Method and devices for performing cardiac waveform appraisal
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring cardiac function in an implantable cardiac rhythm device (ICRD), the ICRD comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted for implantation in a patient and operational circuitry electrically coupled to the electrodes and configured to perform analysis of cardiac signals, the method comprising:
- monitoring a signal produced between the electrodes;
observing an event in the monitored signal;
gathering a signal corresponding to and including the event in an analysis window;
observing characteristic features of the slope of the signal in the analysis window;
counting the characteristic features to determine the quantity of characteristic features that occur during the analysis window;
comparing the quantity of characteristic features that occur in the signal during the analysis window to a threshold to;
certify the event for use in characterizing a cardiac complex;
ordetermine the event is unsuitable for use in characterizing a cardiac complex; and
if the event is certified, using the event to determine whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring;
orif the event is not certified, excluding the event from analysis of whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implementations of various technologies described herein are directed toward a sensing architecture for use in cardiac rhythm management devices. The sensing architecture may provide a method and means for certifying detected events by the cardiac rhythm management device. Moreover, by exploiting the enhanced capability to accurately identifying only those sensed events that are desirable, and preventing the use of events marked as suspect, the sensing architecture can better discriminate between rhythms appropriate for device therapy and those that are not.
38 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring cardiac function in an implantable cardiac rhythm device (ICRD), the ICRD comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted for implantation in a patient and operational circuitry electrically coupled to the electrodes and configured to perform analysis of cardiac signals, the method comprising:
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monitoring a signal produced between the electrodes; observing an event in the monitored signal; gathering a signal corresponding to and including the event in an analysis window; observing characteristic features of the slope of the signal in the analysis window; counting the characteristic features to determine the quantity of characteristic features that occur during the analysis window; comparing the quantity of characteristic features that occur in the signal during the analysis window to a threshold to; certify the event for use in characterizing a cardiac complex;
ordetermine the event is unsuitable for use in characterizing a cardiac complex; and if the event is certified, using the event to determine whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring;
orif the event is not certified, excluding the event from analysis of whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of cardiac rhythm management using an implantable cardiac rhythm device (ICRD), the ICRD comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted for implantation in a patient and operational circuitry electrically coupled to the electrodes and configured to perform analysis of cardiac signals, the method comprising:
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capturing a signal using the electrodes; analyzing the signal to determine whether the signal is suitable for characterizing a cardiac rhythm; if the signal is suitable, using the signal to determine whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring; and if the signal is not suitable, rejecting the signal; wherein the step of analyzing the signal to determine whether the signal is suitable for characterizing a cardiac rhythm includes; sampling the captured signal; detecting an event in the captured, sampled signal; selecting a number of samples including the detected event; dividing the number of samples into a number of divisions each including plurality of samples; counting how many of the number of divisions are monotonic to yield a number, M; and comparing M to a threshold; wherein if M is greater than the threshold, the signal is found to be suitable.
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14. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) comprising:
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a lead electrode assembly including a number of electrodes; and a canister housing operational circuitry;
wherein;the lead electrode assembly is coupled to the canister; and the operational circuitry is configured to; monitor a signal produced between the electrodes; observe an event in the monitored signal; gather a signal corresponding to and including the event in an analysis window; observe characteristic features of the shape of the signal in the analysis window; count the characteristic features to determine the quantity of characteristic features that occur during the analysis window; compare the quantity of characteristic features that occur in the signal during the analysis window to a threshold to; certify the event for use in characterizing a cardiac complex;
ordetermine the event is unsuitable for use in characterizing a cardiac complex; and
,if the event is certified, use the event to determine whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring;
orif the event is not certified, excluding the event from analysis of whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) comprising:
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a lead electrode assembly including a number of electrodes; and a canister housing operational circuitry;
wherein;the lead electrode assembly is coupled to the canister; and the operational circuitry is configured to; capture a signal using the electrodes; analyze the signal to determine whether the signal is suitable for characterizing a cardiac rhythm; and if the signal is suitable, use the signal to determine whether a malignant cardiac arrhythmia is likely occurring; if the signal is not suitable, reject the signal; wherein the operational circuitry is configured such that the step of analyzing the signal to determine whether the signal is suitable for characterizing a cardiac rhythm includes; dividing the captured signal into a number of samples, and dividing the number of samples into a number of time-contiguous divisions; counting how many of the number of divisions are monotonic to yield a number, M; and comparing M to a threshold; wherein if M is greater than the threshold, the signal is found to be suitable.
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Specification