Apparatus and method for spatially and temporally distributing cardiac electrical stimulation
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a cardiac pacing device, comprising:
- outputting pacing pulses to a selected subset of a plurality of pacing electrodes in accordance with a programmed pacing mode, wherein the subset of electrodes to which pulses are output is defined by a pulse output configuration;
sensing a parameter related to cardiac output; and
,alternately switching between a first pulse output configuration utilized for one or more cardiac cycles and a second pulse output configuration for one or more subsequent cardiac cycles in accordance with a switching algorithm that comprises switching the pulse output configuration in a manner dependent upon the sensed parameter related to cardiac output and switching the pulse output configuration if the parameter related to cardiac output falls below a specified minimum value.
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Abstract
A cardiac electro-stimulatory device and method for operating same in which stimulation pulses are distributed among a plurality of electrodes fixed at different sites of the myocardium in order to reduce myocardial hypertrophy brought about by repeated pacing at a single site and/or increase myocardial contractility. In order to spatially and temporally distribute the stimulation, the pulses are delivered through a switchable pulse output configuration during a single cardiac cycle, with each configuration comprising one or more electrodes fixed to different sites in the myocardium.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for operating a cardiac pacing device, comprising:
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outputting pacing pulses to a selected subset of a plurality of pacing electrodes in accordance with a programmed pacing mode, wherein the subset of electrodes to which pulses are output is defined by a pulse output configuration; sensing a parameter related to cardiac output; and
,alternately switching between a first pulse output configuration utilized for one or more cardiac cycles and a second pulse output configuration for one or more subsequent cardiac cycles in accordance with a switching algorithm that comprises switching the pulse output configuration in a manner dependent upon the sensed parameter related to cardiac output and switching the pulse output configuration if the parameter related to cardiac output falls below a specified minimum value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cardiac pacemaker, comprising:
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pulse generating circuitry for connecting to a plurality of electrodes adapted for disposition near a heart chamber; wherein the pulse generating circuitry is connectable to the electrodes in a plurality of defined pulse output configurations, wherein each pulse output configuration constitutes a subset of the plurality of the electrodes; a control unit and pulse generating circuitry for outputting pacing pulses to a selected one of the plurality of pulse output configurations in accordance with a programmed mode; a sensor for sensing a parameter related to cardiac output; and
,wherein the control unit is programmed to alternately switch between a first pulse output configuration during one or more cardiac cycles and a second pulse output configuration during one or more cardiac cycles in accordance with a switching algorithm that comprises switching the pulse output configuration in a manner dependent upon the sensed parameter related to cardiac output, wherein the control unit is programmed to switch the pulse output configuration if the parameter related to cardiac output falls below a specified minimum value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification