Implantable cardiac stimulation device and method for varying pacing parameters to mimic circadian cycles

US6128534A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• PACESETTER, INC. · US

Inventors

• Euljoon Park · Santa Clarita, US
• Gene A. Bornzin · Simi Valley, US
• Joseph J. Florio · Tustin, US
• Kerry Bradley · Glendale, US
• William D. Gibb · Belleville, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 1998
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2000
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/36542
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for automatically adjusting pacing parameters in implantable programmable stimulation devices, such as rate-responsive pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators. The methods and apparatus provide a circadian varying pacing parameter (e.g., pacing rate, AV Delay, etc.) that very closely mimics the natural diurnal fluctuations of a patient's heart. Using physiological parameters that vary diurnally (e.g., minute ventilation and/or activity variance, etc.), a circadian-base value is derived. In the preferred embodiments, the physiological measurements are used to derive a histogram from which certain characteristic values are determined. These physiological characteristic values, along with the predetermined characteristic rates, automatically and periodically determine a transfer function from which the patient's appropriate circadian base rate is derived. Further contemplated herein are the use of more than one physiological parameter to derive a final circadian base rate, and stimulation devices employing these methods.