Diagnosis and therapy of bigeminy and frequent premature contractions
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths;
determining a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths;
automatically differentiating, by a processor, premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based on the determined degree of variability;
analyzing, by the processor, a morphology of the premature cardiac events, wherein analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events comprises analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events to identify similarity of R-wave amplitude, polarity, and duration;
differentiating, by the processor, premature atrial contractions from premature ventricular contractions based on the analysis, wherein the premature cardiac events comprise at least one of the premature atrial contractions and the premature ventricular contractions;
measuring a coupling interval between R-waves; and
identifying the premature cardiac events as premature ventricular contractions when the analysis includes R-waves of differing amplitude, polarity, and duration and the measurement indicates a constant coupling interval.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes techniques for diagnosing premature contractions of a patient'"'"'s heart. This system may differentiate premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from atrial fibrillation by identifying changes in R-wave intervals, i.e., R-R intervals, on a Lorenz plot, measuring a coupling interval between R-waves, and analyzing a morphology of the premature contractions, e.g., the QRS complex. These techniques may also identify when severe premature contractions, or bigeminy, are present. In response to the type of premature contractions detected, the system may alert a user of the premature contractions and/or deliver cardiac pacing at an increased pacing rate to eliminate the abnormal intrinsic contractions. The system may also adjust the pacing rate and pacing rate duration for persistent premature contractions.
23 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
monitoring a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths; determining a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths; automatically differentiating, by a processor, premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based on the determined degree of variability; analyzing, by the processor, a morphology of the premature cardiac events, wherein analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events comprises analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events to identify similarity of R-wave amplitude, polarity, and duration; differentiating, by the processor, premature atrial contractions from premature ventricular contractions based on the analysis, wherein the premature cardiac events comprise at least one of the premature atrial contractions and the premature ventricular contractions; measuring a coupling interval between R-waves; and identifying the premature cardiac events as premature ventricular contractions when the analysis includes R-waves of differing amplitude, polarity, and duration and the measurement indicates a constant coupling interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system comprising:
-
an implantable medical device configured to monitor a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths; and a premature detection module configured to; determine a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths; automatically differentiate premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based upon the determined degree of variability; analyze a morphology of the premature cardiac events to identify similarity of R-wave amplitude, polarity, and duration; differentiate premature atrial contractions from premature ventricular contractions based on the analysis, wherein the premature cardiac events comprise at least one of the premature atrial contractions and the premature ventricular contractions; measure a coupling interval between R-waves; and identify the premature cardiac events as premature ventricular contractions when the analysis includes R-waves of differing amplitude, polarity, and duration and the measurement indicates a constant coupling interval. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system comprising:
-
means for monitoring a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths; means for determining a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths; means for automatically differentiating premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based upon the determined degree of variability; means for analyzing a morphology of the premature cardiac events, wherein the means for analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events comprises means for analyzing the morphology of the premature cardiac events to identify similarity of R-wave amplitude, polarity, and duration; means for differentiating premature atrial contractions from premature ventricular contractions based on the analysis, wherein the premature cardiac events comprise at least one of the premature atrial contractions and the premature ventricular contractions; means for measuring a coupling interval between R-waves; and means for identifying the premature cardiac events as premature ventricular contractions when the analysis includes R-waves of differing amplitude, polarity, and duration and the measurement indicates a constant coupling interval. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification