Detection and reduction of phrenic nerve stimulation

US8527051B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB · SE

Inventors

• Sven-Erik Hedberg · Kungsängen, SE
• Tomas Svensson · Bunkeflo, SE
• Kjell Noren · Solna, SE
• Stuart Rosenberg · Santa Clarita, US
• Kyungmoo Ryu · Palmdale, US
• Edward Karst · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 2012
• Grant date: Sep 3, 2013
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/3702
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention provides implantable medical devices for detecting phrenic nerve stimulation. A pacing module is configured to deliver pacing pulses having a predetermined pulse amplitude and/or width within the refractory period of the left ventricle. The pacing pulses are repeatedly delivered during a number of cardiac cycles, and the pacing pulses are delivered at different delays relative to an onset of the refractory period of the left ventricle in different cardiac cycles. An impedance measurement module is configured to measure impedance signals in time windows synchronized with the delivery of pacing pulses in the refractory period of the left ventricle. A phrenic nerve stimulation, PNS, detection module is configured to gather at least one impedance signal from each time window, create aggregated impedance signals using the impedance signals from the different time windows, and analyze the aggregated impedance signals to detect PNS.