Patent EP0654285A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0654285A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rate responsive cardiac pacemaker
Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-06
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A cardiac pacemaker having an automatic pulse rate response gain factor responsive to at least one cardiac-related physiological characteristic of a patient. The pacemaker includes a rate controller that comprises a detector for detecting a plurality of individual measurements of at least one physiological characteristic over each of a plurality of pre-determined time periods, with each of the individual measurements being an average of values detected over each of a respective multiple number of incremental time periods occurring within each of the pre-determined time periods. The pacemaker saves the highest measurement from one incremental time period of each of several consecutive pre-determined time periods, and these highest measurements are averaged. Thereafter, the rate controller adjusts the rate response gain factor or slope of the pulse rate in relation to the physiological characteristic measurement and a pre-determined target pulse rate. In a preferred embodiment, two physiological characteristics are measured, with high values averaged of only one characteristic when that characteristic exceeds a threshold level of the other characteristic. One embodiment is pulse rate responsive to minute volume measurement in combination with accelerometer measurement, with accelerometer measurement requiring a threshold value over an increment of time prior to minute volume recordation for input toward rate response gain factor.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L. Olive
- 👤 Rodney W. Salo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/36585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A cardiac pacemaker having a pulse generating means for applying stimulating pulses to cardiac tissue, the pulse generating means including means for controlling the rate at which said stimulating pulses are applied comprising: (a) means for establishing an upper pulsing rate limit; (b) detector means for detecting a plurality of individual measurements of an output of a physiologic sensor of at least a first cardiac-related physiological characteristic over each of a plurality of predetermined periods of time, with each of the individual measurements being an average of values detected over each of respective multiple incremental periods of time occurring within each of the predetermined periods of time; (c) saver means for saving a highest one of said measurements occurring during one incremental period of time in each of the plurality of predetermined periods of time; (d) averaging means for averaging the saved highest ones of said measurements over a plurality of periods of time to thereby yield an average physiological characteristic value; (e) adjuster means for adjusting, if necessary, a rate response gain factor of the stimulating pulses of the pacemaker in relation to a predetermined physician specified target pulse rate for the averaged physiological characteristic value; and (f) resetting means responsive to operation of said adjuster means for clearing the detector means, saver means and averaging means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 1 wherein the physiological characteristics are selected from minute volume, general patient activity as reflected by an accelerometer response, right ventricle stroke volume, right ventricle pressure, blood oxygen level and central venous blood temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 1 including further detector means for detecting a plurality of individual measurements of a second physiological characteristic over each of a plurality of predetermined periods of time, with each of the individual measurements being an average of values detected over each of respective multiple incremental periods of time occurring within each of the predetermined periods of time, and with each of the measurements being performed coincidentally with the measurement of the first physiological characteristic over the same incremental period of time when the measurement of the first physiological characteristic is above a predetermined threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 including an activation means which activates the adjuster means immediately when said measured cardiac-related physiological characteristic has a sensor rate output exceeding the upper pulsing rate limit for a predetermined length of time, with said adjuster means immediately reducing the rate responsive gain factor a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
368 words
A cardiac pacemaker having a pulse generating means for applying stimulating pulses to cardiac tissue, the pulse generating means including means for controlling the rate at which said stimulating pulses are applied comprising: (a) means for establishing an upper pulsing rate limit; (b) first detection means for detecting a plurality of individual values of an output of a sensor of individual activity level measurements of a patient over each of a plurality of predetermined periods of time, with each of the individual level measurements being an average of values detected over each of respective multiple incremental periods of time occurring within each of the predetermined periods of time; (c) second detection means for detecting a plurality of individual values of a sensor of individual minute volume measurements of the patient over each of a plurality of predetermined periods of time, with each of the minute volume measurements being an average of values detected over each of respective multiple incremental periods of time occurring within each of the predetermined periods of time, and with each of the minute volume measurements being performed coincidentally with the individual activity level measurements over the same incremental period of time when said first detection means indicates an activity level that is above a predetermined threshold activity level; (d) saver means for saving the highest minute volume measurement occurring during one incremental period of time in each of the plurality of predetermined periods of time; (e) averaging means for determining a minute volume sensor rate value and a minute volume ratio for each of said highest minute volume measurements saved by said saver means and thereafter averaging these minute volume ratios over a plurality of periods of time, said minute volume ratio being a sensed minute volume measurement divided by a minute volume base value; (f) adjuster means for adjusting a rate response gain factor of the stimulating pulses of the pacemaker in relation to said minute volume sensor rate value and a physician-specified target value of a minute volume sensor rate value for these averaged minute volume ratios; and (g) resetting means responsive to the operation of said adjuster means for clearing the first and second detection means, saver means and averaging means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 5 wherein the first detecting means is an accelerometer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 5 including an activation means which activates the adjuster means immediately when the sensor rate output of the minute volume measurements exceed the upper pulsing rate limit for a predetermined length of time, with said adjuster means immediately reducing the rate responsive gain factor a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined period of time is 24 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to any preceding claim wherein the incremental period of time is between about one and 10 minutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of predetermined periods of time is seven days.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to any preceding claim wherein said target is substantially about 75% of said upper rate pulsing limit of the pacemaker.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 4 or 7 wherein the predetermined length of time is 10 minutes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cardiac pacemaker according to Claim 12 wherein the rate responsive gain factor is reduced about two percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.