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Implantable cardiac stimulation device having automatic capture/threshold capability using a dynamically adjustable safety margin

  • US 6,456,882 B1
  • Filed: 10/06/2000
  • Issued: 09/24/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An implantable cardiac stimulation device for stimulating a patient'"'"'s heart during a cardiac cycle through at least one electrode implanted in electrical contact with selected cardiac tissue, the stimulation device comprising:

  • a pulse generator configured for electrical coupling to the electrode and configured to generate stimulation pulses at a controlled energy level to thereby stimulate the patient'"'"'s heart, wherein the controlled energy level has an amplitude component and a duration component;

    a detection circuit configured for electrical coupling to the electrode and configured to receive cardiac signals for determining the presence or absence of an evoked response to each of the stimulation pulses;

    a controller coupled to the pulse generator and the detection circuit for determining the controlled energy level by adding a safety margin value to a threshold controlled energy level at which capture is detected; and

    wherein the safety margin value varies according to a safety margin adjustment criteria related to the absence of evoked responses.

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