Detecting electrical conduction abnormalities in a heart
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:
- a sensing module configured to acquire cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient via at least one sensor; and
a processor configured to obtain the cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of the heart of the patient, periodically analyze, at a first frequency, a most recent cardiac electrical signal of the obtained cardiac electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart, compute at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) using the acquired cardiac electrical signals, compare the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold, compare the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold, and increase the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency when the heart rate parameter of the patient is greater than the heart rate parameter threshold and the number of PVCs detected is greater than the PVC threshold, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are greater than zero.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described for detecting conduction abnormalities in a heart of a patient. In particular, an IMD may be configured to obtain electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of the heart of the patient and periodically analyze a most recent electrical signal of the obtained electrical signals to detect an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart. The IMD adjusts a frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed based on at least one physiological parameter of the patient. For example, the IMD may increase the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed when a heart rate parameter has significantly changed and the number of detected premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is greater than or equal to a threshold number. In this manner, the most recent electrical signal is analyzed at a higher frequency in situations in which conduction abnormalities are more likely.
44 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:
-
a sensing module configured to acquire cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient via at least one sensor; and a processor configured to obtain the cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of the heart of the patient, periodically analyze, at a first frequency, a most recent cardiac electrical signal of the obtained cardiac electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart, compute at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) using the acquired cardiac electrical signals, compare the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold, compare the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold, and increase the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency when the heart rate parameter of the patient is greater than the heart rate parameter threshold and the number of PVCs detected is greater than the PVC threshold, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An implantable medical device comprising:
-
a sensing module configured to acquire cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient via at least one sensor; and a processor configured to obtain the cardiac electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of the heart of the patient, periodically analyze, at a first frequency, a most recent cardiac electrical signal of the obtained cardiac electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart, compute at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) using the acquired cardiac electrical signals, compare the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold, compare the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold, increases the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency that is larger than the first frequency when the heart rate parameter has changed by the heart parameter threshold and further increases the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a third frequency that is larger than the second frequency when the number of detected premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is greater than the PVC threshold.
-
-
9. A method comprising:
-
obtaining electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient; periodically analyzing, at a first frequency, a most recent electrical signal of the obtained electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart; obtaining at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs); comparing the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold; comparing the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold; and increasing the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency when the heart rate parameter of the patient is greater than the heart rate parameter threshold and the number of PVCs detected is greater than the PVC threshold, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An implantable medical device comprising:
-
obtaining electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient; periodically analyzing, at a first frequency, a most recent electrical signal of the obtained electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart; obtaining at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) comparing the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold comparing the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold; increasing the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency that is larger than the first frequency when the heart rate parameter has changed by the heart parameter threshold; and further increasing the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a third frequency that is larger than the second frequency when the number of detected premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is greater than the PVC threshold.
-
-
17. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:
-
means for obtaining electrical signals corresponding to cardiac activity of a heart of a patient; means for periodically analyzing, a first frequency, a most recent electrical signal of the obtained electrical signals to monitor for an electrical conduction abnormality of the heart; means for obtaining at least a heart rate parameter of the patient and a number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs); means for comparing the heart rate parameter of the patient to a heart rate parameter threshold and the number of PVCs to a PVC threshold; and means for increasing the frequency at which the most recent electrical signal is analyzed to a second frequency when the heart rate parameter of the patient is greater than the heart rate parameter threshold and the number of PVCs detected is greater than the PVC threshold, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are greater than zero. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification