Cardiac rhythm management system with prevention of double counting of events

• US 20080215109A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James A. Esler
• Original Assignee: James A. Esler
• Inventors: Esler, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management system recognizes patterns of interval durations, distinguishing between events in different heart chambers even though signals associated with those different heart chambers are processed using a commonly shared sensing circuit. A therapy delivery algorithm ignores intervals between cardiac events occurring in different heart chambers when determining a cardiac rate upon which the delivery of therapy is based. This reduces the risk of inappropriate delivery of therapy to the patient. Delayed conduction left ventricular beats are not erroneously recognized as a subsequent right ventricular beat, preventing such short intervals from inappropriately triggering a defibrillation countershock.

Claims

1. A method of operating a pacemaker, comprising:

sensing right and left ventricular depolarizations through a single channel;

implementing a programmable timing interval to determine that two successive ventricular events occur in different ventricular chambers; and

delivering or withholding pacing therapy based on the determination that the two successive ventricular events occur in different ventricular chambers.