Methods and systems to correlate arrhythmic and ischemic events

• US 7,706,867 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ostrow, Eliot L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark W
• Assistant Examiner(s): So; Elizabeth K
• Application Number:
  US11/198,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/14, 600/508, 600/513, 600515-518
• US Class Current: 600/515
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining whether there is a correlation between arrhythmias and myocardial ischemic episodes are provided. An implantable system (e.g., a monitor, pacemaker or ICD) is used to monitor for arrhythmias and to monitor for myocardial ischemic episodes. When such events are detected by the implantable system, the implantable system stores (e.g., in its memory) data indicative of the detected arrhythmias and data indicative of the detected myocardial ischemic episodes. Then, for each detected arrhythmia, a determination is made based on the data, whether there was a myocardial ischemic episode detected within a specified temporal proximity of (e.g., within a specified amount of time of) the arrhythmia. Where a myocardial ischemic episode occurred within the specified temporal proximity of an arrhythmia, data for the two events can be linked. Additionally, when a log of arrhythmias is displayed, for each arrhythmia there is an indication of whether a myocardial ischemic episode was detected within the specified temporal proximity of the arrhythmia. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether there is a correlation between arrhythmias and myocardial ischemic episodes experienced by a patient, comprising:

using an implantable system to monitor for arrhythmias and to monitor for myocardial ischemic episodes;

storing, within the implantable system, data indicative of detected arrhythmias and data indicative of detected myocardial ischemic episodes;

for each detected arrhythmia, determining, based on the data, whether there was a myocardial ischemic episode detected within a specified temporal proximity of the arrhythmia;

displaying a log of detected arrhythmias that indicates, for each arrhythmia, whether there was a myocardial ischemic episode detected within the specified temporal proximity of the arrhythmia;

allowing a user to select one of the arrhythmias from the log; and

when a myocardial ischemic event was detected within the specified temporal proximity to the selected arrhythmia, displaying information about the selected arrhythmia and the myocardial ischemic episode.

2. A method for determining whether there is a correlation between arrhythmias and myocardial ischemic episodes experienced by a patient, comprising:

using an implantable system to monitor for arrhythmias and to monitor for myocardial ischemic episodes;

storing, within the implantable system, data indicative of detected arrhythmias and data indicative of detected myocardial ischemic episodes;

for each detected arrhythmia, determining, based on the data, whether there was a myocardial ischemic episode detected within a specified temporal proximity of the arrhythmia; and

displaying a graph that illustrates detected arrhythmias and ischemic episodes by displaying icons representing both types of episodes wherein those arrhythmias that occurred within the specified temporal proximity of an ischemic episode have overlapping icons.