摘要:
A heart pacemaker comprising means (3,5) for sensing electrical events in the atrium and ventricle of a heart; means (11, 13) for pacing the ventricle in response to sensed atrial events; and means for selecting a value of a ventricular rate limit which defines the maximum rate at which the ventricle can be paced comprises means (11) for selecting a value for a VA time period and for timing the period from a sensed or paced ventricular event; means (15, 17) for pacing the atrium if an atrial event is not sensed within said VA time period; and means for increasing the VA time period by a predetermined VA amount when the ventricle is paced at said ventricular rate limit. The pacemaker enhances the synchronization of ventricular pacing to natural atrial events by defining an extended VA interval when the ventricle is paced at the ventricular rate limit.
摘要:
An implantable microprocessor-controlled dual chamber heart pacemaker is programmed to control the timing of the pacing of the ventricle in response to high rate atrial signals. The microprocessor operates in conjunction with an atrial timer to detect atrial signals which occur at a rate in excess of a predefined atrial rate limit. The microprocessor paces the ventricle at a predefined desirable demand rate and inhibits pacing of the atrium in response to the high rate atrial activity. The microprocessor also controls the timing of an atrial refractory interval which includes an absolute refractory portion during which atrial signals are not detected and a relative refractory portion during which atrial signals are detected but are not tracked. The combined absolute and relative atrial refractory portions insure that relatively high rate atrial signals are detected and spurious signals conducted from the ventricle are ignored.
摘要:
An implantable defibrillator (10) provides a device-implemented method of delivering cardiac pacing, cardioversion and defibrillation (20) therapies in selective response to dysrhythmia detection of an implant patient's cardiac signal. The patient's heart rate is sensed, and cardioversion/defibrillation therapies are delivered by the device by producing electrical shocks of adjustable energy level for application to the patient's heart in response to applicable detected levels of pathologic accelerated heart rate. A match between the generated cardiac pacing rate and the contemporaneous hemodynamic needs of the implant patient under conditions of rest and physical activity is optimized by sensing periods of patient activity and rest and generating a signal representative thereof to control the cardiac pacing rate accordingly and to the extent of activity by means of an accelerometer (30) mounted on hybrid electronic circuitry.
摘要:
Device and method are disclosed in which leads with pacing and defibrillating electrodes are implanted into both the right and left ventricles of a patient's heart to enable simultaneous pacing of both ventricles to reduce the width of the QRS complex of the patient's cardiac activity to a more normal duration, and, when appropriate, to apply electrical shock waveforms to both ventricles simultaneously for lower energy defibrillation of the ventricles. In applying the defibrillation therapy, the defibrillating electrode in the left ventricle may be used as the anode and the defibrillating electrode in the right ventricle may be used as the cathode, or both ventricular defibrillating electrodes may be the anode and the metal case in which the shock waveform generator is implanted may be the cathode. Implanting a lead with pacing and defibrillating electrodes in the right atrium enables selective pacing and defibrillation of the atria, in which atrial fibrillation is treated by applying the shock waveform across the right atrial and left ventricular defibrillation electrodes.
摘要:
A thin film capacitor for use in an implantable defibrillator. A first dielectric polymer film layer has a metallized film on one side thereof. A second dielectric polymer film layer has a metallized film on one side thereof. The first and second layers are overlain on each other and wound spirally with the metallized film of one layer adjacent the dielectric polymer of the other layer. The beginnings and ends of the first and second metallized films are offset from the respective beginnings and ends of the first and second polymer film layers. The dielectric layers can be tapered in increasing thickness toward the respective beginnings and ends of the layers. The dielectric layers can themselves comprise at least two layers of differing polymer materials, the preferred materials being polyvinylidene fluoride and polyester for improved energy density and self-healing properties.
摘要:
An apparatus for classifying and treating tachyarrhythmias. A cardiac stimulator (10) includes an algorithm (100) that uses dual chamber sensing to determine the type of tachyarrhythmia detected. If the tachyarrhythmia is of a type that responds well to ventricular therapy, such as a tachyarrhythmia originating in the ventricle rather than the atrium, the tachyarrhythmia is grouped into a treatable category. Accordingly, the cardiac stimulator (10) applies therapy, or therapies, to the ventricle to remedy the ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
摘要:
A lead assembly (10) adapted for endocardial fixation to a human heart is provided. The lead assembly includes a lead body (12) that has a proximal end provided with a connector (16) for electrical connection to a cardiac stimulator (18). The cardiac stimulator may be a pacemaker, a cardioverter/defibrillator, or a sensing instrument. The distal end of the lead body is connected to a tubular electrode housing (22). The lead body (12) consists of a noncoiled conductor cable (24) surrounded by a coextensive insulating sleeve (26). In contrast to conventional leads, the lead body of the present invention does not require coiled conductor wires or an internal lumen. Manipulation of the lead body is via an external guide tube. Lead body diameters of 0.25 mm or smaller are possible.
摘要:
An implantable cardiac stimulator (10) for detecting capture or adjusting the strength or duration of pacing pulses by using an evoked response detector (41) and periodically tuning (334) the evoked response detector. When the electric evoked response detector is to be tuned, capture is verified by detecting the mechanical evoked response, as the magnitude of the stimulating pulse is adjusted to isolate the threshold as detected by the mechanical response detector (42). At the same time, the electrical evoked response is also monitored. The difference between the detected electrical signal following capture as detected by the mechanical response detector and the signal following non-capture is used to tune the electrical evoked response detection apparatus and algorithm. The energy of the pacing pulse can then be optimized (232) by adjusting both strength and duration. A very small safety margin is needed since capture is continuously monitored by the electrical evoked response apparatus and a safety pulse is immediately applied if capture is lost. The safety pulse can be applied in the same cardiac cycle so that the heart beat remains controlled.
摘要:
A cardiac stimulator (10, 30) with a method and apparatus for automatically switching the cardiac stimulator to its normal mode from its backup mode. A fault monitor (52) receives fault signals and determines whether a particular fault warrants activation of the backup mode. If so, a number of attempts to reactivate the normal mode are permitted (178). The normal mode may be reactivated if the stored information is valid (230) and if the circuitry is operational (236, 238).
摘要:
An implantable cardiac stimulator (10), which may include cardioversion (62) and pacemaker (30, 32) capabilities, which has apparatus (74) for detecting an externally applied shock, such as a defibrillation or cardioverting shock. In response to detection of such a shock, the cardiac stimulator has apparatus to adjust the parameters of applied therapy, or to select alternative therapy, including, but not limited to, adjusting the magnitude of stimulus pulses for a predetermined length of time. The risk of loss of capture, and consequent failure of cardiac function, following an externally applied shock is thereby reduced.