Rate adaptive pacemaker system with dual sensing component and method of using same

• US 6,694,189 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Begemann, Malcolm
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/799,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 607/17-26
• US Class Current: 607/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system of adapting heart rate in cardiac tissue based on two types of sensed information is provided. A pulse is transmitted to the cardiac tissue. An activity signal is received. A first interval signal is also received and the pacing rate is adapted based on the first interval signal. A second interval signal is then received and the adapted pacing rate is verified using the second interval signal.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and correcting an artificially increased pacing rate, comprising:

pacing at an increased pacing rate;

transmitting a pulse to cardiac tissue at a pacing rate;

receiving an activity signal;

receiving a first interval signal from an atrium;

receiving a second interval signal from a ventricle;

calculating atrio-ventricular conduction time from the first interval signal and the second interval signal;

comparing the atrio-ventricular conduction time to reference atrio-ventricular conduction times;

determining if the increased pacing rate is an artificially increased pacing rate;

calculating an adapted pacing rate if the increased pacing rate is the artificially increased pacing rate; and

,

pacing a heart at the adapted pacing rate to correct an artificially increased pacing rate.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

re-adapting the pacing rate based on the second interval signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the first interval signal to a first reference interval signal.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a database of first reference interval signals.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

storing the first interval signal in the database of first reference interval signals.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the second interval signal to a second reference interval signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing a database of second reference interval signals.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising;

storing the first interval signal in the database of first reference interval signals.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating an atrio-ventricular conduction time based on the first interval signal and the second interval signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

adapting the pacing rate based on the atrio-ventricular conduction time.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

pacing the cardiac tissue at the adapted pacing rate.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

comparing the atrio-ventricular conduction time with a reference atrio-ventricular conduction time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pacing the cardiac tissue at the adapted pacing rate.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the atrio-ventricular conduction time.

15. A method for adapting a pacing rate that has been artificially increased to an inappropriately high rate, comprising:

means for pacing at an increased pacing rate;

means for transmitting a pulse to cardiac tissue at a pacing rate;

means for receiving an activity signal;

means for receiving a first interval signal from an atrium;

means for receiving a second interval signal from a ventricle;

means for calculating atrio-ventricular conduction time from the first interval signal and the second interval signal;

means for comparing the atrio-ventricular conduction time to reference atrio-ventricular conduction times;

means for determining if the increased pacing rate is an artificially increased pacing rate;

means for calculating an adapted pacing rate if the increased pacing rate is the artificially increased pacing rate; and

,

means for pacing a heart at the adapted pacing rate to correct an artificially increased pacing rate.