Abstract: A probability function for heart rate is determined using collected and measured heart rate values. One or more heart rate probability values are selected. Thresholds for arrhythmia rate zones are determined from the probability function based on the selected probability values. Determining the rate zone thresholds may involve determining a threshold for a lower 15 rate limit and/or determining one or more tachyarrhythmia rate zone thresholds. The number of rate zones may also be determined based on the probability function.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 18, 2006
Date of Patent:
August 25, 2009
Assignee:
Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
Inventors:
Shelley Marie Cazares, Carlos Alberto Ricci, Jaeho Kim
Abstract: A cochlear implant system in which information about the periodicity of a received audio signal in each filter channel is used as a factor in determining the rate of stimulation applied to a tonotopically placed electrode corresponding to the relevant filter channel. As such, the stimulation rate for each electrode is related to the periodicity of the signal in the filter channel corresponding to that electrode. This may allow for improved perception of pitch by the implant recipient.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2006
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2009
Assignee:
Cochlear Limited
Inventors:
Joe Wolfe, Paul M. Carter, Robert Fearn, Niki Frampton, Simon G. Parker
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation or flutter detector having impedance unit, with measurement input, connected to atrial electrode line having electrode for unipolar measurement of atrium impedance and implemented to generate atrial impedance signal obtained in unipolar manner so that impedance signal comprises multiple impedance values detected at different instants within particular atrial cycle for each atrial cycle, comprising atrial contraction and the following relaxation of the atrium, and having a signal input, via which ventricle signal is supplied to detector, which reflects instants of ventricular contractions in chronological assignment to impedance signal, the detector having an analysis unit, implemented to average multiple sequential impedance signal sections of unipolar atrial impedance signal, delimited by two sequential ventricular contractions with one another and determine maximum amplitude of averaged unipolar atrial impedance signal section, compare to comparison value, and if maximum amplitude of ave
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2006
Date of Patent:
August 4, 2009
Assignee:
Biotronik CRM Patent AG
Inventors:
Thomas S. Faber, Michael Lippert, Marc Oliver Schweika-Kresimon
Abstract: Methods for identifying and extracting heart depolarization and repolarization in a paced heart. Certain methods also include identifying and analyzing particular features of at least one pacing spike and QRS waveform for heart beat characterization. These features may include signal changing speed and signal time interval (distance) of pacing spikes and QRS depolarization when pacing excitation is initialized.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2009
Assignee:
Infinite Biomedical Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Hongxuan Zhang, Ananth Natarajan, Nitish V. Thakor
Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for assisting a heart in circulating blood that has been damaged, for example, by a myocardial infarction. In at least one aspect, an apparatus, system, and method are used for inserting a single cannula assembly comprising at least an inner and outer cannula into the left ventricle, advancing the inner cannula portion of the cannula assembly past the aortic valve, and into the aorta without requiring a secondary cannula insertion through an external portion of the aorta. In another aspect, an intraventricular assistant device (IVAD) having a motor and impeller can be inserted directly into the heart, such as in the left ventricle. The IVAD uniquely provides a pump within the heart through a single insertion that can reduce thrombosis and lessen the complexities typically associated with such efforts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 28, 2009
Assignee:
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
Inventors:
Dongfang Wang, Joseph B. Zwischenberger