Method and apparatus for dual chambered tachyarrhythmia classification and therapy
First Claim
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1. A cardiac stimulator for classifying and treating tachyarrhythmias comprising:
- an atrial sensing circuit adapted to deliver an atrial signal correlative to a condition of an atrium of a heart;
a ventricular sensing circuit adapted to deliver a ventricular signal correlative to a condition of a ventricle of the heart;
a pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle; and
a control circuit coupled to the atrial sensing circuit to receive the atrial signal and coupled to the ventricular sensing circuit to receive the ventricular signal, the control circuit classifying a ventricular tachyarrhythmia into a treatable category or an untreatable category by evaluating an interval between the atrial signal and the ventricular signal to determine the interval'"'"'s stability, if the interval is stable, determining if an A-V interval is abnormal, the control circuit directing the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle if said A-V interval is abnormal.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for classifying and treating tachyarrhythmias. A cardiac stimulator includes an algorithm that uses dual chamber sensing to determine the type of tachyarrhythmia detected. If the tachyarrhythmia is of a type that responds well to ventricular therapy, such as a tachyarrhythmia originating in the ventricle rather than the atrium, the tachyarrhythmia is grouped into a treatable category. Accordingly, the cardiac stimulator applies therapy, or therapies, to the ventricle to remedy the ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
166 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A cardiac stimulator for classifying and treating tachyarrhythmias comprising:
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an atrial sensing circuit adapted to deliver an atrial signal correlative to a condition of an atrium of a heart; a ventricular sensing circuit adapted to deliver a ventricular signal correlative to a condition of a ventricle of the heart; a pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle; and a control circuit coupled to the atrial sensing circuit to receive the atrial signal and coupled to the ventricular sensing circuit to receive the ventricular signal, the control circuit classifying a ventricular tachyarrhythmia into a treatable category or an untreatable category by evaluating an interval between the atrial signal and the ventricular signal to determine the interval'"'"'s stability, if the interval is stable, determining if an A-V interval is abnormal, the control circuit directing the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle if said A-V interval is abnormal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cardiac stimulator comprising:
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an atrial sensing circuit adapted to deliver an atrial signal correlative to atrial events occurring in an atrium of a heart; a ventricular sensing circuit adapted to deliver a ventricular signal correlative to ventricular events occurring in a ventricle of the heart; a pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle; and a control circuit executing an algorithm for controlling the control circuit, the control circuit coupled to the atrial sensing circuit to receive the atrial signal and coupled to the ventricular sensing circuit to receive the ventricular signal, the algorithm; determining an interval between ventricular events; determining whether the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia; if the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia, determining whether an interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable; if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable, determining whether the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal; if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal, withholding treatment of the ventricular tachyarrhythmia; if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is not normal, comparing a relative frequency of atrial events and ventricular events; if the frequency of atrial events is greater than the frequency of ventricular events, withholding treatment of the ventricular tachyarrhythmia; and if the frequency of atrial events is not greater than the frequency of ventricular events, directing the control circuit to direct the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the ventricle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A cardiac stimulator comprising:
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means for determining an interval between ventricular events; means for determining whether the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means for determining whether an interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable if the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia; means for determining whether the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable; and means for withholding treatment of the ventricular tachyarrhythmia if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of classifying and treating tachyarrhythmias comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining an interval between ventricular events; (b) determining whether the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia; (c) determining whether an interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable if the interval between ventricular events indicates a ventricular tachyarrhythmia; (d) determining whether the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is stable; and (e) withholding treatment of the ventricular tachyarrhythmia if the interval between atrial events and ventricular events is normal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification