Verification of capture using pressure waves transmitted through a pacing lead
First Claim
1. In a cardiac pacemaker, a system for verifying capture of the heart following delivery of a pacing pulse comprising:
- a pacing lead comprising;
an elongated lead body extending between a proximal connector end and a distal end adapted to be placed in association with the heart such that a pressure wave in the heart caused by the depolarization of the heart is transmitted through said lead body to said proximal connector end;
a pace/sense electrode at the distal end of said lead body; and
a pacing lead conductor extending between said proximal connector end and said pace/sense electrode for conducting pacing pulses from said proximal connector end to said pace/sense electrode; and
a cardiac pacemaker pulse generator comprising;
a connector assembly for attachment with said proximal connector end, said connector assembly having a pressure wave detection transducer mounted therein in relation to said proximal connector end for detecting said pressure wave and providing a heart pressure wave signal representative thereof;
pulse generator means for generating and delivering a pacing pulse through said connector assembly and said proximal connector end connected thereto to said pacing electrode;
means for timing a capture detection time window following generation of a pacing pulse; and
means coupled to said pressure wave detection transducer for determining capture of the heart by a delivered pacing pulse in response to a heart pressure signal provided by said pressure wave detection transducer within said capture detection time window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capture verification system for a cardiac pacemaker comprising an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and one or more pacing leads having a proximal end coupled to the IPG and a distal end in contact with a patient'"'"'s heart. The capture verification system employs a pressure wave sensor mounted in the IPG in relation to the proximal end of the pacing lead for sensing pressure waves transmitted from the distal end of the pacing lead to the proximal end thereof. The pressure waves include characteristic sounds of heart contraction and/or distal end lead motion caused by the contraction motion of the patient'"'"'s heart that are transmitted along the lead body to the active sensor. A further isolated, reference sensor is also incorporated into the IPG in a similar fashion. Signal processors are coupled to the pressure wave and reference sensors for nulling out common mode noise.
250 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a cardiac pacemaker, a system for verifying capture of the heart following delivery of a pacing pulse comprising:
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a pacing lead comprising; an elongated lead body extending between a proximal connector end and a distal end adapted to be placed in association with the heart such that a pressure wave in the heart caused by the depolarization of the heart is transmitted through said lead body to said proximal connector end; a pace/sense electrode at the distal end of said lead body; and a pacing lead conductor extending between said proximal connector end and said pace/sense electrode for conducting pacing pulses from said proximal connector end to said pace/sense electrode; and a cardiac pacemaker pulse generator comprising; a connector assembly for attachment with said proximal connector end, said connector assembly having a pressure wave detection transducer mounted therein in relation to said proximal connector end for detecting said pressure wave and providing a heart pressure wave signal representative thereof; pulse generator means for generating and delivering a pacing pulse through said connector assembly and said proximal connector end connected thereto to said pacing electrode; means for timing a capture detection time window following generation of a pacing pulse; and means coupled to said pressure wave detection transducer for determining capture of the heart by a delivered pacing pulse in response to a heart pressure signal provided by said pressure wave detection transducer within said capture detection time window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus adapted to be implanted within a patient for detecting an evoked response of cardiac tissue evoked by a pacing pulse, comprising:
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a pulse generator for generating pacing pulses; lead means for applying said pacing pulses to the heart having a proximal connector end; sensing means positioned in proximity with said proximal connector end for sensing pressure waves from depolarization of the heart in response to an evoked depolarization thereof caused by a pacing pulse transmitted through said lead body directly to said proximal connector end, said sensing means generating a pressure wave signal representative thereof; monitoring circuit means coupled to said sensing means for monitoring said pressure wave signal provided from said sensing means in response to the occurrence of a cardiac evoked response; a capture detect timer defining a capture detect window after the generation of a pacing pulse by said pulse generator; and capture detect logic means responsive to said monitoring circuit means and said capture detect timer for detecting the occurrence of said evoked response occurring within said capture detect window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification