Dynamic atrial detection sensitivity control in an implantable medical cardiac simulator
US5800466A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3621
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable medical device for electrically stimulating the heart to beat includes a sense circuit for detecting cardiac electrical activity. The sense circuit includes an amplifier with a dynamically adjustable gain to provide increased sensitivity to the electrogram during atrial fibrillation. Alternatively, sensitivity control is provided by dynamically adjusting threshold limits associated with a threshold detector included in the sense circuit. The sensitivity level of the medical device to the electrogram can be repeatedly adjusted after implantation and preferably is increased upon detection of the loss of normal sinus rhythm (NSR) in the heart's atria. The medical device is calibrated with the aid of a calibration device external to the body to determine appropriate sensitivity levels. A method for calibrating and operating an implanted medical device with dynamically adjustable sensitivity is also disclosed for improving the medical device's sensitivity to atrial fibrillation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.