Patent · US Expired

Physiologically responsive pacemaker and method of adjusting the pacing interval thereof

US4712555A · kind A · utility

414Cited by
15References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 1985
Grant dateDec 15, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/3716
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A pacemaker and physiological sensor for use therewith that allows the rate at which the pacemaker delivers electrical stimulation pulses to the heart, or the escape interval during which a natural heart event must occur before an electrical stimulation pulse is delivered, to be adjusted as needed in order to satisfy the body's physiological needs. The sensor measures the depolarization time interval between an atrial stimulation pulse, A, and the responsive atrial or ventricle depolarization, P or R respectively, as an indication of the physiological demands placed on the heart. The time interval between a ventricular stimulation pulse, V, and the responsive ventricular depolarization, R, may also be measured and used as an indication of physiological need, and hence as an alternative criteria for rate control. Atrial depolarization is sensed by detecting a P-wave, and ventricular depolarization is preferably sensed by detecting an R-wave. A method of measuring A-P, A-R, or V-R intervals is used to ascertain if these intervals are increasing or decreasing. If, over several heart cycles or beats, an increase or decrease in these measurements is detected, the pacing interval set by …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.