Method and apparatus for alleviating paroxysmal atrail tachycardia

• US 4,577,634 A
• Filed: 07/02/1985
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence J. Gessman
• Original Assignee: Lawrence J. Gessman
• Inventors: Gessman, Lawrence J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/751,602
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 PG, 128/702, 128/703
• US Class Current: 607/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions

Abstract

An improved dual chamber cardiac pacing apparatus detects retrograde P-waves conduction by either determining polarity of the P-wave at a location in the right atrium adjacent the A-V node; or the sequence of signals which appear at this predetermined location and at a second predetermined location in the atrium in proximity to the sinus node. The pacing apparatus will ignore retrograde P-waves when initiating sequential pacing in the ventricle. In addition, the pacing apparatus will provide a burst of high rate atrial pacing pulses upon detection of the simultaneous occurrence of retrograde P-wave conduction, high rate heart beat and narrow QRS complexes.

Claims

1. A method for alleviating paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in a human heart, said method comprising the steps of:

a. detecting heart beat rates which exceed a predetermined level;

b. detecting the presence of retrograde P-waves; and

c. providing atrial pacing pulses in a predetermined format upon simultaneous occurrence of conditions detected in steps a and b.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting QRS complexes having a duration which is less than a predetermined time and providing atrial pacing pulses in a predetermined format upon simultaneous occurrence of said QRS complexes and the conditions detected in steps a and b of claim 1.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said predetermined format of atrial pacing pulses comprises at least one premature atrial pacing pulse.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said predetermined format of atrial pacing pulses comprises a burst of high rate atrial pacing pulses.

5. An apparatus for alleviating paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in a human heart, said apparatus comprising:

a. means for detecting heart beat rates which exceed a predetermined level;

b. means for detecting retrograde P-waves; and

c. means for providing atrial pacing pulses in a predetermined format upon simultaneous detection of retrograde P-waves and heart beat rates which exceed said predetermined level.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 which additionally comprises means for detecting QRS complexes having a duration which is less than a predetermined time and means for providing atrial pacing pulses in a predetermined format upon simultaneous detection of retrograde P-waves, QRS complexes which have a duration of less than said predetermined time period, and heart beat rates which exceed said predetermined level.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said predetermined format comprises at least one premature atrial beat.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said predetermined format comprises a burst of high rate atrial pacing pulses.