Implantable pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator device and method incorporating multiple bradycardia support pacing rates
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for treating a patient'"'"'s malfunctioning heart comprising the steps of detecting episodes of bradycardia of the heart, delivering bradycardia support pacing to the heart at a first standby rate during episodes of bradycardia other than those that immediately follow reversion of a tachycardia, detecting tachycardia of the heart, reverting said tachycardia, delivering bradycardia support pacing to the heart at a second standby rate, greater than said first standby rate, during initial periods of episodes of bradycardia which immediately follow reversions of tachycardia, said initial periods being predetermined time periods, and delivering support pacing at said first standby rate upon expiration of said predetermined time periods during continuance of any episodes of bradycardia which follow reversions of tachycardia.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable cardioverting/defibrillating pacemaker and method for treating arrhythmias of a patient'"'"'s heart are disclosed. Bradycardia support pacing is initially provided at a normal standby rate, in the absence of a tachycardia. Upon detection and confirmation of a tachycardia, antitachycardia therapy in the form of antitachycardia pacing pulse therapy and/or cardioversion or defibrillation therapy is delivered to the heart. Thereafter, upon reversion of the tachycardia, bradycardia support pacing is again delivered to the heart but at a greater rate than the earlier normal standby rate and only for a predetermined time period. At the end of such time period, the bradycardia support pacing rate is returned to the normal standby rate, either directly or in decremental steps.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method for treating a patient'"'"'s malfunctioning heart comprising the steps of detecting episodes of bradycardia of the heart, delivering bradycardia support pacing to the heart at a first standby rate during episodes of bradycardia other than those that immediately follow reversion of a tachycardia, detecting tachycardia of the heart, reverting said tachycardia, delivering bradycardia support pacing to the heart at a second standby rate, greater than said first standby rate, during initial periods of episodes of bradycardia which immediately follow reversions of tachycardia, said initial periods being predetermined time periods, and delivering support pacing at said first standby rate upon expiration of said predetermined time periods during continuance of any episodes of bradycardia which follow reversions of tachycardia.
-
2. A method for treating arrhythmias of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising the steps of:
-
delivering first bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart at a first programmed standby rate; detecting tachycardia of the heart; delivering antitachycardia therapy to the heart to revert said tachycardia; and delivering second bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart for a predetermined period of time, after reversion of said tachycardia, said second bradycardia pacing pulses being at a second programmed standby rate, said second standby rate being greater than said first standby rate. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of treating arrhythmias of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising the steps of:
-
delivering first bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart at a first programmed standby rate; detecting a tachycardia of the heart; delivering antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart to revert said tachycardia; and delivering second bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart for a predetermined period of time after reversion of said tachycardia, said second bradycardia pacing pulses being of at least one other bradycardia pacing rate, said at least one other bradycardia pacing rate being greater than said first programmed standby rate.
-
-
13. An apparatus for treating arrhythmias of a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
-
bradycardia pulse therapy means for a delivering bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart at a programmable standby rate; detection means for detecting a tachycardia of the heart; antitachycardia therapy means responsive to said detection means for delivering antitachycardia therapy to the heart to revert said tachycardia; bradycardia pacing rate setting means for setting the rate of said bradycardia pacing pulses, said bradycardia pacing rate setting means initially setting said bradycardia pacing rate to a first programmed standby rate value prior to detection of said tachycardia and thereafter setting said bradycardia pacing rate to at least one other rate value for bradycardia pacing after detection and reversion of said tachycardia, said at least one other rate value being higher then said programmed standby rate value; and timing means for causing said bradycardia pacing rate setting means to set the rate of said bradycardia pacing pulses to said at least one other rate value for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An apparatus for treating arrhythmias of a patient'"'"'s heart comprising:
-
bradycardia pulse delivering means for delivering bradycardia pacing pulses to the heart at a standby rate; detection means for detecting a tachycardia of the heart; antitachycardia therapy pacing means responsive to said detection means for supplying antitachycardia pacing therapy to the heart to revert said tachycardia; standby rate setting means responsive to said detection means for setting said standby rate of said bradycardia pacing pulses, said standby rate setting means setting said standby rate to a first programmed standby rate for normal bradycardia pacing, and to a second programmed standby rate for post-antitachycardia therapy bradycardia pacing; and timing means for causing said standby rate setting means to set said second programmed standby rate for a predetermined period of time.
-
Specification