Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to predict and/or prevent episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (for example, ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation). A method is provided for predicting an episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by detection and analysis of multiple patterns of vagal fatigue and/or a threshold-exceeding heart.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to predict and/or prevent episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (for example, ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation). A method is provided for predicting an episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by detection and analysis of multiple patterns of vagal fatigue during a period of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to predict and/or prevent episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (for example, ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation). A method is provided for predicting an episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by detection and analysis of multiple patterns of vagal fatigue and/or a threshold-exceeding heart.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods to predict and/or prevent episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (for example, ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation). A method is provided for predicting an episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by detection and analysis of multiple patterns of vagal fatigue during a period of time.

Abstract: The invention is for a method for predicting an imminent episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by an analysis of the variations in the heart beat frequency during otherwise normal appearing sinus rhythm in the normal beat frequency range. The analysis is based on detecting a prolonged pattern of increasing heart beat rate. When the method is implemented by hardware it can initiate, or cause to be initiated, preventive therapies. A further implementation can cause the patient or attendant to be notified of imminent ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Both implantable and external devices are considered.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pacemaker (52) designed for emitting stimulation impulses to an atrium (20) of a heart (22), with a connection for an atrial electrode wire (14) for emitting electrical impulses to the atrium (20), with an atrial stimulation impulse generator (24) that can be connected to the electrode wire (14) and is designed to generate atrial stimulation impulses that are to be emitted over an electrode wire, with a control unit (38) that is connected to the atrial stimulation impulse generator (24) and designed to trigger the stimulation impulse generator (24) in order to generate and emit atrial stimulation impulses, wherein the control unit (38) is designed in an AF-prevention mode that triggers the stimulation impulse generator (24) in order to generate a stimulation impulse sequence that is suitable for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF).

Abstract: Apparatus for treating fibrillation of at least one chamber of a heart comprising a fibrillation detector for detecting a fibrillation, a defibrillator for defibrillating the chamber of the heart, wherein the defibrillator is connected to the fibrillation detector and is adapted to effect defibrillation subsequently to a time interval after detection of the fibrillation, a warning device which is connected to the fibrillation detector and which is adapted to delivery a warning signal when a fibrillation has been detected, and a control circuit having a control input actuable by a patient, wherein the control circuit is connected to the defibrillator and is adapted to delay the time of a defibrillation if the control circuit receives a corresponding signal by way of the control input, wherein the apparatus includes a condition detector which is adapted to detect a hemodynamic condition of the heart, and the control circuit is connected to the condition detector and is adapted to prevent a delay in the time of

Abstract: A heart therapy device includes a heart rate detector unit for detecting a heart rate, an evaluation and control unit adaptable to evaluate a measured heart rate and output a therapy control signal, and a therapy unit coupled to the output of the evaluation and control means for realizing at least one therapy having a predetermined therapy. The evaluation and control unit includes a three-area memory for storing heart rate value ranges, a heart rate discriminator for allocating a measured heart rate and outputting a first, second or third discriminator output signal, a stability evaluation unit for outputting a stability output signal and evaluating heart rate stability over a predetermined period of time in response to the output of the second heart rate discriminator output signal, and a logical processing unit for processing the second discriminator output.

Abstract: An arrangement for treating rhythm disturbances of a heart (H), especially tachycardia and fibrillation, has a device (FD) for detecting the heart rhythm and determining when a fibrillation threshold limit is exceeded and a therapy device or stimulator (IG). The therapy device (IG) is connected to the heart rhythm detecting device (FD), to begin to treat the fibrillation when the fibrillation threshold limit is exceeded. The heart rhythm detecting device determines whether a redetection threshold limit is still exceeded after the therapy device has treated the fibrillation, the redetection threshold limit being lower than the fibrillation threshold limit and higher than a tachycardia threshold limit. The therapy device continues to treat the fibrillation as long as the heart rhythm detector determines that the redection threshold limit is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention is for a method for predicting an imminent episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia by an analysis of the variations in the heart beat frequency during otherwise normal appearing sinus rhythm in the normal beat frequency range. The analysis is based on detecting a prolonged pattern of increasing heart beat rate. When the method is implemented by hardware it can initiate, or cause to be initiated, preventive therapies. A further implementation can cause the patient or attendant to be notified of imminent ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Both implantable and external devices are considered.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pacemaker (52) designed for emitting stimulation impulses to an atrium (20) of a heart (22), with a connection for an atrial electrode wire (14) for emitting electrical impulses to the atrium (20), with an atrial stimulation impulse generator (24) that can be connected to the electrode wire (14) and is designed to generate atrial stimulation impulses that are to be emitted over an electrode wire, with a control unit (38) that is connected to the atrial stimulation impulse generator (24) and designed to trigger the stimulation impulse generator (24) in order to generate and emit atrial stimulation impulses, wherein the control unit (38) is designed in an AF-prevention mode that triggers the stimulation impulse generator (24) in order to generate a stimulation impulse sequence that is suitable for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of signaling an internal status of an implantable cardiac stimulation device, which status is defined by a value of a status parameter, including the steps: a) Recording a measurement value (S12) representing the status parameter, b) Ascertaining the existence of the status by comparison of the measurement value with a comparative value (S14), c) Delivering a signal pulse with a predetermined, measurable pulse parameter, wherein the pulse parameter is uniquely associated with the status if the measurement value corresponds to the comparative value within predetermined limits (S26). In accordance with the invention the time difference of equal, predetermined phases of two successive, periodically recurring events prior to delivery of the signal pulse is measured (S20), and then the signal pulse is delivered prior to or after the next expiry of the measured time difference by a predeterminable period of time uniquely associated with the status (S22, S24, S26).

Abstract: Heart therapy device, in particular implantable defibrillator, heart pacemaker or combined heart pacemaker, comprising an evaluation and control means for evaluating a measured heart rate, which comprises a three-area memory for storing a first, second and third value range of reference heart rates adjacent to one another with ascending heart rate values, a heart rate discriminator for allocating a measured heart rate to the first, second or third value range, and a stability evaluation means for evaluating the heart rate stability over a predetermined period of time upon detection of a heart rate lying within the second value range.

Abstract: A defibrillator comprising an implantable housing (10) and an implantable electrode set which includes at least a right-ventricular electrode (2) and a coronary sinus electrode (3), wherein arranged in the housing (10) is a control device (11) for the electrodes of the electrode set wherein the housing (10) is conducting and is connected as an electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating fibrillation of at least one chamber of a heart comprising a fibrillation detector (1) for detecting a fibrillation, a defibrillator (2) for defibrillating the chamber of the heart, wherein the defibrillator is connected to the fibrillation detector (1) and is adapted to effect defibrillation subsequently to a time interval after detection of the fibrillation, a warning device (3) which is connected to the fibrillation detector (1) and which is adapted to delivery a warning signal when a fibrillation has been detected, and a control means (4) having a control input (5) actuable by a patient, wherein the control means is connected to the defibrillator (2) and is adapted to delay the time of a defibrillation if the control means (4) receives a corresponding signal by way of the control input (5), wherein the apparatus includes a condition detector (6) which is adapted to detect a hemodynamic condition of the heart, and the control means (4) is connected to the condition detector (6) and i

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of signaling an internal status of an implantable cardiac stimulation device, which status is defined by a value of a status parameter, including the steps: a) Recording a measurement value (S12) representing the status parameter, b) Ascertaining the existence of the status by comparison of the measurement value with a comparative value (S14), c) Delivering a signal pulse with a predetermined, measurable pulse parameter, wherein the pulse parameter is uniquely associated with the status if the measurement value corresponds to the comparative value within predetermined limits (S26). In accordance with the invention the time difference of equal, predetermined phases of two successive, periodically recurring events prior to delivery of the signal pulse is measured (S20), and then the signal pulse is delivered prior to or after the next expiry of the measured time difference by a predeterminable period of time uniquely associated with the status (S22, S24, S26).

Abstract: An implantable cardioverter, especially defibrillator, having a morphology detector (3) to measure and evaluate EKG signals for the purpose of discriminating between different tachycardia conditions of the heart. The morphology detector (3) having a signal width detector, by which the respective width of the EKG signal between every two successive crossings through the isoelectrical line of the EKG can be measured; a threshold value discriminator to determine whether the EKG signal between two such successive crossings exceeds a defined threshold value; and a comparator for the signal width, coupled to the signal width detector and the threshold value discriminator. The morphology detector compares the respective current signal width value selected by the threshold value discriminator and measures by signal width detector to a pre-set selection parameter to differentiate between two different conditions of tachycardia.

Abstract: Tripolar stimulation of the heart utilizes electrodes implanted in at least two locations in the heart. In a first case, for bi-atrial or bi-ventricular stimulation, electrodes are placed in an appropriate heart chamber and in a blood vessel of the heart. In a second case, electrodes are placed in two separate locations in the same chamber of the heart. In either case, one location is for performing unipolar stimulation (i.e., has electrodes of only a singular polarity), while the other location is for bipolar stimulation (i.e., has electrodes of both positive and negative polarities).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of controlling the stimulation amplitude of a cardiologic implant which includes a stimulation impedance during delivery of left chamber stimulation pulses in the form of a measured value representative of the delivered stimulation pulse as a criterion for capture; determining and storing a comparative simulation impedance value representative of the stimulation; detecting an amplitude threshold for capture by determination of a significant change in the detected stimulation impedance as compared to the stored comparative stimulation impedance value; and then adjusting the stimulation amplitude on the basis of the detected amplitude threshold.

Abstract: An arrangement for determining the heart rate (fRR) or the refractory time of the cardiac tissue, particularly for detecting tachycardia or fibrillation, has an electrode (E) for sensing heart action signals (SIG), an input stage, connected to the electrode, for processing the heart action signals, a refractory member for ascertaining a refractory time value of the arrangement, in each case after a predetermined segment of a heart action signal, and a processing device, connected to the output of the input stage or of the refractory member, for determining the rate of the heart action signals, processed with blanking of the component that occurs during the refractory time, or for determining the refractory time value of the cardiac tissue.