Implanatable cardiac stimulation device and method for prolonging atrial refractoriness
US6377852B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3956
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable cardiac stimulation device, e.g., a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), is provided which prolongs the atrial refractoriness of a heart. The implantable cardiac stimulation device includes a generator that delivers pacing pulses to an atrium of a heart and a detector that detects atrial activations of the heart. An inhibitor is coupled to the detector that inhibits the generator when an atrial activation is detected within an escape interval. A generator control coupled to the generator causes the generator to deliver a primary pacing pulse to the atrium at the end of the escape interval, absent an atrial activation being detected within the escape interval, and causes the generator to deliver a secondary pacing pulse to the atrium a delay time after an atrial activation is detected within the escape interval or the delivery of a primary pacing pulse to the atrium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.