Pacing method and system for blood flow velocity measurement and regulation of heart stimulating signals based on blood flow velocity

• US 5,318,595 A
• Filed: 05/08/1992
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bozidar Ferek-Petric, Branko Breyer
• Original Assignee: Bozidar Ferek-Petric, Branko Breyer
• Inventors: Ferek-Petric, Bozidar, Breyer, Branko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/880,552
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 PG
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36528 the parameter being measured by means of ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36571 controlled by blood flow rate, e.g. blood velocity or cardiac output

Abstract

A system and method for regulation of pacing signals, and more particularly for regulation of an atrioventricular interval in a cardiac electrotherapy system based on measurement of blood flow velocity profiles. More particularly, a diastolic blood flow filling wave and an atrial blood flow filling wave are determined and a time delay between peaks of the two waves and/or a superimposition velocity of the two waves relative to one another are utilized for the regulation. The regulation preferably occurs by comparing the measured time delay to a desired time delay or desired superimposition velocity, and the result of the comparison is then employed for regulating the pacing, or regulating the atrio-ventricular interval.

Claims

1. A system for regulating an atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval in a cardiac electrotherapy system, comprising:

flow velocity measurement means for measuring blood flow velocity at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber to determine a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A wave);

means for determining a time interval (EA interval) between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave; and

means for regulating the atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval based on the measured EA interval.

2. A system according to claim 1 including means for comparing the measured EA interval to a desired EA interval, and based on the comparison, for regulating the A-V interval.

3. A system according to claim 1 including means for measuring a superimposition velocity where the E filling wave joins the A filling wave and for utilizing the measured superimposition velocity for regulation of the A-V interval.

4. A system for regulating an atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval in a cardiac electrotherapy system, comprising:

flow velocity measurement means for measuring blood flow velocity at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber for determining a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A wave);

means for determining a time interval (EA interval) between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave;

means for generating pacing signals to the heart; and

means for employing the EA interval when regulating the pacing signals to the heart.

5. A method for regulating an atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval in a cardiac electrotherapy system, comprising the steps of:

determining a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A wave) at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber;

determining a time interval (EA interval) between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave; and

regulating the atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval based on the measured EA interval for cardiac electrotherapy.

6. A method for regulating an atrio-ventricular (A-V) interval in a cardiac electrotherapy system, comprising the steps of:

determining a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A wave) at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber;

determining a time interval (EA interval) between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave;

generating pacing signals to the heart; and

employing the EA interval to regulate the pacing signals to the heart.

7. A cardiac electrotherapy system, comprising:

flow velocity measurement means for determining a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E-wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A-wave) at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber;

means for determining a parameter indicating a relationship between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave;

means for generating stimulating signals to the heart; and

means for regulating the stimulating signals to the heart based on said parameter.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said parameter comprises a time interval between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein said parameter comprises a superimposition velocity at which the diastolic filling wave meets the atrial filling wave.

10. A method for cardiac electrotherapy comprising the steps of:

determining a diastolic blood flow velocity filling wave (E-wave) and an atrial blood flow velocity filling wave (A-wave) at a region of a valve between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber;

determining a parameter indicating a relationship between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave;

generating stimulating signals to the heart; and

regulating stimulating signals to the heart based on said parameter.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said parameter comprises a time interval between the diastolic blood flow filling wave and the atrial blood flow filling wave.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said parameter comprises a superimposition velocity at which the diastolic filling wave meets the atrial filling wave.