Method and system for monitoring heart failure using rate change dynamics

• US 6,636,762 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Begemann, Malcolm J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/843,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 600/516, 600/518, 600/519, 607/25
• US Class Current: 600/519
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy

Abstract

A method of monitoring heart failure is provided. A baseline heart rate change value is determined, wherein the baseline heart rate change value comprises a speed at which a first initial heart rate changes to a second initial heart rate. At least one subsequent heart rate change value is also determined, wherein the subsequent heart rate change value comprises a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate. The subsequent heart rate change value is compared to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring heart failure, comprising:

measuring a first initial heart rate;

measuring a second initial heart rate;

determining a baseline heart rate change value that comprises a speed at which the first initial heart rate changes to the second initial heart rate;

determining at least one subsequent heart rate change value that comprises a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate; and

comparing the subsequent heart rate change value to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subsequent heart rate is the same as the first initial heart rate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subsequent heart rate is the same as the second initial heart rate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a first subsequent heart rate.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a second subsequent heart rate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is higher than the baseline heart rate change value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is lower than the baseline heart rate change value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the baseline heart rate change value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the subsequent heart rate change value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the heart failure value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one significant heart failure value.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the heart failure value matches the significant heart failure value.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing an alert of the potential heart failure.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

administering therapy based on the heart failure value.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pacing at the first initial heart rate.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an average heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a maximum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a minimum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

19. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a processor;

at least one sensing circuit operably connected to the processor;

at least one sensing electrode operably connected to the processor and adapted for placement within a heart

wherein

a first initial heart rate and a second initial heart rate are measured, a baseline heart rate change value is determined for a speed at which the first initial heart rate changes to the second initial heart rate, a subsequent heart rate change value is determined for a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate and the subsequent heart rate change value is compared to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

at least one pacing electrode.

21. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing the baseline heart rate change value.

22. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing a subsequent heart rate change value.

23. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing the heart failure value.

24. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

an alert operably connected to the processor for providing an alert when the heart failure value indicates potential heart failure.

25. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

at least one pacing electrode operably connected to the process for administering therapy based on the heart failure value.

26. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing an average heart rate change value.

27. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing a maximum heart rate change value.

28. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a memory location operably connected to the processor for storing a minimum heart rate change value.

29. An implantable medical system, comprising:

means for measuring a first initial heart rate;

means for measuring a second initial heart rate;

means for determining a baseline heart rate change value that comprises a speed at which the first initial heart rate changes to the second initial heart rate;

means for determining at least one subsequent heart rate change value that comprises a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate; and

means for comparing the subsequent heart rate change value to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for pacing at the first initial heart rate.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

computer program code that paces at the first initial heart rate.

32. A computer usable medium including a program for monitoring heart failure, comprising:

computer program code that measures a first initial heart rate;

computer program code that measures a second initial heart rate;

computer program code that determines a baseline heart rate change value that comprises a speed at which the first initial heart rate changes to the second initial heart rate;

computer program code that determines at least one subsequent heart rate change value that comprises a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate; and

computer program code that compares the subsequent heart rate change value to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value.

33. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for measuring a first subsequent heart rate.

34. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for measuring a second subsequent heart rate.

35. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is higher than the baseline heart rate change value.

36. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is lower than the baseline heart rate change value.

37. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for storing the baseline heart rate change value.

38. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for storing the subsequent heart rate change value.

39. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for storing the heart failure value.

40. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining at least one significant heart failure value.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

means for indicating a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the heart failure value matches the significant heart failure value.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising:

means for providing an alert of the potential heart failure.

43. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

means for administering therapy based on the heart failure value.

44. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

means for determining an average heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

45. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

means for determining a maximum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

46. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

means for determining a minimum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

47. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that measures a first subsequent heart rate.

48. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that measures a second subsequent heart rate.

49. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that indicates a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is higher than the baseline heart rate change value.

50. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that indicates a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the subsequent heart rate change value is lower than the baseline heart rate change value.

51. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that stores the baseline heart rate change value.

52. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that stores the subsequent heart rate change value.

53. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that stores the heart failure value.

54. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that determines at least one significant heart failure value.

55. The program of claim 54, further comprising:

computer program code that indicates a potential heart failure with the heart failure value when the heart failure value matches the significant heart failure value.

56. The program of claim 55 further comprising:

computer program code that provides an alert of the potential heart failure.

57. The program of claim 32, further comprising:

computer program code that administers therapy based on the heart failure value.

58. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

computer program code that determines an average heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

59. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

computer program code that determines a maximum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.

60. The program of claim 32 further comprising:

computer program code that determines a minimum heart rate change value from the baseline heart rate change and a plurality of subsequent heart rate changes.