Method to monitor progression of atrial fibrillation and to detect its susceptibility for termination
First Claim
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1. A method for processing a patient'"'"'s cardiac signals, comprising:
- detecting an ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation;
determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation;
comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold;
comparing the characteristic to a self-termination threshold if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; and
withholding anti-tachycardia therapy if the characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation is less than the self-termination threshold.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring a patient'"'"'s cardiac electrical activity is disclosed. The method includes determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals during a detected episode of atrial fibrillation. The method further includes comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold and if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold further comparing the characteristic to a self-termination threshold. If the characteristic is less than the self-termination threshold the method withholds anti-tachycardia therapy to allow the arrhythmia to self-terminate.
45 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for processing a patient'"'"'s cardiac signals, comprising:
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detecting an ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; comparing the characteristic to a self-termination threshold if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; and withholding anti-tachycardia therapy if the characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation is less than the self-termination threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15)
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- 7. The method 6 further comprising updating an atrial fibrillation progression histogram to monitor progression of the atrial fibrillation.
- 9. The method 8 further comprising updating an atrial fibrillation progression histogram to monitor progression of the atrial fibrillation.
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16. A medical device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s cardiac signals, comprising:
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means for detecting an ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; means for determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing atrial fibrillation episode; means for comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; means for comparing the characteristic to a self-termination threshold if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; and means for with-holding anti-tachycardia therapy if the characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation is less than the self-termination threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A medical device for monitoring a patient'"'"'s cardiac signals, comprising:
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a rhythm detector for detecting an ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; sensor for determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; and a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller being adapted to compare the characteristic to a atrial fibrillation therapy threshold and if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold for further comparing the characteristic to a self termination threshold and wherein the controller with-holds delivery of anti-tachycardia therapy if the characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation is less than the self-termination threshold. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for processing a patient'"'"'s cardiac signals, comprising:
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detecting an ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation; comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold; and withholding therapy if the characteristic of the cardiac signals sensed during the ongoing episode of atrial fibrillation is greater than the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification