signals to said stored template to obtain a comparison result, and generating a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A cardiac rhythm abnormality detector, comprising:
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a cardiac lead having a plurality of electrodes at a tip of said cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other, said tip of said cardiac lead being adapted for placement in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
a QRS detector connected to said cardiac lead which obtains individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes, said unipolar signals exhibiting a time relationship relative to each other; and
an evaluation circuit which analyzes said time relationship to obtain an analysis result and which generates a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said analysis result. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A cardiac rhythm abnormality detector, comprising:
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a cardiac lead having a plurality of electrodes at a tip of said cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other, said tip of said cardiac lead being adapted for placement contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
a QRS detector connected to said cardiac lead which obtains individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes;
an extracorporeal programming device which allows selection of a heartbeat representing a cardiac rhythm abnormality by taking detections from the individual unipolar signals into account;
a template memory in which the detection pattern obtained at said cardiac rhythm abnormally is stored as a template;
said QRS detector subsequently obtaining further individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes; and
an evaluation circuit which compares said subsequently obtained unipolar signals to said stored template to obtain a comparison result, and generates a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An implantable cardiac assist device comprising:
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a cardiac lead having a plurality of electrodes at a tip of said cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other, said tip of said cardiac lead being adapted for placement in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
an electrical stimulation generator connected to said cardiac lead for delivering electrical stimulation to said cardiac tissue via said plurality of electrodes;
a control unit connected to said electrical stimulation generator;
a QRS detector which obtains individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes, said unipolar signals exhibiting a time relationship relative to each other; and
an evaluation circuit which analyzes said time relationship to obtain an analysis result and generates a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said analysis result to said control unit for triggering delivery of said electrical stimulation by said electrical stimulation generator. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An implantable cardiac assist device comprising:
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a cardiac lead having a plurality of electrodes at a tip of said cardiac lead, which are electrically separated from each other, said tip of said cardiac lead being adapted for placement in contact with cardiac tissue so that all of said electrodes are simultaneously in substantially fixed contact with said cardiac tissue;
an electrical stimulation generator connected to said cardiac lead for delivering electrical stimulation to said cardiac tissue via said plurality of electrodes;
a control unit connected to said electrical stimulation generator;
a QRS detector which obtains individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes, said unipolar signals exhibiting a time relationship relative to each other; and
an extracorporeal programmer which allows selection of a heartbeat representing a cardiac rhythm abnormality by taking detections from the individual unipolar signals into account;
a template memory in which the detection pattern obtained at said cardiac rhythm abnormality is stored as a template;
said QRS detector subsequently obtaining further individual unipolar electrical signals from said cardiac tissue respectively via said electrodes; and
an evaluation circuit which compares said subsequently obtained unipolar signals to said stored template to obtain a comparison result, and which generates a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality dependent on said comparison result to said control unit for triggering delivery of said electrical stimulation by said electrical stimulation generator. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification