Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for easy and reliable connection of patient-originated medical data through a simple port of a computer to a dedicated web site. A device originating medical data, such as an implanted pacemaker, downloads data into a transmit/receive device, and the data is then transformed in an interface unit to be accepted by a simple port of a computer, e.g. a keyboard port or a mouse port. The patient logs on to a dedicated web site, and transfers the data along with typed input to the web site for analysis. Following analysis, a reply message is sent back to the patient, which may include a control instruction for modifying or reprogramming the operation of the device that is used to originate the medical data. For a pacemaker application, the data transformation is done at a simple interface unit that is portable and easily manipulated by the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for easy and reliable connection of patient-originated medical data through a simple port of a computer to a dedicated web site. A device originating medical data, such as an implanted pacemaker, downloads data into a transmit/receive device, and the data is then transformed in an interface unit to be accepted by a simple port of a computer, e.g. a keyboard port or a mouse port. The patient logs on to a dedicated web site, and transfers the data along with typed input to the web site for analysis. Following analysis, a reply message is sent back to the patient, which may include a control instruction for modifying or reprogramming the operation of the device that is used to originate the medical data. For a pacemaker application, the data transformation is done at a simple interface unit that is portable and easily manipulated by the patient.

Abstract: A programmable dual chamber cardiac pacemaker is provided which provides improved means for responding to sensed high atrial rates. The pacemaker monitors the sensed high atrial rates and determines whether they are physiological or not, and automatically controls the operative atrial refractory period as a function of whether or not the atrial rate is physiological. The pacemaker is permitted to go into a Wenckebach mode of operation only when it is determined that a sensed high atrial rate is physiological, and that under other conditions will automatically go into a block mode of operation.

Abstract: An improved cardiac pacemaker adapted to be programmed into one of a plurality of given modes of operation, including dual chamber modes, and in particular synchronous operation for pacing the patient's ventricle following detection of natural atrial heartbeats. The pacemaker has means for monitoring the time relationship between delivered ventricular stimulus pulses and next succeeding atrial heartbeats, for determining the occurrence of pacemaker induced retrograde P waves, or pacemaker caused tachycardia. The timing, and thus the rate of sensed P signals is processed to determine the desirability of establishing a special P sense window for looking for the occurrence of P signals at rates above a normal maximum operating rate, in which event the stability of the V-A timing is monitored in accordance with predetermined criteria to determine the existence of pacemaker mediated tachycardia, which may be broken up by skipping a ventricular stimulus.