Monitoring an interval within the cardiac cycle

• US 9,538,922 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wang, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bays, Pamela M
• Application Number:
  US12/609,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20110105921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,629 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508, 600/509, 600/515, 600/518, 607/2, 607/3, 607/9, 607/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure describe measuring intervals within a cardiac cycle to, for example, determine whether a patient is a candidate for cardiac therapy initiation or modification. The intervals may be measured in response to a trigger identifying a physiological event. The intervals and an identification of the physiological event may be stored. A physician or clinician may determine whether the patient is a candidate for cardiac therapy modification based on the measured intervals.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, with one or more monitors associated with an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient, at least one physiological event; and

measuring, with an interval measurement unit, an interval within a cardiac cycle for one or more cardiac cycles in response to the identification of the at least one physiological event to generate one or more measured intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the one or more of the measured intervals and an indication the of the at least one physiological event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological event comprises a cardiovascular event.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cardiovascular event comprises at least one of a heart rate, a change in heart rate, an impedance measurement, a heart pressure, bradycardia, tachycardia, and fibrillation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological event indicates at least one of a worsening cardiovascular condition, a progression to a state of heart failure, and an improving cardiovascular condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological event comprises at least one of sleep apnea, activity level, and change in activity level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the patient as a candidate for a cardiac therapy based on the measured intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more measured intervals to an external computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the one or more measured intervals to a clinician.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing each one of the measured intervals to a threshold; and

transmitting an alert to an external computing device based on the comparison.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interval comprises a QRS width.

12. An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:

one or more monitors configured to identify at least one physiological event of a patient; and

an interval measurement unit configured to measure an interval within a cardiac cycle for one or more cardiac cycles in response to the identification of the at least one physiological event to generate one or more measured intervals.

13. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the IMD further comprises:

a memory configured to store the one or more measured intervals and an indication of the at least one physiological event.

14. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the physiological event comprises a cardiovascular event.

15. The IMD of claim 14, wherein the cardiovascular event comprises at least one of a heart rate, a change in heart rate, an impedance measurement, a heart pressure, bradycardia, tachycardia, and fibrillation.

16. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the physiological event indicates at least one of a worsening cardiovascular condition, a progression to a state of heart failure, and an improving cardiovascular condition.

17. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the physiological event comprises at least one of sleep apnea, activity level, and change in activity level.

18. The IMD of claim 12, further comprising:

a telemetry module configured to transmit the one or more measured intervals to an external computing device.

19. The IMD of claim 12, further comprising:

a processor configured to compare each one of the one or more measured intervals to a threshold; and

a telemetry module configured to transmit an alert based on the comparison.

20. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the interval comprises a QRS width.

21. The IMD of claim 12, wherein the one or more monitors comprise at least one of a physiological condition monitor, a sensor, and a pressure sensing module.

22. A system comprising:

one or more monitors associated with an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to;

identify at least one physiological event of a patient;

an interval measurement unit configured to measure an interval within a cardiac cycle for one or more cardiac cycles in response to the identification of the at least one physiological event to generate one or more measured intervals; and

transmit the one or more measured intervals; and

the system further comprising a programmer configured to receive the one or more measured intervals and present the one or more measured intervals.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a network, wherein the IMD is further configured to transmit the one or more measured intervals via the network to a physician or a clinician.

24. The system of claim 23, where in the physician or clinician identifies the patient as a candidate for cardiac therapy modification based on the one or more measured intervals.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a network, wherein the IMD is further configured to compare the one or more measured intervals to a threshold and transmit an alert to a physician or a clinician via the network based on the comparison.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause one or more processors in an implantable medical device (IMD) to:

identify, with one or more monitors, at least one physiological event of a patient; and

measure, with an interval measurement unit, an interval within a cardiac cycle for one or more cardiac cycles in response to the identification of the at least one physiological event to generate one or more measured intervals.

27. A system comprising:

means for identifying at least one physiological event of a patient; and

means for measuring an interval within a cardiac cycle for one or more cardiac cycles in response to the identification of the at least one physiological event to generate one or more measured intervals.