System and method for providing improved atrial pacing based on physiological need

• US 7,720,537 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sheldon, Todd J., Betzold, Robert A., Sweeney, Michael O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, YUN H
• Application Number:
  US11/461,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

An implantable medical device operates according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) that precludes ventricular pacing in any cardiac cycle where a sensed ventricular event has occurred in the preceding cycle. Improved ventricular sensing, detection and classification is provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating an implantable medical device (IMD) having atrial and ventricular pacing capabilities according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) wherein ventricular pacing is precluded in a given cardiac cycle wherein a ventricular event was sensed in an immediately prior cardiac cycle;

providing atrial pacing according to an atrial pacing mode parameter at an atrial pacing rate; and

periodically comparing the atrial pacing rate to an intrinsic atrial rate;

relying upon the intrinsic atrial rate below the atrial pacing rate by withholding atrial pacing if a first condition is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the atrial pacing mode parameter is a single value programmed at a predetermined lower rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the atrial pacing mode parameter is a rate response value derived from one or more sensed physiological parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically comparing includes withholding a scheduled atrial pace in at least one cardiac cycle to determine if an underlying rate is present.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first condition is that the intrinsic rate differs from the atrial pacing rate by less than a first conditional value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first conditional value is a predetermined percentage of the atrial pacing rate.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first conditional value is a predetermined number of beats per minute.