Method and apparatus for assessing and treating atrial fibrillation risk
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cardiac device, comprising:
- a cardiac sensing channel; and
a controller programmed to measure sinus intervals as the time intervals between successive heart beats during sinus rhythm as detected through the sensing channel;
wherein the controller is further programmed to assess atrial fibrillation risk by determining the relative frequencies of short and long sinus intervals as compared with an average sinus interval over a specified period of time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assessing the risk of atrial fibrillation in a patient by calculating the relative frequency of short and long intervals between successive heart beats during sinus rhythm is presented. An imbalance of short over long sinus intervals has been found to indicate a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. An implantable cardiac device may be configured to automatically deliver interventional therapy to restore sinus interval balance when such an imbalance is detected.
112 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A cardiac device, comprising:
-
a cardiac sensing channel; and a controller programmed to measure sinus intervals as the time intervals between successive heart beats during sinus rhythm as detected through the sensing channel; wherein the controller is further programmed to assess atrial fibrillation risk by determining the relative frequencies of short and long sinus intervals as compared with an average sinus interval over a specified period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for operating a cardiac device, comprising:
-
measuring sinus intervals as the time intervals between successive heart beats during sinus rhythm; and assessing atrial fibrillation risk by determining the relative frequencies of short and long sinus intervals as compared with an average sinus interval over a specified period of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification