Method of determining and documenting cessation of life using evoked response
First Claim
1. A method of sensing a death of a patient having an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, said cardiac rhythm management device having a ventricular sensing amplifier for detecting natural and evoked cardiac depolarization signals, a microprocessor-based controller coupled to receive an output from the ventricular sensing amplifier and for developing control signals, and a stimulating pulse generator for producing cardiac stimulating pulses at timed intervals determined by said control signals, comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring the ventricular sensing amplifier for an evoked response of the patient'"'"'s heart to the application of the cardiac stimulating pulses; and
(b) recording in the cardiac rhythm management device the date and time of death as the date and time at which no intrinsic beat is detected by the ventricular sensing amplifier and application of cardiac stimulating pulses ceases to produce an evoked response.
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Abstract
The date and time of death of a patient may be recorded in a memory of a microprocessor used in an implantable cardiac rhythm management device by detecting the failure of the heart to produce an evoked response upon the application of a pace pulse to the heart. To confirm death, other physiologic sensors used in the cardiac rhythm management device may also be sensed to determine the absence of an expected output signal.
20 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of sensing a death of a patient having an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, said cardiac rhythm management device having a ventricular sensing amplifier for detecting natural and evoked cardiac depolarization signals, a microprocessor-based controller coupled to receive an output from the ventricular sensing amplifier and for developing control signals, and a stimulating pulse generator for producing cardiac stimulating pulses at timed intervals determined by said control signals, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the ventricular sensing amplifier for an evoked response of the patient'"'"'s heart to the application of the cardiac stimulating pulses; and
(b) recording in the cardiac rhythm management device the date and time of death as the date and time at which no intrinsic beat is detected by the ventricular sensing amplifier and application of cardiac stimulating pulses ceases to produce an evoked response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification