Cardiac rhythm management system with ultrasound for autocapture or other applications
US6298269A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36528
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cardiac rhythm management system provides ultrasound autocapture capability for determining whether a stimulation has evoked a desired response from the heart, and for adjusting an energy of the stimulation based on the observed response from the heart. A first ultrasound element is disposed on a lead in the heart. A second ultrasound element is disposed elsewhere in the heart or in the implanted device. An autocapture determination circuit detennines whether motion of the heart chamber indicates a contraction in response to the stimulation, and adjusts the stimulation energy to provide only that energy which is needed to obtain capture. This saves energy, prolonging the life of the implanted device, minimizing the risk and expense to patient associated with early explantation and replacement of the implanted device. Other applications include using ultrasound for (1) determining the strength of heart contractions (2) determining dissociation between electrical and mechanical heart activity, (3) determining the volume of the heart, (4) determining the origin of sensed intrinsic electrical heart activity signals, (5) recognizing particular arrhythmias (6) disrupting cell membranes…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.