Patent · US Expired

Pacemaker with improved detection of atrial fibrillation

US5720295A · kind A · utility

138Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1996
Grant dateFeb 24, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/349
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a dual chamber implantable pacemaker, the peak amplitude of the atrial intrinsic signals are monitored and used to generate a short term and a long term indicia indicative of the intrinsic signals' variability and deviation from normal sinus rhythm peak amplitudes. The two indicia are combined to generate a single indicia which is then used to categorize the state of the atrium as one of several conditions such as flutter/flubber, coarse atrial fibrillation or fine atrial fibrillation. The categorization is used by a microcontroller for generating the proper pacing pulses and may also be used as a criteria for mode switching between a first mode wherein synchrony between the atrium and ventricle is maintained and a second mode pacing is performed at a fixed rate or one determined by the metabolic indicator.

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