CHAOS-BASED DETECTION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for use in an implantable medical device comprising:
- detecting ventricular beats and measuring intervals between the ventricular beats;
identifying irregular ventricular beats;
evaluating a degree of variability within the ventricular intervals while excluding intervals associated with the irregular beats; and
detecting a supraventricular arrhythmia based on the degree of variability.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) based on variations in ventricular intervals detected by a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). In one example, ventricular beats are detected and intervals between the ventricular beats are measured, such as RR intervals. Irregular ventricular beats are identified, including ectopic beats, bigeminal beats, and the like. The degree of variability within the ventricular intervals is then determined while excluding any intervals associated with irregular beats. AF is then detected based on the degree of variability. That is, AF is detected based on variability occurring within ventricular intervals after ectopic beats and other irregular beats have been eliminated, thus mitigating detection problems that might arise if the variability were instead calculated based on all ventricular beat intervals. Techniques are also described herein for distinguishing AF from sinus tachycardia, which can also cause a high degree of variability in RR intervals.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for use in an implantable medical device comprising:
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detecting ventricular beats and measuring intervals between the ventricular beats; identifying irregular ventricular beats; evaluating a degree of variability within the ventricular intervals while excluding intervals associated with the irregular beats; and detecting a supraventricular arrhythmia based on the degree of variability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for use in an implantable medical device comprising:
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a ventricular interval detector; an irregular ventricular beat identification system; a variability evaluation unit operative to evaluate a degree of variability within the ventricular intervals while excluding intervals associated with irregular beats; and a supraventricular arrhythmia detector operative to detect a supraventricular arrhythmia based on the degree of variability.
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18. A system for use in an implantable medical device comprising:
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means for detecting ventricular beats and measuring intervals between the ventricular beats; means for identifying irregular ventricular beats; means for evaluating a degree of variability within the ventricular intervals while excluding intervals associated with the irregular beats; and means for detecting a supraventricular arrhythmia based on the degree of variability.
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Specification