Single complex electrogram display having a sensing threshold for an implantable medical device

• US 6,577,896 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Werner, Robert, Krichen, Jack P., Sackrison, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/780,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 607/27, 607/30, 600/523, 600/522, 600/509
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

The present invention discloses a graphical display method and apparatus relating to an electrogram signal received from at least one lead used in conjunction with an implantable medical device. The present invention provides a time-expanded waveform of a portion of a signal relating to a single heartbeat. Sensitivity threshold information is also graphically displayed on the waveform. The programmer assembly of the present invention comprises an analyzer for locating and marking desired characteristics of the electrogram signal with a plurality of markers to produce a marked electrogram signal. A processor receives the electrogram signal from the analyzer and recognizes the marked desired characteristics of the electrogram signal. The processor also receives sensitivity threshold information from a particular lead. A display, controlled by the processor, graphically displays information representing a portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker and graphically displays a sensitivity threshold superimposed onto the portion of the electrogram signal.

Claims

1. A system for graphically displaying information received from at least one lead positioned within a passageway of a heart related to an implantable medical device, the system comprising:

an analyzer for receiving the electrogram signal from the electrical lead and for locating and marking desired characteristics of the electrogram signal with a plurality of markers to produce a marked electrogram signal;

a processor for receiving the marked electrogram signal from the analyzer, for recognizing the marked desired characteristics of the electrogram signal, and for inserting amplitude information into the marked electrogram signal;

a display buffer for momentarily capturing a portion of the electrogram signal adjacent to a single marker;

updating means for continuously updating the captured portion of the electrogram signal;

a selection switch for selecting a selected signal between the electrogram signal received from the electrical lead and the captured portion of the electrogram signal stored in the display buffer;

a sensitivity threshold control for controlling a sensitivity threshold; and

a display controlled by the processor for displaying the selected signal and for graphically displaying the sensitivity threshold superimposed on the selected signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor centers the selected signal on the display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor displays the amplitude information on the display.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises:

monitoring means for monitoring a heart rate; and

comparing means for comparing the heart rate to a predetermined set of ranges.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the updating means updates the captured portion of the electrogram signal with every heartbeat.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the updating means updates the captured portion of the electrogram signal with every second heartbeat.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the updating means updates the captured portion of the electrogram signal with every third heart beat.

8. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a hold icon located on the display and controlled by the processor for holding the selected signal and the sensitivity threshold on the display.

9. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a print icon located on the display and controlled by the processor for printing the selected signal and the sensitivity threshold held on the display.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the display displays the selected signal and the sensitivity threshold in a time-expanded format.

11. A programmer for graphically displaying information received from at least one lead positioned within a passageway of a heart and related to an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:

an analyzer for receiving an electrogram signal and for locating and marking desired characteristics of the electrogram signal with a plurality of markers to produce a marked electrogram signal;

a processor for receiving the electrogram signal from the analyzer and for recognizing the marked desired characteristics of the electrogram signal, the processor also receiving sensitivity threshold information; and

a display controlled by the processor for graphically displaying information representing a portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker and for graphically displaying a sensitivity threshold.

12. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the processor centers the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker on the display.

13. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the processor inserts amplitude information onto the electrogram signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor displays the amplitude information on the display.

15. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the processor further comprises:

monitoring means for monitoring a heart rate; and

comparing means for comparing the heart rate to a predetermined set of ranges.

16. The programmer of claim 15, wherein the display displays an updated portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker with every heartbeat.

17. The programmer of claim 15, wherein the display displays an updated portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker with every second heartbeat.

18. The programmer of claim 15, wherein the display displays an updated portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker with every third heartbeat.

19. The programmer of claim 11, and further comprising a hold icon located on the display and controlled by the processor for holding the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker and for holding the sensitivity threshold.

20. The programmer of claim 19, and further comprising a print icon located on the display and controlled by the processor for printing the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker and for printing the sensitivity threshold.

21. The programmer of claim 11, further comprising a user input, wherein the processor receives updated sensitivity threshold information based upon an input from a user.

22. A method of graphically displaying information relating to an electrogram signal received from at least one lead positioned within a passageway of a heart and related to an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:

analyzing the electrogram signal to locate desired characteristics of the electrogram signal;

inserting a plurality of markers into the electrogram signal at a location of the desired characteristics;

filtering a sensitivity threshold signal received from a lead to remove unwanted noise;

amplifying the filtered sensitivity threshold signal; and

displaying a portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker and graphically displaying a sensitivity threshold level representing the amplified and filtered sensitivity threshold signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of displaying a portion of the electrogram signal further comprises:

centering the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker on the display.

24. The method of claim 22 and further comprising:

inserting amplitude information into the electrogram signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of displaying a portion of the electrogram signal further comprises:

displaying the amplitude information.

26. The method of claim 22 and further comprising:

monitoring a heart rate; and

comparing the heart rate to a predetermined range.

27. The method of claim 26 and further comprising:

displaying the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker after each heartbeat.

28. The method of claim 26 and further comprising:

displaying the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker after every second heartbeat.

29. The method of claim 26 and further comprising:

displaying the portion of the electrogram signal immediately adjacent to a single marker after every third heartbeat.

30. The method of claim 22 and further comprising:

maintaining the displayed portion of the electrogram signal and the sensitivity threshold level on the display.

31. The method of claim 22 and further comprising:

printing the displayed portion of the electrogram signal and the sensitivity threshold level.