APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIA BY FAR-FIELD SENSING

• US 20140222097A1
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bardy, Gust H., Rissmann, William J., Erlinger, Paul J., Allavatam, Venugopal, Ostroff, Alan H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/361 Detecting fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/395 for treating atrial fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock

Abstract

In a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter/defibrillator, cardiac arrhythmias are detected to determine necessary therapeutic action. Cardiac signal information is sensed from far field electrodes implanted in a patient. The sensed cardiac signal information is then amplified and filtered. Parameters such as rate, QRS pulse width, cardiac QRS slew rate, amplitude and stability measures of these parameters from the filtered cardiac signal information are measured, processed and integrated to determine if the cardioverter/defibrillator needs to initiate therapeutic action.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient comprising:

implanting a cardioverter-defibrillator in the patient;

capturing far-field cardiac signals from electrodes disposed beneath the skin and outside of a patient'"'"'s ribcage;

identifying the patient'"'"'s P-wave in the far-field cardiac signals;

monitoring the patient'"'"'s P-wave to determine whether the patient'"'"'s P-wave abruptly changes; and

if the patient'"'"'s P-wave abruptly changes, determining that the patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation and withholding cardiac stimulus that would otherwise be delivered to the patient.