Pacemaker with vasovagal syncope detection
First Claim
1. A cardiac pacemaker for detecting the onset of a cardioinhibitory episode comprising:
- heart rate drop determination means for determining the size of a drop in heart rate;
minimum rate drop storage means for storing a programmable minimum rate drop;
minimum rate storage means for storing a programmable maximum drop ending rate;
comparator means coupled to said heart rate drop determination means, said minimum rate drop storage means, and said minimum rate storage means for comparing the size of said drop in rate to said minimum rate drop, and for comparing an ending rate to said maximum drop ending rate, said ending rate being defined as the heart rate at the time said rate drop is determined; and
cardioinhibitory indication means coupled to said comparator means for indicating the occurrence of a cardioinhibitory episode when said rate drop exceeds said minimum rate drop and said ending rate is below said maximum drop ending rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rate-responsive cardiac pacemaker implements a novel scheme which detects incipient vasovagal syncope (or other episodes caused by a vasodepressive or cardioinhibitory disorder) when a) the heart rate drops below a programmable minimum size, and b) the rate after said drop is below a programmable maximum drop ending rate. The pacemaker implements a stability and intervention procedure upon the detection of an episode, in which it ignores transient drops in rate, and paces at a predetermined high rate if the drops are stable. The pacemaker then gradually reduces the pacing rate over a predetermined time to the pre-episodic level. A sleep disable feature disables the vasovagal syncope detection and therapy features during the patient'"'"'s sleeping hours to reduce or eliminate false positive responses.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A cardiac pacemaker for detecting the onset of a cardioinhibitory episode comprising:
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heart rate drop determination means for determining the size of a drop in heart rate; minimum rate drop storage means for storing a programmable minimum rate drop; minimum rate storage means for storing a programmable maximum drop ending rate; comparator means coupled to said heart rate drop determination means, said minimum rate drop storage means, and said minimum rate storage means for comparing the size of said drop in rate to said minimum rate drop, and for comparing an ending rate to said maximum drop ending rate, said ending rate being defined as the heart rate at the time said rate drop is determined; and cardioinhibitory indication means coupled to said comparator means for indicating the occurrence of a cardioinhibitory episode when said rate drop exceeds said minimum rate drop and said ending rate is below said maximum drop ending rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A cardioinhibitory detection method adapted for use in a cardiac pacemaker for detecting the onset of cardioinhibitory episode comprising the steps of:
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determining the size of a drop in heart rate; storing a programmable minimum rate drop; storing a programmable maximum drop ending rate; and comparing the size of said drop in rate to said minimum rate drop, and for comparing an ending rate to said maximum drop ending rate, said ending rate being defined as the heart rate at the time said rate drop is determined; and indicating the occurrence of a cardioinhibitory episode when said rate drop exceeds said minimum rate drop and said ending rate is below said maximum drop ending rate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A cardiac pacemaker for detecting the onset of a vasovagal syncope episode comprising:
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heart rate drop determination means for determining the size of a drop in heart rate; minimum rate drop storage means for storing a programmable minimum rate drop; minimum rate storage means for storing a programmable maximum drop ending rate; comparator means coupled to said heart rate drop determination means, said minimum rate drop storage means, and said minimum rate storage means for comparing the size of said drop in rate to said minimum rate drop, and for comparing an ending rate to said maximum drop ending rate, said ending rate being defined as the heart rate at the time said rate drop is determined; and vasovagal syncope indication means coupled to said comparator means for indicating the occurrence of a vasovagal syncope episode when said rate drop exceeds said minimum rate drop and said ending rate is below said maximum drop ending rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A vasovagal syncope detection method adapted for use in a cardiac pacemaker for detecting the onset of vasovagal syncope episode comprising the steps of:
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determining the size of a drop in heart rate; storing a programmable minimum rate drop; storing a programmable maximum drop ending rate; and comparing the size of said drop in rate to said minimum rate drop, and for comparing an ending rate to said maximum drop ending rate, said ending rate being defined as the heart rate at the time said rate drop is determined; and indicating the occurrence of a vasovagal syncope episode when said rate drop exceeds said minimum rate drop and said ending rate is below said maximum drop ending rate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification