Pacemaker with improved dynamic rate responsiveness
First Claim
1. A rate adaptive pacemaker system for pacing a patient, said system comprising a pacemaker having generator means for generating pacing pulses at a controlled pacing rate, any said pacing rate having a corresponding pacing interval, means for monitoring at least one patient variable correlative of desired heart rate, and rate control means for controlling said generator means to generate said pacing pulses at a rate which is a function of said at least one monitored variable, characterized by said rate control means comprising adjust means for automatically adjusting said function to correlate said pacing rate and said patient variable at at least one pacing rate in accordance with patient history.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rate adaptive pacemaker system, and method of operation, is provided which has a pacemaker which generates pacing pulses at a controlled pacing rate as a function of at least one monitored patient variable. The correlation of pacing rate with the patient variable is nonlinear, or dynamic, and is adapted to actual patient conditions. The value of the relationship between the pacing rate and the monitoring variable is determined at the lower rate limit and the upper rate limit, and the dynamic characteristic between these limits is automatically adjusted.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A rate adaptive pacemaker system for pacing a patient, said system comprising a pacemaker having generator means for generating pacing pulses at a controlled pacing rate, any said pacing rate having a corresponding pacing interval, means for monitoring at least one patient variable correlative of desired heart rate, and rate control means for controlling said generator means to generate said pacing pulses at a rate which is a function of said at least one monitored variable, characterized by said rate control means comprising adjust means for automatically adjusting said function to correlate said pacing rate and said patient variable at at least one pacing rate in accordance with patient history.
- 13. A rate adaptive pacemaker system including a pacemaker and lead means for detecting pacing pulses and sensing heart signals, said pacemaker having generator means for delivering pacing pulses in the absence of spontaneous heartbeats, said pulses being delivered at rates between a lower rate level (LRL) and an upper rate level (URL), means for determining QT intervals of the patient, means for storing slope data representing a predetermined set of pacing intervals corresponding to respective QT intervals, means for adjusting the pacing rate of said delivered pacing signals as a function of said determined QT intervals and said stored data, and means for automatically determining the incremental change of pacing interval with respect to incremental change of QT at LRL and for changing said slope data to reflect said determined incremental changes.
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19. A method of pacing a patient with a rate adaptive implantable pacer, comprising:
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setting lower rate limit (LRL) and upper rate limit (URL) limits on pacing rate, monitoring at least one patient variable indicative of desired pacing rate for said patient, controlling pacing rate as a dynamic function of said variable, said pacing rate being variable between said LRL and URL limits, and automatically determining the value of said function at at least one of said limits, and adjusting said function to include said determined value. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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- 21. A rate adaptive pacemaker system for pacing a patient, said system comprising a pacemaker having generator means for generating pacing pulses at a controlled pacing rate, any said pacing rate having a corresponding pacing interval, means for monitoring at least one patient variable correlative of desired heart rate, and rate control means for controlling said generator means to generate said pacing pulses at a rate which is a function of said at least one monitored variable, wherein said function varies with pacing rate, and means for automatically determining said function at at least one pacing rate by testing patient response to pacing at said at least one rate, and means for adjusting said function in accordance with said determined function.
Specification