Recommended replacement time trigger for use within an implantable rate-responsive pacemaker
First Claim
1. A method of generating a recommended replacement time (RRT) trigger signal for use in an implantable multi-mode pacemaker, at least one of the modes of said pacemaker comprising a rate-responsive mode, comprising:
- (a) regularly monitoring the battery voltage, VBAT, of said multi-mode pacemaker;
(b) generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the monitored battery voltage drops below a first prescribed RRT threshold whenever a non-rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use;
(c) generating the RRT trigger signal whenever the monitored battery voltage drops below a second prescribed threshold whenever a rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use, where the second prescribed RRT threshold is lower than the first prescribed RRT threshold; and
(d) increasing the pacemaker'"'"'s basic pacing interval by a prescribed amount in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-mode rate-responsive pacemaker provides an accurate recommended replacement time (RRT) indicator which provides for full rate response performance until RRT is indicated without any decrease in longevity due to a premature triggering of RRT during rate response. An RRT trigger signal is generated whenever the battery voltage falls below a prescribed RRT threshold voltage. In one embodiment, a sustained battery voltage (determined based, e.g., on a long-term average of the battery voltage) that is less than the RRT threshold voltage must be detected before the RRT trigger signal is generated. In another embodiment, two RRT threshold voltages are used rather than one. A normal RRT threshold voltage is used when the pacer is not operating in a rate-responsive mode, and a lower RRT threshold voltage is used when the pacer is operating in a rate-responsive mode. In yet another embodiment, when the pacemaker is operating in a rate-responsive mode, the RRT trigger signal is not generated until a time delay longer than a typical exercise duration has elapsed during which the battery voltage continuously remains below the RRT threshold.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of generating a recommended replacement time (RRT) trigger signal for use in an implantable multi-mode pacemaker, at least one of the modes of said pacemaker comprising a rate-responsive mode, comprising:
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(a) regularly monitoring the battery voltage, VBAT, of said multi-mode pacemaker; (b) generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the monitored battery voltage drops below a first prescribed RRT threshold whenever a non-rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use; (c) generating the RRT trigger signal whenever the monitored battery voltage drops below a second prescribed threshold whenever a rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use, where the second prescribed RRT threshold is lower than the first prescribed RRT threshold; and (d) increasing the pacemaker'"'"'s basic pacing interval by a prescribed amount in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of generating a recommended replacement time (RRT) trigger signal for use in an implantable multi-mode pacemaker comprising:
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(a) regularly measuring the battery voltage, VBAT, of said multi-mode pacemaker; (b) determining a sustained battery voltage based on the previous measurements of the battery voltage over a prescribed time period; (c) generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the sustained battery voltage drops below a first prescribed RRT threshold; and (d) increasing the pacemaker'"'"'s basic pacing interval by a prescribed amount in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of generating a recommended replacement time (RRT) trigger signal for use in an implantable multi-mode pacemaker, at least one of the modes of said pacemaker comprising a rate-responsive mode, comprising:
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(a) regularly measuring the battery voltage, VBAT, of said multi-mode pacemaker; (b) immediately generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the measured battery voltage drops below a first prescribed RRT threshold whenever a non-rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use; (c) generating, whenever a rate-responsive mode of the pacemaker is in use;
the RRT trigger signal only after a programmable delay T1 has elapsed during which the monitored battery voltage has continuously remained below the first prescribed RRT threshold throughout the delay T1; and(d) increasing the pacemaker'"'"'s basic pacing interval by a prescribed amount in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-mode rate-responsive pacemaker comprising:
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a battery; means coupled to the battery for generating pacing stimuli at a basic pacing interval; means for measuring the battery voltage on a regular basis; means for comparing the measured battery voltage to a selected one of a plurality of RRT threshold voltages; means for generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the measured battery voltage falls below the selected one of the plurality of RRT threshold voltages; and means for increasing the basic pacing interval of the pacemaker in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multi-mode rate-responsive pacemaker comprising:
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a battery; means coupled to the battery for generating pacing stimuli at a basic pacing interval; means for measuring an average battery voltage; means for comparing the average battery voltage to a prescribed RRT threshold voltage; means for immediately generating an RRT trigger signal whenever the average battery voltage falls below the prescribed RRT threshold voltage if the pacemaker is operating in a non-rate-responsive mode of operation; means for generating an RRT trigger signal after a prescribed delay, when the pacemaker is operating in a rate-responsive mode of operation, and when the average battery voltage continuously remains below the prescribed RRT threshold voltage throughout the prescribed delay; and means for increasing the basic pacing interval of the pacemaker in response to generation of the RRT trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification