Adjustable cardiac resynchronization

• US 6,842,642 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vanhout, Warren L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US10/008,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/9, 607/15, 607/16
• US Class Current: 607/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36842 Multi-site stimulation in the same chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36843 Bi-ventricular stimulation

Abstract

Techniques are presented for providing adjustable cardiac resynchronization with an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker. For example, cardiac resynchronization may be provided during some time periods but not during other time periods, or cardiac resynchronization may be provided in response to selected sensed events. Adjustable cardiac resynchronization is applicable to therapy such as bi-ventricular pacing, in which both ventricles of the heart are paced in response to sensed atrial events.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing cardiac resynchronization to a heart in response to a first sensed event; and

refraining from providing cardiac resynchronization to the heart in response to a second sensed event further comprising;

receiving a ratio of X;

Y; and

performing cardiac resynchronization X times for every Y sensed cardiac events.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second ratio of X2;

Y2; and

performing cardiac resynchronization X2 times for every Y2 sensed cardiac events.

3. A method comprising:

sensing an atrial event;

determining whether a bi-ventricular pace is indicated; and

delivering a bi-ventricular pace after the atrial event when the bi-ventricular pace is indicated and further comprising receiving a ratio of X;

Y, wherein the bi-ventricular pace is indicated X times for every Y sensed atrial events.

4. A method comprising:

sensing an atrial event;

determining whether a bi-ventricular pace is indicated; and

delivering a bi-ventricular pace after the atrial event when the bi-ventricular pace is indicated and further comprising receiving a time period, wherein the bi-ventricular pace is indicated for atrial events occurring in the time period.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a ratio of X;

Y;

sensing a cardiac event; and

applying a synchronized cardiac pace in response to the cardiac event,

wherein X represents a number of synchronized cardiac paces,

wherein Y represents a number of sensed cardiac events, and

wherein X is less than Y.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising performing cardiac resynchronization X times for every Y sensed cardiac events, wherein performing cardiac resynchronization comprises:

delivering a first pace to a first chamber of a heart; and

delivering a second pace to a second chamber of the heart synchronized with the first pace.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising

receiving a second ratio of X2:

Y2, wherein the second ratio X2;

Y2 is different from the ratio X;

Y; and

performing cardiac resynchronization X2 times for every Y2 sensed cardiac events, wherein performing cardiac resynchronization comprises;

delivering a first pace to a first chamber of a heart; and

delivering a second pace to a second chamber of the heart synchronized with the first pace.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing a cardiac event comprises sensing an atrial event.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein synchronized cardiac paces comprises bi-ventricular paces.

10. A device comprising:

a pacing circuit that applies cardiac resynchronization to a heart; and

a processor that controls the pacing circuit to apply the cardiac resynchronization during a first period and refrain from applying the cardiac resynchronization during a second time period and further comprising memory that stores the duration of the first period.

11. A device comprising:

a pacing circuit that applies a synchronized cardiac pace to a heart;

a processor that senses a cardiac event and controls the pacing circuit to apply the synchronized cardiac pace in response to the cardiac event; and

memory that stores a ratio X;

Y,

wherein X represents a number of synchronized cardiac paces,

wherein Y represents a number of sensed cardiac events, and

wherein X is less than Y.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor controls the pacing circuit to apply the synchronized cardiac pace X times for every Y cardiac events.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a first pacing electrode disposed proximal to a first chamber of a heart; and

a second pacing electrode disposed proximal to a second chamber of the heart;

wherein the processor controls the pacing circuit to apply the synchronized cardiac pace via the first pacing electrode and the second pacing electrode.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a sensing electrode disposed proximal to the heart, wherein the processor senses the cardiac event via the sensing electrode.

15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, the instructions causing a programmable processor to:

provide cardiac resynchronization to a heart in response to a first sensed event; and

refrain from providing cardiac resynchronization to the heart in response to a second sensed event wherein the instructions further causing a programmable processor to;

receive a ratio of X;

Y; and

perform cardiac resynchronization X times for every Y sensed cardiac events.

16. The medium of claim 15, the instructions further causing a programmable processor to:

receive a second ratio of X2;

Y2; and

perform cardiac resynchronization X2 times for every Y2 sensed cardiac events.