System for maintaining capture in an implantable pulse generator
First Claim
1. A system for maintaining capture in an implantable pulse generator, the implantable pulse generator including means for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart, the delivering means including a tip, a ring and a case electrode in contact with body tissue, wherein the system further includes:
- means for programmably altering an electrode configuration for delivery of stimulation pulses and for sensing cardiac signals, the electrode configuration being selected from one of tip-and-case, tip-and-ring or ring-and-case;
means for generating stimulation pulses at a desired stimulation pulse energy using each of the electrode configurations;
means for determining the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations at the desired stimulation pulse energy;
processing means for comparing the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations, and for selecting as the optimum electrode configuration the electrode configuration corresponding to a prescribed difference signal; and
programming means for automatically programming the pacemaker'"'"'s electrode configuration to the optimum electrode configuration selected by the processing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autocapture system within an implantable pulse generator automatically maintains the energy of a stimulation pulse at a level just above that which is needed to effectuate capture. The electrical post-stimulus signal of the heart following delivery of a stimulation pulse is compared to a polarization template, determined during a capture verification test. A prescribed difference between the polarization template and the post-stimulus signal indicates capture has occurred. Otherwise, loss of capture is presumed, and a loss-of-capture routine is invoked that increases the energy a prescribed amount to obtain capture. Periodically, and/or at programmed intervals or events, the capture verification test is performed. During the capture verification test, the pulse generator determines a polarization template for a particular stimulation energy and for each of a plurality of sensitivity or threshold settings. A determination is also made as to which sensitivity settings yield capture. An autocapture routine extends the capture verification test data to a wide range of stimulation energies. An autothreshold routine automatically sets the energy of the stimulation pulse a specified level above the energy at which capture is first lost.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for maintaining capture in an implantable pulse generator, the implantable pulse generator including means for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart, the delivering means including a tip, a ring and a case electrode in contact with body tissue, wherein the system further includes:
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means for programmably altering an electrode configuration for delivery of stimulation pulses and for sensing cardiac signals, the electrode configuration being selected from one of tip-and-case, tip-and-ring or ring-and-case; means for generating stimulation pulses at a desired stimulation pulse energy using each of the electrode configurations; means for determining the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations at the desired stimulation pulse energy; processing means for comparing the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations, and for selecting as the optimum electrode configuration the electrode configuration corresponding to a prescribed difference signal; and programming means for automatically programming the pacemaker'"'"'s electrode configuration to the optimum electrode configuration selected by the processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for maintaining capture in an implantable pulse generator, the implantable pulse generator including means for delivering stimulation pulses to a heart, the delivering means including a tip, a ring and a case electrode in contact with body tissue, the pulse generator further including means for programmably altering an electrode configuration for delivery of stimulation pulses and for sensing cardiac signals, the electrode configuration being selected from one of tip-and-case, tip-and-ring or ring-and-case, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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generating stimulation pulses at a desired stimulation pulse energy using each of the electrode configurations; determining the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations at the desired stimulation pulse energy; comparing the optimum sensitivity for each of the electrode configurations; selecting as the optimum electrode configuration the electrode configuration corresponding to the highest sensitivity; and automatically programming the pacemaker'"'"'s electrode configuration to the optimum electrode configuration selected by the processing means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification