Patent · US Expired

Rate-responsive pacing method and system employing minimum blood oxygen saturation as a control parameter and as a physical activity indicator

US5076271A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
11References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 1990
Grant dateDec 31, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/1459
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A rate-responsive pacing method and system senses the minimum blood oxygen saturation in the right atrium of a patient's heart and uses such minimum blood oxygen saturation as a control parameter for indicating the muscular activity of a patient. Because the oxygen content of the venous blood in the right atrium varies significantly as venous blood from all parts of the body is introduced therein, evidencing differing levels of oxygen demand throughout the patient's body, the minimum oxygen content of the venous blood provides an accurate and reliable measure of those portions of the patient's body experiencing the greatest oxygen demand, i.e., experiencing muscular activity. A rate-responsive pacing system includes means for sensing the minimum oxygen content in the right atrium over a prescribed time interval, and using such minimum oxygen content as a control parameter for adjusting the rate of the pacemaker.

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