ICD with continuous regular testing of defibrillation lead status
First Claim
1. An implantable cardiac stimulating device comprising:
- means for delivering pacing pulses to the heart of a patient;
means for delivering high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of a patient;
impedance measuring means for selectively obtaining a first impedance measurement between the means for delivering pacing pulses to the heart of a patient and the means for delivering high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of the patient;
control means for controlling the delivery of pacing pulses and high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of the patient and for controlling the impedance measuring means wherein the control means is adapted to periodically induce the impedance measuring means to obtain the first impedance measurement and wherein the control means compares the first impedance measurement to previously obtained first impedance measurements; and
annunciator means for providing the patient with a warning when the control means determines that the first impedance measurement exceeds previously obtained first impedance measurements.
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Abstract
An implantable cardiac stimulating device which incorporates the functionality of both a pacemaker and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The implantable cardiac stimulating device is adapted to periodically obtain an impedance measurement by applying a pacing pulse to the pacing tip and measuring the resulting current on a lead connected to one of the high voltage shocking coils implanted within the heart. The measured impedance between the pacing lead and the shocking lead is compared to previously obtained impedance measurements to determine if an increase in the impedance has occurred. The system is further adapted to compare the impedance measurement to the impedance measured between the pacing lead and the casing of the implantable cardiac stimulating device to determine whether any increase in the measured impedance is due to a problem with the pacing lead or a problem with the high voltage coil or high voltage lead.
114 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An implantable cardiac stimulating device comprising:
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means for delivering pacing pulses to the heart of a patient; means for delivering high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of a patient; impedance measuring means for selectively obtaining a first impedance measurement between the means for delivering pacing pulses to the heart of a patient and the means for delivering high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of the patient; control means for controlling the delivery of pacing pulses and high voltage therapeutic waveforms to the heart of the patient and for controlling the impedance measuring means wherein the control means is adapted to periodically induce the impedance measuring means to obtain the first impedance measurement and wherein the control means compares the first impedance measurement to previously obtained first impedance measurements; and annunciator means for providing the patient with a warning when the control means determines that the first impedance measurement exceeds previously obtained first impedance measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable cardiac stimulating device comprising:
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a pacing lead adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient so as to be able to provide pacing pulses to the heart of the patient; a high voltage lead adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient so as to be able to provide high voltage cardioversion or defibrillation waveforms to the heart of the patient; a control unit, adapted to be implanted in the body of the patient, the control unit being further adapted to periodically induce the pacing lead to emit a first pacing pulse and wherein the control unit is further adapted to measure the resulting electrical response occurring on the high voltage lead so as to be able to obtain a first impedance measurement, wherein the control unit records the first impedance measurement in a memory associated with the control unit and wherein the control unit compares the first impedance measurement to previously obtained first impedance measurements and provides an indication of a potential problem in the high voltage lead when the first impedance measurement exceeds previously obtained first impedance measurements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable cardiac stimulating device comprising:
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a pacing lead adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient so as to be able to provide pacing pulses to the heart of the patient; a high voltage lead adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient so as to be able to provide high voltage cardioversion or defibrillation waveforms to the heart of the patient; an indifferent electrode that is adapted to be implanted within the body of the patient; and a control unit, adapted to be implanted in the body of the patient, the control unit being further adapted to periodically induce the pacing lead to emit a first pacing pulse and wherein the control unit is further adapted to measure the resulting electrical response occurring on the high voltage lead so as to be able to obtain a first impedance measurement, wherein the control unit records the first impedance measurement in a memory associated with the control unit and wherein the control unit compares the first impedance measurement to previously obtained first impedance measurements and is adapted to further induce the pacing lead to emit a second pacing pulse and measure the resulting electrical response occurring on the indifferent electrode so as to be able to obtain a second impedance measurement and wherein the control unit is further adapted to provide an indication of a potential problem in the high voltage lead when the first impedance measurement exceeds previously obtained first impedance measurements and the second impedance measurement. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of assessing the impedance of leads of an implanted cardiac stimulating device, the method comprising:
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emitting a first pacing pulse from a pacing tip implanted in the heart of a patient; measuring the resulting electrical response on a high voltage lead implanted in the heart of a patient; determining a first impedance measurement indicative of the impedance of the high voltage lead; comparing the first impedance measurement to previously obtained first impedance measurements; and warning the patient of the existence of a potential problem with the high voltage lead when the first impedance measurement exceeds previously obtained first impedance measurements for the high voltage lead. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification