System and method of using AV conduction timing

• US 8,229,560 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2011
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Condie, Catherine R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US13/078,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 600508-509, 600/513, 607/9, 607/25
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/364 Detecting abnormal ECG interval, e.g. extrasystoles, ectopic heartbeats
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3682 with a variable atrioventricular delay

Abstract

In an implantable medical device that provides atrial and ventricular pacing in an atrial-based pacing mode, longer periods of time are permitted for intrinsic AV conduction to occur. By monitoring the patient'"'"'s AV delay under these circumstances, useful information is obtained that can be correlated to other patient conditions or symptoms.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing cardiac pacing with an implanted pacemaker;

using the pacemaker to measure an atrial ventricular conduction delay (AV delay) for each of a plurality of cardiac cycles;

storing the measured AV delays in the pacemaker;

transmitting the stored AV delays to an external device as AV delay data;

using the AV delay data to evaluate a medical status; and

correlating the measured AV delays with a trigger condition to determine whether to initiate collection of data related to patient-indicated symptoms.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the AV delay data to a central server;

formatting the AV delay data; and

providing the formatted AV delay data on a device report.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

accessing the central server from a remote computer; and

receiving the device report at the remote computer and using the device report to evaluate the medical status.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein formatting the AV delay data includes providing a graphical representation of the AV delay data over a time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the AV delay data to evaluate a medical condition further includes providing a therapy based upon the evaluation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the therapy includes modifying a pacing parameter.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the therapy includes prescribing a medication.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the therapy includes titrating a drug.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the therapy includes modifying a frequency of dialysis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating of the medical status includes conducting additional physical examination of a patient based upon the AV delay data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the measured AV delays and triggering a detailed data recording session based upon the measured AV delays.