Implantable medical devices and programmers adapted for sensing vector selection
First Claim
1. A method of directing operation of an implantable cardiac stimulus system, the system comprising an implantable device having operational circuitry coupled to a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed within a patient and defining a plurality of sensing vectors for performing cardiac event detection, the system further comprising a programmer adapted for communication with the implantable device, the method comprising:
- the programmer directing data capture by the implantable device using at least one of the plurality of sensing vectors; and
the programmer analyzing at least one of the plurality of sensing vectors to determine suitability for cardiac event detection by use of the following method;
the programmer receiving captured signal data from the implanted device;
the programmer defining a fixed detection floor and a refractory period, the fixed detection floor being established as a fraction of an estimated maximum detection floor that the signals captured using a given sensing vector do not cross;
the programmer identifying a series of detected events that cross the fixed detection floor outside of refractory periods, wherein a refractory period starts each time a detected event is identified;
the programmer observing whether intervals between consecutive detected events are greater than a predetermined interval threshold and, if so, identifying a peak during a refractory period following a detection as a QRS Peak, and a peak during a fixed time period following the refractory period as a Noise Peak;
elsethe programmer performing analysis to determine whether individual detected events are likely QRS or Noise events;
and either;
a) determining that a sensing vector is suitable for cardiac event detection;
orb) determining that operator input is needed to complete a sensing vector selection process based on an inability of the programmer to parse individual detected events into likely QRS or Noise events; and
following a determination that a sensing vector is suitable or following operator input to complete a sensing vector selection process, the programmer directing communication to the implantable device instructing the implantable device to perform cardiac signal analysis using a selected sensing vector as a default vector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for sensing vector analysis in an implantable cardiac stimulus system. In an illustrative example, a first sensing vector is analyzed to determine whether it is suitable, within given threshold conditions, for use in cardiac event detection and analysis. If so, the first vector may be selected for detection and analysis. Otherwise, one or more additional vectors are analyzed. A detailed example illustrates methods for analyzing sensing vectors by the use of a scoring system. Devices adapted to perform these methods are also discussed, including implantable medical devices adapted to perform these methods, and systems comprising implantable medical devices and programmers adapted to communicate with implantable medical devices, the systems also being adapted to perform these methods. Another example includes a programmer configured to perform these methods including certain steps of directing operation of an associated implanted or implantable medical device.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of directing operation of an implantable cardiac stimulus system, the system comprising an implantable device having operational circuitry coupled to a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed within a patient and defining a plurality of sensing vectors for performing cardiac event detection, the system further comprising a programmer adapted for communication with the implantable device, the method comprising:
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the programmer directing data capture by the implantable device using at least one of the plurality of sensing vectors; and the programmer analyzing at least one of the plurality of sensing vectors to determine suitability for cardiac event detection by use of the following method; the programmer receiving captured signal data from the implanted device; the programmer defining a fixed detection floor and a refractory period, the fixed detection floor being established as a fraction of an estimated maximum detection floor that the signals captured using a given sensing vector do not cross; the programmer identifying a series of detected events that cross the fixed detection floor outside of refractory periods, wherein a refractory period starts each time a detected event is identified; the programmer observing whether intervals between consecutive detected events are greater than a predetermined interval threshold and, if so, identifying a peak during a refractory period following a detection as a QRS Peak, and a peak during a fixed time period following the refractory period as a Noise Peak;
elsethe programmer performing analysis to determine whether individual detected events are likely QRS or Noise events; and either; a) determining that a sensing vector is suitable for cardiac event detection;
orb) determining that operator input is needed to complete a sensing vector selection process based on an inability of the programmer to parse individual detected events into likely QRS or Noise events; and following a determination that a sensing vector is suitable or following operator input to complete a sensing vector selection process, the programmer directing communication to the implantable device instructing the implantable device to perform cardiac signal analysis using a selected sensing vector as a default vector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating an implantable cardiac stimulus system, the system comprising an implantable device having operational circuitry coupled to a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed within a patient and defining a plurality of sensing vectors for performing cardiac event detection, the system further comprising a programmer adapted for communication with the implantable device, the method comprising:
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executing instructions with the programmer to analyze at least first and second sensing vectors defined between selected subsets of the plurality of sensing electrodes by instructing the implantable device to perform data capture and transmission related to the at least first and second sensing vectors, the instructions adapted to generate either a score related to characteristics of a signal sensed along a selected sensing vector, or at least two possible scores and an indication of uncertainty relative to the possible scores the instructions configured such that the first and second sensing vectors are analyzed by a method of vector suitability analysis comprising; the programmer receiving captured signal data from the implanted device; the programmer defining a fixed detection floor and a refractory period, the fixed detection floor being established as a fraction of an estimated maximum detection floor that the signals captured using a given sensing vector do not cross; the programmer identifying a series of detected events that cross the fixed detection floor outside of refractory periods, wherein a refractory period starts each time a detected event is identified; the programmer observing whether intervals between consecutive detected events are greater than a predetermined interval threshold and, if so, identifying a peak during a refractory period following a detection as a QRS Peak, and a peak during a fixed time period following the refractory period as a Noise Peak;
elsethe programmer performing analysis to determine whether individual detected events are likely QRS or Noise events; and; if no indications of uncertainty are generated, selecting whichever sensing vector has a highest score for use in detecting cardiac events;
orif at least one indication of uncertainty is generated; if a score exceeds other scores and all possible scores, selecting a corresponding sensing vector for use in detecting cardiac events without resolving uncertainty related to at least one possible score that does not exceed the identified score; if an identified possible score exceeds all scores and other possible scores, requesting input from an operator to settle the uncertainty related to the possible score and, if the operator input resolves the uncertainty in favor of the identified possible score, selecting a corresponding sensing vector for use in detecting cardiac events. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an implantable cardiac stimulus system, the system comprising an implantable device having operational circuitry coupled to a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed within a patient and defining a plurality of sensing vectors for performing cardiac event detection, the system further comprising a programmer adapted for communication with the implantable device, the method comprising:
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executing vectoring instructions with the programmer to analyze a first sensing vector defined between a selected subset of the plurality of sensing electrodes by at least instructing the implantable device to perform data capture and transmission related to the first sensing vector, wherein the vectoring instructions are adapted to generate either a score related to characteristics of a signal sensed along a selected sensing vector, or at least two possible scores and an indication of uncertainty relative to the possible scores, the vectoring instructions including a method of vector suitability analysis comprising; the programmer receiving captured signal data from the implanted device; the programmer defining a fixed detection floor and a refractory period, the fixed detection floor being established as a fraction of an estimated maximum detection floor that the signals captured using a given sensing vector do not cross; the programmer identifying a series of detected events that cross the fixed detection floor outside of refractory periods, wherein a refractory period starts each time a detected event is identified; the programmer observing whether intervals between consecutive detected events are greater than a predetermined interval threshold and, if so, identifying a peak during a refractory period following a detection as a QRS Peak, and a peak during a fixed time period following the refractory period as a Noise Peak;
elsethe programmer performing analysis to determine whether individual detected events are likely QRS or Noise events; if the analysis of the first sensing vector generates a first score, comparing the first score to a first threshold and, if the first score exceeds the first threshold, selecting the first sensing vector for use in detecting cardiac events; otherwise, executing the vectoring instructions with the programmer to analyze a second sensing vector defined between another selected subset of the plurality of sensing electrodes by at least instructing the implantable device to perform data capture and transmission related to the second sensing vector; and if the analysis of the second sensing vector generates a second score, comparing the second score to a second threshold and, if the second score exceeds the second threshold, selecting the second sensing vector for use in detecting cardiac events. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating an implantable cardiac stimulus system, the system comprising an implantable device having operational circuitry coupled to a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed within a patient and defining a plurality of sensing vectors for performing cardiac event detection, the system further comprising a programmer adapted for communication with the implantable device, the method comprising:
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the programmer instructing the implantable device to perform at least data capture and transmission relative to a first sensing vector; the programmer analyzing transmitted data related to the first sensing by a method of vector suitability analysis comprising; the programmer receiving captured signal data from the implanted device; the programmer defining a fixed detection floor and a refractory period, the fixed detection floor being established as a fraction of an estimated maximum detection floor that the signals captured using a given sensing vector do not cross; the programmer identifying a series of detected events that cross the fixed detection floor outside of refractory periods, wherein a refractory period starts each time a detected event is identified; the programmer observing whether intervals between consecutive detected events are greater than a predetermined interval threshold and, if so, identifying a peak during a refractory period following a detection as a QRS Peak, and a peak during a fixed time period following the refractory period as a Noise Peak;
elsethe programmer performing analysis to determine whether individual detected events are likely QRS or Noise events; and returning one of; a) a score indicating the quality of a signal captured along the first sensing vector; b) at least two possible scores indicating the quality of the signal captured along the first sensing vector wherein operator input is needed to determine which possible score is correct;
orc) an indication that the sensing vector under review is unsuitable for cardiac signal sensing; the programmer determining whether the first sensing vector receives a score indicating that the first sensing vector is well suited to cardiac signal detection and, if not, the programmer instructing the implantable device to perform at least data capture and transmission relative to a second sensing vector; and the programmer analyzing transmitted data related to the second sensing vector in similar fashion to the first sensing vector. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification