Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started, stopped, adjusted, or optimized. In one embodiment, the HRV parameter is used to adjust a maximum tracking rate in an atrial tracking pacing mode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rheology control agent for coating compositions. The rheology control agent includes a compound having the Formula (II) including isomers or mixtures of isomers thereof: wherein R, R9, R10, m and n are described in the specification. The coating compositions containing the rheology control agent have improved rheology control on application and are useful for OEM, refinishing or repainting the exterior of automobile and truck bodies and parts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rheology control agent for coating compositions. The rheology control agent includes a compound having the Formula (I) including isomers or mixtures of isomers thereof: wherein p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and R2, R3, R4, X and Y groups are described in the specification. The solvent-borne coating compositions containing the rheology control agent have improved rheology control on application and are useful for OEM, refinishing or repainting the exterior of automobile and truck bodies and parts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a rheology control agent that includes a following compound represented by the following formula: wherein A, B, C and D equal CH2, CHR, NH, or O, and A, B, C and D may be the same or different and at least one of A and B equals NH and at least one of C and D equals NH; and wherein R1, R2, and R3 may be the same or different and represent a linear, branched, hyper-branched, or dendritic ether, polyether or hydrocarbon based chain, optionally forming at least one carbon-based ring, being saturated or unsaturated and R2 represents linear or branched alkylenes, ethers, polyethers, or polyester linkages and at least one of R1, R2, and R3 comprises an ester group or an amide group which is branched off from the main chain; excluded from Formula (1) is a compound wherein R2 is CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH(C(O)OCH3), A, B, C, and D are equal to NH and R1 and R3 are both equal to a linear octyl hydrocarbon chain; the rheology control agent is suitable for solvent-borne and water-borne coa

Abstract: The present invention provides for a coating composition containing a rheology control agent having improved rheology control particularly in low VOC solvent-borne coating compositions and water-borne coating compositions useful for OEM refinishing or repainting the exterior of automobile and truck bodies and parts thereof; the rheology control agent used in the coating composition comprises the following compound represented by the following formula wherein A, B, C and D equal CH2, CHR, NH, or O, and A, B, C and D may be the same or different and at least one of A and B equals NH and at least one of C and D equals NH; and wherein R1, R2, and R3 are described in the specification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selection of one or more ventricular chambers to stimulate for ventricular resynchronization therapy. Intrinsic intracardia electrograms that include QRS complexes, are recorded from a left and right ventricle. A timing relationship between the intrinsic intracardia electrograms recorded from the left and right ventricle is then determined. In one embodiment, the timing relationship is determined using a delay between a left ventricular and a right ventricular sensed intrinsic ventricular depolarizations and a duration interval of one or more QRS complexes. In one embodiment, the duration of QRS complexes is determined from either intracardiac electrograms or from surface ECG recordings. One or more ventricular chambers in which to provide pacing pulses are then selected based on the timing relationship between intrinsic intracardia electrograms recorded from the right and left ventricle, and the duration of one or more QRS complexes.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to detect mechanical oscillations in cardiac rhythm. Upon detection of such oscillations, the device may adjust its operating behavior to compensate for the deleterious effects of the condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically setting the pacing parameters utilized by an implantable cardiac device in delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy. The selection of the pacing parameters is based at least in part upon measurements of intrinsic cardiac conduction parameters. Among the pacing parameters which may be selected in this way is the atrio-ventricular delay interval used in atrial-tracking and AV sequential pacing modes.

Abstract: A pacing system computes optimal cardiac resynchronization pacing parameters using intrinsic conduction intervals. In various embodiments, values for atrio-ventricular delay intervals are each computed as a function of an intrinsic atrio-ventricular interval and a parameter reflective of an interventricular conduction delay. Examples of the parameter reflective of the interventricular conduction delay include QRS width and interval between right and left ventricular senses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart by inserting and positioning an implantable lead having an electrode near a cardiac wall as well as detecting mechanical events within the patient's heart by then inserting and positioning a cardiac motion sensor unit through the inner lumen of the implantable lead. Furthermore, the systems and methods do not require dedicated leads and may be used with preexisting implantable leads.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and assessing inter-atrial conduction delays in patients is disclosed. Patients who are so identified and are also in need of ventricular resynchronization therapy may then be treated with left atrial pacing and ventricular resynchronization pacing. Certain patients may alternatively be treated with ventricular resynchronization therapy delivered with a conservatively selected atrio-ventricular delay interval and without left atrial pacing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selection of one or more ventricular chambers to stimulate for ventricular resynchronization therapy. Intrinsic intracardia electrograms that include QRS complexes, are recorded from a left and right ventricle. A timing relationship between the intrinsic intracardia electrograms recorded from the left and right ventricle is then determined. In one embodiment, the timing relationship is determined using a delay between a left ventricular and a right ventricular sensed intrinsic ventricular depolarizations and a duration interval of one or more QRS complexes. In one embodiment, the duration of QRS complexes is determined from either intracardiac electrograms or from surface ECG recordings. One or more ventricular chambers in which to provide pacing pulses are then selected based on the timing relationship between intrinsic intracardia electrograms recorded from the right and left ventricle, and the duration of one or more QRS complexes.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a cardiac pacemaker which employs pacing therapy to regularize the ventricular rhythm together with biventricular sensing. Biventricular sensing allows the ventricular rate regularization to be accomplished with greater hemodynamic stability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart by inserting and positioning an implantable lead having an electrode near a cardiac wall as well as detecting mechanical events within the patient's heart by then inserting and positioning a cardiac motion sensor unit through the inner lumen of the implantable lead. Furthermore, the systems and methods do not require dedicated leads and may be used with preexisting implantable leads.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to detect oscillations in cardiac rhythm by comparing electrogram signals during successive heart beats. Upon detection of electrical alternans, the device may adjust its operating behavior to compensate for the deleterious effects of the condition.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically selecting among a plurality of pacing modes based upon capture detection. Patients suffering from heart failure may be optimally treated with different resynchronization pacing modes or configurations. By detecting whether capture is being achieved by a particular configuration or mode, a device is able to automatically switch to one that is both optimal in treating the patient and is successful in capturing the heart with pacing pulses.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to detect oscillations in cardiac rhythm by comparing electrogram signals during successive heart beats. Upon detection of electrical alternans, the device may adjust its operating behavior to compensate for the deleterious effects of the condition.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically selecting among a plurality of pacing modes based upon capture detection. Patients suffering from heart failure may be optimally treated with different resynchronization pacing modes or configurations. By detecting whether capture is being achieved by a particular configuration or mode, a device is able to automatically switch to one that is both optimal in treating the patient and is successful in capturing the heart with pacing pulses.

Abstract: A device for measuring a synchronicity of contraction of a heart to determine if an individual would be a responder to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The device may include a first electrode positioned at a first ventricular wall location to measure movement of the first ventricular wall location and generate a first signal, as well as a second electrode positioned at a second ventricular wall location to measure movement of the second ventricular wall location and generate a second signal. A processing module may process the first and second signals, for example, integrate the signals multiple times, and generate an output based on the processed signals. Based on this output, an individual can be labeled a responder or non-responder to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The electrodes may each include an accelerometer to measure acceleration of the heart wall.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes an implantable device executing a dynamic pacing algorithm after an myocardial infarction (MI) event. The dynamic pacing algorithm dynamically adjusts one or more pacing parameters based on a person's gross physical activity level. Examples of the one or more pacing parameters include atrioventricular pacing delays and pacing channels/sites. The dynamic pacing algorithm provides for improved hemodynamic performance when a person's metabolic need is high, and post MI remodeling control when the person's metabolic need is low.