Method for monitoring autonomic tone
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the progression of the disease state of a patient comprising the steps of;
- (a) sensing a pulse amplitude signal indicative of cardiac contraction of said patient'"'"'s heart;
(b) identifying amplitude changes within said sensed signal over time;
(c) calculating a measure of autonomic tone based on said identified amplitude changes;
(d) repeating steps (a) through (c) to acquire a plurality of autonomic tone measures; and
(e) analyzing said plurality of autonomic tone measures to provide an indication of the progression of the disease state of said patient.
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Abstract
A method for monitoring the progression of the hemodynamic status of a patient by tracking autonomic tone. For example, the method may be applied to patients suffering from heart failure, diabetic neuropathy, cardiac ischemia, sleep apnea and hypertension. An implantable or other ambulatory monitor senses a pulse amplitude signal such as a vascular plethysmography signal. Variations of the signal amplitude on a scale greater than the heartbeat to heartbeat scale are indicative of variations in autonomic tone. A significant reduction in pulse amplitude and pulse amplitude variability are indicative of a heart failure exacerbation or other disease state change. This information may be used to warn the patient or healthcare providers of changes in the patient'"'"'s condition warranting attention.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the progression of the disease state of a patient comprising the steps of;
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(a) sensing a pulse amplitude signal indicative of cardiac contraction of said patient'"'"'s heart; (b) identifying amplitude changes within said sensed signal over time; (c) calculating a measure of autonomic tone based on said identified amplitude changes; (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) to acquire a plurality of autonomic tone measures; and (e) analyzing said plurality of autonomic tone measures to provide an indication of the progression of the disease state of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for monitoring the progression of the disease state of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a pulse amplitude signal indicative of cardiac contractions of said patient'"'"'s heart; (b) calculating a measure of autonomic tone based on amplitude variations of said sensed pulse amplitude signal; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to acquire a plurality of autonomic tone measures; (d) analyzing said plurality of autonomic tone measures to provide an indication of the progression of the disease state of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification