Abstract: A system and method recording sensing and pacing events in a cardiac rhythm management device. The method may be particularly useful in assessment of pacing parameters for ventricular resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: A device and method for multi chamber pacing a patient's heart having heart failure and intrinsic conduction, wherein ventricular tracking is used to pace the ventricle when the sinus rate exceeds a preset atrial maximum tracking rate. The ventricular tracking pacemaker increases the range of pacing the ventricle. The ventricular tracking minimizes the loss of ventricular pacing caused by intrinsic conduction when the sinus rate is below an atrial maximum tracking rate, and it induces a new ventricular pacing behavior for sinus rates above the atrial maximum tracking rate without any significant pacing hysteresis as the sinus rate returns towards the lower rate limit.

Abstract: A medical device programmer and a method of operation in which a first data value is received and used in the execution of one or more algorithms. One or more suggested pulse generator settings are calculated from the one or more algorithms based on the first data value, and the one or more suggested pulse generator settings are displayed on an interactive display screen of the medical device programmer. In one embodiment, the first data value is a duration interval of a QRS complex. From the duration interval, suggestions are made as to one or more ventricular chambers in which to provide pacing pulses. Additionally, pacing intervals for an AV delay are suggested based on measured P-R intervals, or pacing intervals for an LV offset are suggested based on a measured duration interval of a V-V-interval between a right ventricular event and a left ventricular event.

Abstract: A system and method for avoiding short-interval paces during pacing mode transitions. The method may be particularly useful in switching to or from a biventricular pacing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing cardiac signals to be sensed and pacing pulse vectors to be delivered between two or more electrodes. In one embodiment, cardiac signals are sensed and pacing pulse vectors are delivered between least one of a first left ventricular electrode and a second left ventricular electrode. Alternatively, cardiac signals are sensed and pacing pulse vectors are delivered between different combinations of the first and second left ventricular electrodes and a first supraventricular electrode. In addition, cardiac signals are sensed and pacing pulse vectors are delivered between different combinations of the first and second left ventricular electrode, the first supraventricular electrode and a conductive housing. In an additional embodiment, a first right ventricular electrode is used to sense cardiac signals and provide pacing pulses with different combinations of the first and second left ventricular electrodes, the first supraventricular electrode and the housing.

Abstract: A method for operating a cardiac pacemaker in which paces and senses are counted during each cardiac cycle and associated with an R-R interval or other interval defining a cardiac cycle. An event frequency for each sense and pace is calculated which can be displayed as a histogram. The method is particularly suited for calculating such frequencies in resynchronization pacing modes.

Abstract: A device and method for multi chamber pacing a patient's heart having heart failure and intrinsic conduction, wherein ventricular tracking is used to pace the ventricle when the sinus rate exceeds a preset atrial maximum tracking rate. The ventricular tracking pacemaker increases the range of pacing the ventricle. The ventricular tracking minimizes the loss of ventricular pacing caused by intrinsic conduction when the sinus rate is below an atrial maximum tracking rate, and it induces a new ventricular pacing behavior for sinus rates above the atrial maximum tracking rate without any significant pacing hysteresis as the sinus rate returns towards the lower rate limit.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system that includes a pacemaker configured for resynchronization pacing and an external programmer with an associated display for displaying electrogram markers. The markers are designed to relate information to a user in a manner suited for biventricular or other resynchronization pacing.

Abstract: A method and system for managing refractory periods in a cardiac rhythm management device configured for biventricular or biatrial sensing. Refractory periods for each channel of the pacemaker are provided by interval timers that are triggered by sensed or paced events in order to prevent misinterpretation of sensing signals.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system that includes a pacemaker configured for biventricular pacing and an external programmer with an associated display for displaying electrogram data and markers representing ventricular events. Associated with each marker are intraventricular intervals designed to relate information to a user in a manner suited for ventricular resynchronization pacing.

Abstract: A method for operating a cardiac pacemaker in which paces and senses are counted during each cardiac cycle and associated with an R-R interval or other interval defining a cardiac cycle. An event frequency for each sense and pace is calculated which can be displayed as a histogram. The method is particularly suited for calculating such frequencies in resynchronization pacing modes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing cardiac signals to be sensed and pacing pulse vectors to be delivered between two or more electrodes. In one embodiment, cardiac signals are sensed and pacing pulse vectors are delivered between least one of a first left ventricular electrode and a second left ventricular electrode in a left ventricular region. In an additional embodiment, cardiac signals are sensed and pacing pulse vectors are delivered between different combinations of the first left ventricular electrode and a second left ventricular electrode in a left ventricular region and a first supraventricular electrode in a right atrial region. In addition, the housing of the apparatus is conductive so as to allow cardiac signals to be sensed and pacing pulse vectors to be delivered between different combinations of the first left ventricular electrode, the second left ventricular electrode, the first supraventricular electrode and the housing.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the effects of far-field signals in a cardiac rhythm management device. Such far-field signals can be produced by contralateral ventricular depolarization and can cause cross-talk between ventricular sensing channels.

Abstract: A system and method for avoiding short-interval paces during pacing mode transitions. The method may be particularly useful in switching to or from a biventricular pacing mode.

Abstract: A system and method recording sensing and pacing events in a cardiac rhythm management device. The method may be particularly useful in assessment of pacing parameters for ventricular resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes techniques for computing an indicated pacing interval, AV delay, or other timing interval. In one embodiment, a variable indicated pacing interval is computed based at least in part on an underlying intrinsic heart rate. The indicated pacing interval is used to time the delivery of biventricular coordination therapy even when ventricular heart rates are irregular, such as in the presence of atrial fibrillation. In another embodiment, a variable filter indicated AV interval is computed based at least in part on an underlying intrinsic AV interval. The indicated AV interval is used to time the delivery of atrial tracking biventricular coordination therapy when atrial heart rhythms are not arrhythmic. Other indicated timing intervals may be similarly determined. The indicated pacing interval, AV delay, or other timing interval can also be used in combination with a sensor indicated rate indicator.

Abstract: A system and method for correlating health related data for display. The system includes a medical device recording data and a display producing device which correlates the data and simultaneously displays different types of data or displays two sets of the same type of data along with the circumstances at which the two sets of data were recorded. Such displays aid a physician in prescribing and ascertaining the efficacy of cardiac therapies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically configuring leads for a medical device. According to one aspect, the system generally comprises a medical device and a processing device, such as a programmer or computer, adapted to be in communication with the medical device. The medical device has at least one lead with at least one electrode in a configuration that can be changed using the processing device. The processing device provides a graphical display of the configuration. In one embodiment, the graphical display graphically represents, illustrates or displays the lead(s), the electrode(s), a pulse polarity, and a vector. According to another aspect, the method generally comprises receiving information for a medical device having at least one lead with at least one electrode in a configuration, and presenting a graphical representation of the configuration on a display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying statistical distributions of cardiac events. According to one aspect, a programmer device is provided that generally comprises circuitry for communicating with a medical device, and a display. The medical device collects data regarding cardiac events occurring at two or more sites, and the display provides a histogram of the data as two or more statistical distributions for the two or more sites. In one embodiment, the data includes both sensed intrinsic cardiac events and paced cardiac events. And in another embodiment, the histogram generally comprises a plurality of histogram bins that provide statistical distributions for the cardiac events. Each of the histogram bins generally includes a portion of a first cardiac event distribution and a portion of a second cardiac event distribution.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes techniques for reducing the number of programmable variables associated with maximum pacing rate so that fewer variables are programmed and a reduction in possible parameter conflict is achieved. In an embodiment, a maximum pacing rate parameter replaces a plurality of conventional, separately programmable pacing parameters. For example, maximum tracking rate, maximum sensor rate, rate smoothing maximum pacing rate, atrial pacing preference maximum pacing rate, and ventricular rate regulation maximum pacing rate are replaced by a single maximum pacing rate with, if necessary, a sensor offset and an atrial pacing preference offset. In another example, rate smoothing maximum pacing rate, biventricular trigger maximum pacing rate and ventricular rate regulation maximum pacing rate are replaced by a single maximum pacing rate.