Cardiac stimulation device including sleep apnea prevention and treatment

• US 6,999,817 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koh, Steve, Bornzin, Gene A., Park, Euljoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRADFORD, RODERICK D
• Application Number:
  US10/077,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607/17, 607/19, 607/27, 607/25
• US Class Current: 607/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood

Abstract

An implantable cardiac stimulation device comprises a physiologic sensor and one or more pulse generators. The physiologic sensor is capable of sensing a physiologic parameter. The pulse generators can generate cardiac pacing pulses with a timing based on the physiologic parameter. The timed cardiac pacing pulses can prevent a sleep apnea condition. In one example, a cardiac stimulation device has a physiologic sensor and can be configured to pace a patient'"'"'s heart according to a rest mode of operation. The cardiac stimulation device uses measurements from the physiologic sensor to prevent and treat sleep apnea using a revised rest mode of operation. The revised rest mode operates under a presumption that sleep apnea is primary to a reduced heart rate, rather than secondary, so that pacing at a rate higher than the natural cardiac rate during sleep will prevent sleep apnea.

Claims

1. A method of operating an implantable cardiac stimulation device consisting of:

detecting one of a resting condition or a sleep condition; and

generating cardiac pacing pulses at a sleep apnea prevention rate in response to detection of one of the resting condition or the sleep condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting one of a resting condition or a sleep condition comprises detecting a sleeping state of a patient.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

distinguishing between a sleeping condition and a waking condition of a patient;

timing generation of the cardiac pacing pulses; and

controlling the timed cardiac pacing pulses at a sleep apnea prevention rate.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

distinguishing between a sleeping condition and a waking condition of a patient; and

timing cardiac pacing pulse generation to pace at a rate greater than the resting rate in response to detection of a sleeping condition.