Method and arrangement for using atrial pacing to prevent early recurrence of atrial fibrillation
First Claim
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1. A method of preventing recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a heart, comprising:
- a.) delivering a predetermined therapy to terminate AF; and
b.) pacing the atrium at a pacing rate that is higher than an intrinsic rate immediately following therapy delivery of step a.).
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Abstract
A method for preventing early recurrence of atrial fibrillation by pacing a heart in AAI mode at a rate faster than the intrinsic rate for a selected period of time immediately after delivering therapy to terminate the fibrillation. Ventricular backup pacing in VVI mode may also be provided during the atrial pacing.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of preventing recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a heart, comprising:
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a.) delivering a predetermined therapy to terminate AF; and
b.) pacing the atrium at a pacing rate that is higher than an intrinsic rate immediately following therapy delivery of step a.). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence with an implanted medical device comprising:
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in response to a first atrial fibrillation event in an atrium of a heart, applying an electrical cardioverting therapy to the atrium; and
in response to the electrical card cardioverting therapy, pacing the heart with an atrial overdrive pacing therapy and switching the implanted medical device to a cardiac sensing mode that senses the atrium and a ventricle, wherein the implanted medical device is preprogrammed before the first atrial fibrillation event to automatically switch to the cardiac sensing mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
while in the cardiac sensing mode, pacing the atrium in an atria inhibited (AAI) mode and pacing the ventricle in the heart in a backup ventricular pacing mode for a predetermined period of time and, after the predetermined period of time, returning to a pacing mode wherein the atrium and the ventricle are synchronized;
during atrial overdrive pacing, sensing for a second atrial fibrillation event in the atrium; and
in response to sensing the second atrial fibrillation event, stopping the atrial overdrive pacing therapy and switching the implanted device to the cardiac sensing mode and commencing a cardiac sensing mode pacing therapy.
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19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of pacing the heart with the atrial overdrive therapy includes pacing for a duration of between 0.5 to about 10 minutes.
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20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of pacing the heart with the atrial overdrive therapy includes pacing at a high rate for the duration, therein suppressing ectopic atrial activity.
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21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of pacing the heart with the atrial overdrive therapy includes ramping up an atrial overdrive cycle length in increments of 25-50 msec every 30-60 seconds for a selected time period.
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22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of delaying the pacing with the atrial overdrive therapy for a programmed time period after applying the electrical therapy.
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23. A system for preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence comprising:
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a therapy circuit to delivery therapy in response to detected atrial fibrillation; and
a control circuit coupled to the therapy circuit to control delivery of pacing to an atrium in AAI mode at a rate faster than the intrinsic rate immediately following the therapy delivery. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of preventing recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a heart, comprising:
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a.) delivering a predetermined therapy to terminate AF; and
b.) pacing the atrium at a pacing rate that is higher than an intrinsic rate following therapy delivery of step a.), wherein step b.) includes providing backup ventricular pacing to a ventricle in VVI mode.
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26. A system for preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence comprising:
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a therapy circuit to delivery therapy in response to detected atrial fibrillation; and
a control circuit coupled to the therapy circuit to control delivery of pacing to an atrium in AAI mode at a rate faster than the intrinsic rate following the therapy delivery, wherein the control circuit further control delivery of pacing to a ventricle in VVI mode to provide ventricular backup pacing.
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Specification