Detection of vasovagal syncope
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting a posture transition of a patient;
monitoring autonomic nervous system activity of the patient for a defined period in response to detecting the posture transition;
determining a baseline indicator of the autonomic nervous system activity during the monitoring period;
following the monitoring period, continuing monitoring of the autonomic nervous system activity of the patient during a subsequent period;
determining, based upon monitoring during the subsequent period, an indicator of an autonomic nervous system activity of the patient;
comparing the indicator based upon monitoring during the subsequent period to the baseline indicator; and
estimating a probability that the patient will experience vasovagal syncope as a function of the comparing step.
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Abstract
It has been discovered that a change in posture that results in an increase in orthostatic stress, when followed by a withdrawal of sympathetic nervous activity, may indicate a future onset of vasovagal syncope (VVS). The invention is directed to devices and techniques for early detection of an episode of VVS so that therapies may be applied in advance of the episode to prevent the episode from occurring. Detection of a posture transition triggers a device such as an implanted pacemaker to determine an indicator of an autonomic nervous system activity of the patient. As a function of this determination, the device estimates a probability that the patient will experience VVS. When the probability exceeds a threshold, preventative therapy may be applied to address the VVS and to reduce the risk that the patient will faint.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting a posture transition of a patient; monitoring autonomic nervous system activity of the patient for a defined period in response to detecting the posture transition; determining a baseline indicator of the autonomic nervous system activity during the monitoring period; following the monitoring period, continuing monitoring of the autonomic nervous system activity of the patient during a subsequent period; determining, based upon monitoring during the subsequent period, an indicator of an autonomic nervous system activity of the patient; comparing the indicator based upon monitoring during the subsequent period to the baseline indicator; and estimating a probability that the patient will experience vasovagal syncope as a function of the comparing step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:
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detect a posture transition of a patient; monitor autonomic nervous system activity of the patient for a defined period beginning upon detecting the posture transition; determine a baseline indicator of the autonomic nervous system activity during the monitoring period; following the monitoring period, continuing to monitor the autonomic nervous system activity of the patient during a subsequent period; determine, an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity of the patient based upon monitoring during the subsequent period; comparing the indicator to the baseline indicator; and estimate the probability that the patient will experience vasovagal syncope as a function of the comparing step. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device comprising:
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a first sensor adapted to detect a posture transition of a patient and provide a posture transition signal upon detecting the posture transition; a second sensor to sense a physiological signal that includes an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity; and a processor, configured to; monitor the physiological signal during a defined period following detection of the posture transition; determine a baseline indicator of the autonomic nervous system activity during the monitoring period;
following the monitoring period, continue monitoring the autonomic nervous system activity of the patient during a subsequent period anddetermine based upon monitoring during the subsequent period the indicator of autonomic nervous system activity; wherein the device further comprises further comprising a memory module adapted to store the baseline indicator of the autonomic nervous system activity;
characterized in that the processor is further configured to compare the indicator based upon monitoring during the subsequent period to the baseline indicator and to estimate the probability that the patient will experience vasovagal syncope as a function of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification