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; and
automatically differentiating, by a processor, premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based on the determined degree of variability.
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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.
19 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths; determining a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths; and automatically differentiating, by a processor, premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based on the determined degree of variability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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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 and automatically differentiate premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based upon the determined degree of variability. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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means for monitoring a heart of a patient for cardiac cycle lengths; means for determining a degree of variability of the cardiac cycle lengths; and means for automatically differentiating premature cardiac events from atrial fibrillation based upon the determined degree of variability. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification