Use of accelerometer signal to augment ventricular arrhythmia detection

• US 20040225332A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hess, Michael F., Gebhardt, Ursula
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and discriminating atrial arrhythmias based on mechanical signals of cardiac wall motion and electrical signals of cardiac depolarizations. A mechanical event rate determined from sensed mechanical events is used to corroborate an electrical event rate determined from sensed EGM or ECG signals to classify the heart rhythm. If the event rates are not correlated, other parameterized data from the mechanical signal and electrical signal are evaluated to detect evidence of an arrhythmia. If electrical and mechanical event data do not corroborate a common arrhythmia condition, electrical and mechanical sensing parameters may be adjusted.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes detecting electrical signals of a patient;

a sensor sensing mechanical activity of the patient;

a controller controlling therapy delivered by the device to the patient in response to the electrical signals and the mechanical activity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller correlates the electrical signals and the mechanical activity and utilizes additional information from the electrical signals and the mechanical activity to determine an arrhythmia in response to the electrical signals and the mechanical activity not being approximately equal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that an arrhythmia is present in response to a fast electrical event rate occurring with mechanical activity that is one of absent, low amplitude, and erratic.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical activity corresponds to cardiac wall displacement.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a filter matching a low frequency component of the cardiac wall displacement corresponding to displacement.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned along the left ventricle of the patient.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a coronary sinus lead, wherein the sensor is positioned along the coronary sinus lead.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cross-check sensor detecting the mechanical activity, wherein the controller rejects non-cardiac related motion information sensed by the sensor and the cross-check sensor.

9. A method for detecting arrhythmias in an implantable medical device, comprising:

detecting electrical signals of a patient;

sensing mechanical activity of the patient;

controlling therapy delivered by the device to the patient in response to the electrical signals and the mechanical activity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller correlates the electrical signals and the mechanical activity and utilizes additional information from the electrical signals and the mechanical activity to determine an arrhythmia in response to the electrical signals and the mechanical activity not being approximately equal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling comprises determining that an arrhythmia is present in response to a fast electrical event rate occurring with mechanical activity that is one of absent, low amplitude, and erratic.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanical activity corresponds to cardiac wall displacement.