Apparatus and method for detecting the progression of AV nodal block and atrial capture
First Claim
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1. An implantable pacemaker comprising:
- atrial sensor means for sensing atrial activity in a patient'"'"'s atrium and generating corresponding atrial sense signals, said atrial activity including an intrinsic atrial beat and a ventricular event;
pacing means for generating an atrial pacing pulse;
control means for receiving and analyzing said atrial sense signals and for controlling said pacing means responsive to said atrial sense signals; and
AV nodal block sensing means receiving said atrial sense signals for sensing an AV nodal block of said heart, said AV nodal block sensing means generating an AV block indication signal based on an atrial event and said ventricular event, said atrial event being defined by one of said intrinsic atrial beat and said atrial pacing pulse.
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Abstract
A pacemaker operating in an AAI or AAIR mode is provided with a detector for monitoring an atrial lead and detecting cross talk or far field R-waves from the ventricle. This signal is used to detect and monitor AV nodal block and its progression in a patient. The same signal may also be used to indicate atrial capture.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An implantable pacemaker comprising:
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atrial sensor means for sensing atrial activity in a patient'"'"'s atrium and generating corresponding atrial sense signals, said atrial activity including an intrinsic atrial beat and a ventricular event; pacing means for generating an atrial pacing pulse; control means for receiving and analyzing said atrial sense signals and for controlling said pacing means responsive to said atrial sense signals; and AV nodal block sensing means receiving said atrial sense signals for sensing an AV nodal block of said heart, said AV nodal block sensing means generating an AV block indication signal based on an atrial event and said ventricular event, said atrial event being defined by one of said intrinsic atrial beat and said atrial pacing pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An implantable pacemaker comprising:
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an atrial electrode extending into an atrium of a patient'"'"'s heart; an atrial sensor for sensing an atrial event including an intrinsic atrial beat on said electrode for generating atrial signals; an atrial pacer for generating atrial pace pulses for said atrium in response to pacing commands; a controller for generating said pacing commands, said pacing commands being generated if said intrinsic atrial beat is not sensed by said atrial sensor in a preselected period; a ventricular sensor for generating a ventricular sense signal indicative of a ventricular event on said atrial electrode in said atrium, said ventricular sensor being coupled to said electrode; and a detector generating a parameter indicative of AV nodal block in the patient based on an atrial event and ventricular sense signal, said atrial event comprising one of said atrial pace pulses and an intrinsic atrial beat. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dual chamber pacemaker comprising:
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programmable means operable in an atrial/operating mode wherein only an atrium of a patient'"'"'s heart is paced and a dual chamber operating mode wherein said atrium and a ventricle of the patient'"'"'s heart is paced; and detector means receiving cardiac atrial and ventricular activity only through said atrium for detecting an AV block condition of said patient; wherein said programmable means switches from said atrial operating mode to said dual chamber operating mode in response to said AV block condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification