Tachycardia Or Fibrillation Detected Patents (Class 600/518)
  • Patent number: 9037223
    Abstract: An atrial fibrillation classification system collects celectrocardiogram signals and converts them to a frequency, time, or phase domain representation for analysis. An evaluation stage extracts energy density profile over a range of frequencies, time intervals, or phases, which is then summed and normalized to form dispersion metrics. The system then analyzes the dispersion metrics, in their respective domains, to determine whether a patient is experiencing an arrhythmia and then to classify the type of arrhythmia being experienced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Hakan Oral, Omer Berenfeld, Grant Kruger
  • Patent number: 9035787
    Abstract: A method, device and/or a system of centralized management and emergency allocation of deployed defibrillators each having associated communication modules. A central server may process a message from a communication module associated with a defibrillator, and then analyze a photograph and/or a video of a defibrillator display to compare it to a set of expected visual markers using a pixel algorithm of a pixel analysis module. The central server may then determine the operational status of the defibrillator such as whether it is in a nonfunctional status. The central server may then send alerts to the communication module and notifications to the an organization owning or leasing the defibrillator. The central server may also send alerts to the communication module based on a nearby emergency call, provide geospatial mapping of defibrillators to improve deployment efficiency and/or establish bi-directional communication between the operator of the defibrillator and a medical professional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NEW ANNUVIA COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Bongberg, Jan Gerritsen, Walt Maclay, John Hoving, Mark Brinkerhoff
  • Publication number: 20150133805
    Abstract: A system for serial comparison of physiological data, including: a controller; a user interface; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the controller, perform the steps of: receiving from a first data source a current clinical report including first set of physiological data of a patient and computer-generated first interpretive statements; accessing, from the patient file in a patient database, a previous clinical report including a second set of physiological data of the patient and physician-edited interpretive statements; mapping the physician-edited interpretive statements into one or more codes of a structured data format, wherein each code uniquely identifies a medical state; performing a serial comparison between the current clinical report and the previous clinical report to generate serial comparison interpretive statements; providing to a user, via the user interface, the serial comparison interpretive statements; and receiving, via the user interface, current physician-edited
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: James Stanczak, Russell Deremer, Alan Risse
  • Patent number: 9031645
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods, systems and devices for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) in a patient. According to one embodiment, a hand-held atrial fibrillation detection device acquires an electrocardiogram (ECG) from the patient over a predetermined period of time. After acquiring the ECG from the patient, the device processes and analyzes the ECG and makes a determination of whether or not the patient has AF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Richard P Houben, Vincent C. Larik, Robert G. Tieleman
  • Publication number: 20150126875
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a description of various methods and systems associated with determining possible presence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). In one example, a camera of a client device, such as a mobile phone, may acquire a series of images of a body part of a user. A plethysmographic waveform may be generated from the series of images. An autocorrelation function may be calculated from the waveform, and a number of features may be computed from the autocorrelation function. Based on an analysis of the features, a determination may be made about whether the user is experience AF. Such determined may be output to a display of the mobile phone for user review.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Ming-Zher Poh
  • Publication number: 20150126885
    Abstract: A system including a sensor interface coupled to a processor. The sensor interface is configured to receive and process an analog electrocardiogram signal of a subject and provide a digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over a first time period and a second time period that is subsequent to the first time period. The processor is configured to receive the digitized electrocardiogram signal, to analyze a frequency domain transform of the digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over the first and second time periods and determine first and second metrics indicative of metabolic state of a myocardium of the subject during the first and second time periods, respectively, to compare the first and second metrics to determine whether the metabolic state of the myocardium of the subject is improving, and to indicate administration of an intervention to the subject in response to a determination that the metabolic state is not improving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Gary A. Freeman, Ulrich Herken
  • Publication number: 20150126841
    Abstract: A method and system for determining activation times for electric potentials from complex electrograms to identify the location of arrhythmic sources or drivers. The method includes counting a number deflections in a recorded cardiac electrogram signal from at least one electrode for a predetermined amount of time. A deflection time is identified for each of the counted number of deflections. A most negative slope is identified between each of the identified deflections times. Each of the identified most negative slopes is correlated to a possible activation time. Each possible activation time is associated with a corresponding electrode from the at least one electrode. A spatial voltage gradient at each corresponding electrode is calculated for each possible activation time. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is identified. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is correlated to an activation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Subham GHOSH
  • Patent number: 9011341
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus measures sinus tachycardia and a change in the atrial-ventricular conduction, and includes a controller for receiving the measurement of the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction to detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald N. Jensen, Catherine R. Condie, Yong K. Cho
  • Patent number: 9005130
    Abstract: A method for tracking cardiac conditions is disclosed. An electrical signal from a patient's heart is sensed. A heart signal parameter value and an associated heart rate value are computed from the electrical signal. Based on the heart rate value, one of a plurality of histograms stored in a histogram memory is updated with the heart signal parameter value. After a data collection time period has elapsed, a statistical value of the heart signal parameter is computed from the selected histogram. A detection threshold for abnormal values of the heart signal parameter is then computed based on the statistical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Angel Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Fischell, Robert E. Fischell, Jonathan Harwood, Steven R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9002443
    Abstract: A medical device and associated method for detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias acquires a cardiac signal using electrodes coupled to a sensing module. Cardiac events are sensed from the cardiac signal and a processing module computes a first morphology metric for each sensed cardiac event occurring during a time segment of the cardiac signal. The first morphology metrics corresponding to an event originating in a ventricular chamber are counted. The first processing module computes a second morphology metric for the time segment of the cardiac signal in response to the count of the first morphology metrics meeting a threshold number of events. The time segment is classified as a shockable segment in response to the second morphology metric meeting a detection criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Xusheng Zhang, Mark L. Brown, Paul J. DeGroot, Saul E. Greenhut, Troy E. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8996101
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting a cardiac event that includes sensing cardiac electrical signals representative of electrical activity of a heart of a patient, detecting the cardiac event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, determining an indication of signal reliability corresponding to the sensed cardiac signals as being one of a reliable signal and a not reliable signal, and switching operation of the device between a first mode of determining whether the sensed signal is one of treatable and not treatable and a second mode of determining whether the sensed signal is one of treatable and not treatable in response to the determined indication of signal reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Xusheng Zhang, Teresa A. Whitman, Paul J. DeGroot, Mark L. Brown, Jeffrey M. Gillberg
  • Publication number: 20150088019
    Abstract: Systems and methods to assist in locating the focus of an atrial fibrillation include the association of atrial fibrillation cycle length values and statistics relating thereto with temporal locations on an electrogram of a given electrode, and/or the coordination of electrode locations with respective the spectral analyses of electrogram signals and further parameters and statistics relating thereto. Ablation therapy can proceed under guidance of such information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: David P. MacAdam, Minoru Mashimo, Sylvain Fanier
  • Publication number: 20150073288
    Abstract: Control of conduction through a heart is described. A lead with a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The distal end of the lead is inserted into a target area. An agent is delivered through the lead to the target area. Delivery of the agent is monitored via a closed loop feedback system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael R. Ujhelyi, Daniel C. Sigg
  • Patent number: 8977350
    Abstract: A medical device performs a method to classify a cardiac rhythm. Differences between cycle lengths in a first heart chamber are determined during an established time interval. Evidence of ectopy associated with irregular coupling intervals is detected from the signal during the established time interval. A rhythm classification output corresponding to a second heart chamber at the expiration of the established time interval is provided in response to the consecutive cycle length differences and the evidence of ectopy associated with irregular coupling intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Shantanu Sarkar, Eduardo N. Warman
  • Publication number: 20150057522
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a near-field instrument to be placed inside a chamber of a heart, a far-field instrument to be placed in a stable position in relation to the heart (e.g., the coronary sinus), and a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive position coordinates of the near-field instrument and electrogram information from the far-field instrument. The control unit is configured to identify a unique pattern in the electrogram information from the far-field instrument. When the unique pattern is detected, the control unit is configured to receive electrogram information from the near-field instrument and store the associated near-field instrument position information with the unique pattern information and near-field instrument electrogram information. Upon moving the near-field instrument within the heart chamber, the control unit is configured to identify the unique pattern in the electrogram information from the far-field instrument again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: CardioNXT, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao Nguyen, Jerome Edwards, Paul Kessman, Thomas Kurian, Donald Conty, JR.
  • Patent number: 8965495
    Abstract: An implantable electronic therapy device, having a therapy unit, a heart rate capturing unit, a contractility determination unit, and an evaluation and control unit. The therapy unit delivers an antitachycardiac therapy. The heart rate capturing unit determines a ventricular heart rate from an input signal, and the contractility determination unit generates from an input signal, a contraction signal reflecting a contractility of a ventricle. The evaluation and control unit is connected to the therapy unit, the heart rate capturing unit, and the contractility determination unit actuates the therapy unit to administer an antitachycardiac therapy when the heart rate capturing unit detects an increase in the heart rate above a specified threshold value and the contractility determination unit supplies a contraction signal which is not physiologically adequate for the increase in the heart rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Biotronik Se & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Doerr
  • Patent number: 8948859
    Abstract: A system including a sensor interface coupled to a processor. The sensor interface is configured to receive and process an analog electrocardiogram signal of a subject and provide a digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over a first time period and a second time period that is subsequent to the first time period. The processor is configured to receive the digitized electrocardiogram signal, to analyze a frequency domain transform of the digitized electrocardiogram signal sampled over the first and second time periods and determine first and second metrics indicative of metabolic state of a myocardium of the subject during the first and second time periods, respectively, to compare the first and second metrics to determine whether the metabolic state of the myocardium of the subject is improving, and to indicate administration of an intervention to the subject in response to a determination that the metabolic state is not improving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Freeman, Ulrich Herken
  • Patent number: 8942795
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) senses ventricular depolarizations (R-waves) in an electrogram signal to detect a ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation episodes. The EGM signal is also monitored in real time for characteristics that uniquely identify instances of T-wave oversensing. The ICD determines whether detection of a tachycardia or fibrillation episode is appropriate based upon counts of each of the unique characteristics evidencing T-wave oversensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Gunderson, Amisha S. Patel, Chad A. Bounds
  • Patent number: 8918167
    Abstract: An RI measurement/notification apparatus includes: a displaying section configured to display waveform data of an intracardiac electrocardiogram; a waveform data acquiring section configured to acquire waveform data in a preset waveform data acquisition time period from an intracardiac electrocardiogram during atrial fibrillation; an RI calculating section configured to calculate an RI value based on the waveform data acquired by the waveform data acquiring section; and a notifying section configured to, in a case where the RI value calculated by the RI calculating section exceeds a preset threshold, notify that the value exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takizawa, Tatsuo Nishihara, Yuuho Iwanaga
  • Publication number: 20140371616
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a complex rhythm disorder in a human heart includes accessing signals from a plurality of sensors disposed spatially in relation to the heart, where the signals are associated with activations of the heart, and identifying a region of the heart having an activation trail that is rotational or radially emanating, where the activation trail is indicative of the complex rhythm disorder and is based on activation times associated with the activations of the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Wouter-Jan Rappel
  • Patent number: 8909332
    Abstract: A method estimates morphological features of heart beats from an ECG signal. Peaks of the R wave of the ECG are detected and classified using a parallel filtering structure. The first branch implements a bandpass filtering with cut off frequencies of about 10 Hz and 35 Hz, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the QRS complex. The second branch estimates morphological features of the heart beat from an alternating current (AC) replica of the ECG signal, that may be used to classify the beat and potentially detect arrhythmias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrea Lorenzo Vitali, Marco Pessione
  • Publication number: 20140343445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically distinguishing atrial flutter from atrial fibrillation based on a sequence of R-R-intervals of ECG-data. The system of the invention comprises means adapted to calculate or simulate an R-R-pattern from a model which is based on a periodic or almost periodic signal representing peaks of an atrial flutter signal, a first AV block scheme blocking respective ones of the atrial excitations while transmitting the others with a predetermined transmittal delay and at least one more AV-block scheme blocking respective ones of the excitations transmitted by the previous AV-block scheme and transmitting the others with a predetermined transmittal delay. The excitations transmitted by the last AV-block scheme constitute the calculated R-R-pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg
    Inventors: Eberhard Scholz, Sebastian Sager, Hugo Katus
  • Patent number: 8892197
    Abstract: Control of conduction through a heart is described. A lead with a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The distal end of the lead is inserted into a target area. An agent is delivered through the lead to the target area. Delivery of the agent is monitored via a closed loop feedback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Ujhelyi, Daniel C. Sigg
  • Publication number: 20140336521
    Abstract: A system to measure intracardiac impedance includes implantable electrodes and a medical device. The electrodes sense electrical signals of a heart of a subject. The medical device includes a cardiac signal sensing circuit coupled to the implantable electrodes, an impedance measurement circuit coupled to the same or different implantable electrodes, and a controller circuit coupled to the cardiac signal sensing circuit and the impedance measurement circuit. The cardiac signal sensing circuit provides a sensed cardiac signal. The impedance measurement circuit senses intracardiac impedance between the electrodes to obtain an intracardiac impedance signal. The controller circuit determines cardiac cycles of the subject using the sensed cardiac signal, and detects tachyarrhythmia using cardiac-cycle to cardiac-cycle changes in a plurality of intracardiac impedance parameters obtained from the intracardiac impedance signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Yunlong Zhang, James O. Gilkerson, Yongxing Zhang, Loell Boyce Moon
  • Publication number: 20140330147
    Abstract: Example techniques, systems, and devices select one or more portions of EGM signal data for presentation based on an identified cardiac episode type of the EGM signal data. For example, one or more processors are configured to receive cardiac electrogram (EGM) signal data collected from a medical device associated with a patient. The EGM signal data may include a detected cardiac episode identified as one of a plurality of episode types. The one or more processors may also be configured to select, based on the identified one of the plurality of episode types, one or more portions of the EGM signal data associated with the detected cardiac episode, and output the selected one or more portions of the EGM signal data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin T. Ousdigian, Joel R. Lauer, Adam C. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20140330149
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods, systems and devices for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) in a patient. According to one embodiment, a patient places his or her left and right hands around left and right electrodes and a hand-held atrial fibrillation detection device acquires an electrocardiogram (ECG) from the patient over a predetermined period of time such as, by way of example, one minute. After acquiring the ECG from the patient, the device processes and analyzes the ECG and makes a determination of whether the patient has AF. The device may further be configured to provide a visual or audio indication of whether the patient has AF, or does not have AF. The device may be employed in a health care provider's office without the need for complicated or expensive diagnostic equipment, and is capable of providing an on-the-spot and low-cost diagnosis of AF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicants: Applied Biomedical Systems BV, Applied Medical Systems BV
    Inventors: Richard P. Houben, Vincent C. Lank, Robert G. Tieleman
  • Publication number: 20140330148
    Abstract: A method is provided of analyzing a cardiac electrogram using a computer. In one step, a determination is made as to a plurality of cycle lengths between a plurality of activation peaks of the cardiac electrogram. In another step, a determination is made as to whether a mean of the plurality of cycle lengths meets at least one criteria. The method may be used to iteratively adjust a detection threshold level for detecting atrial fibrillation based on the cardiac electrogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: JASON NG
  • Patent number: 8880159
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing three dimensional orthogonal ECG measurements to assess patient risk of a subsequent cardiac event based on evaluation of cardiac vector values in view of risk factors defined by the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Larisa Tereshchenko, Ronald Berger
  • Patent number: 8880158
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining optimal spatial resolution for mapping cardiac fibrillation in a patient, including obtaining one or more electrograms, having an initial spatial resolution; calculating at least one electrogram frequency; obtaining one or more electrograms, having a higher spatial resolution; calculating at least one electrogram frequency, having a higher spatial resolution; comparing at least one electrogram frequency having a higher spatial resolution with at least one electrogram frequency having an initial spatial resolution; iterating the steps above until the electrogram frequencies of the two compared electrograms are the same; and identifying at least one of minimum spatial resolution threshold and an optimal spatial resolution based on the step of comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: University of Vermont
    Inventor: Peter S. Spector
  • Publication number: 20140323848
    Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively generating a report of cardiac electrical activities of a subject includes determining, using cardiac electrical activation information, equivalent current densities (ECDs). The ECDs are assembled into time-course ECD information and a spectrum of the time-course ECD information is analyzed to determine peaks for spectral characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF). The spectral characteristics of AF are correlated with potential electrical sources of the AF and a report is generated indicating the potential electrical sources of the AF spatially registered with the medical imaging data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Bin He, Zhaoye Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140323894
    Abstract: A medical device and associated method for detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias acquires a cardiac signal using electrodes coupled to a sensing module. During an initial detection process, a shockable cardiac rhythm is detected by a processing module configured to compare the cardiac signal to a first set of detection criteria. By analyzing the cardiac signal, the processing module establishes at least one patient-specific detection threshold during the initial detection process. Upon establishing the at least one patient-specific detection threshold, the initial detection process is stopped, and a next detection process is started which includes comparing the cardiac signal to a second set of detection criteria including the at least one patient-specific detection threshold. In some embodiments, user programming of tachyarrhythmia detection parameters is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Xusheng Zhang, Mark L Brown, Saul E Greenhut, Robert W Stadler
  • Patent number: 8874200
    Abstract: A system and method for automated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation through remote monitoring is described. Physiological measures including data either recorded on a regular basis by a medical device or derived therefrom are stored. Physiological measures recorded during a baseline period are identified. Physiological measures including cardiac rhythm and changes to the cardiac rhythm originating subsequent to the baseline period are identified. Cardiac rhythm changes for palpitations are evaluated and a time course for the cardiac rhythm changes upon an indication of palpitations is determined. A patient status including an onset of atrial fibrillation conditioned on the time course comprising a short duration is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gust H. Bardy
  • Patent number: 8862213
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method for quantitative characterization and treatment of ventricular fibrillation includes preprocessing a time series of an atrial fibrillation signal obtained from a patient, segmenting the time series of the AF signal into activation segments by the computer system, obtaining local activation waveforms (LAW) from the activation segments, determining degrees of similarity between the LAWs, and identifying one or more critical regions in the patient's atria if the LAWs have degrees of similarity exceeding a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Men-Tzung Lo, Yenn-Jiang Lin, Shih-Ann Chen, Yi-Chung Chang, Chen Lin, Ke-Hsin Hsu, Wan-Hsin Hsieh, Hung-Yi Lee, Norden E. Huang
  • Patent number: 8849386
    Abstract: An electrocardiogram (ECG) analyzing system for analyzing electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, the system including: a computing device including: a transformer for transforming an ECG signal into a time-frequency representation over a plurality of frequencies over a period of time; a calculator for calculating a magnitude of the time-frequency representation; an analyzer for analyzing a degree of clustering of a plurality of low-magnitude values in the time-frequency representation; and a diagnosing system for diagnosing whether ventricular fibrillation is present based on the degree of clustering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: James Waters
  • Patent number: 8849385
    Abstract: Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Publication number: 20140275916
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods described herein can be used to monitor and treat cardiovascular disease, and more specifically, can be used to determine heart rate (HR), determine respiration rate (RR) and classify cardiac rhythms based on atrial intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) and atrial pressure (AP) signals. The atrial IEGM and AP signals are subject to spectrum transforms to obtain an atrial IEGM frequency spectrum and an AP frequency spectrum. Based on peaks in the atrial IEGM and AP frequency spectrums measures of HR and RR are determined, and arrhythmias are detected and/or arrhythmia discrimination is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventor: PACESETTER, INC.
  • Publication number: 20140276160
    Abstract: A medical device and associated method for detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias acquires a cardiac signal using electrodes coupled to a sensing module. Cardiac events are sensed from the cardiac signal and a processing module computes a first morphology metric for each sensed cardiac event occurring during a time segment of the cardiac signal. The first morphology metrics corresponding to an event originating in a ventricular chamber are counted. The first processing module computes a second morphology metric for the time segment of the cardiac signal in response to the count of the first morphology metrics meeting a threshold number of events. The time segment is classified as a shockable segment in response to the second morphology metric meeting a detection criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Xusheng Zhang, Mark L. Brown, Paul J. DeGroot, Saul E. Greenhut, Troy E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20140276159
    Abstract: A medical device and associated method for classifying an unknown cardiac signal sensing a cardiac signal over a plurality of cardiac cycles using a plurality of electrodes coupled to a sensing module, determining a template of a known cardiac signal in response to the cardiac signal sensed over the plurality of cardiac cycles, sensing an unknown cardiac signal over an unknown cardiac cycle, determining a fourth order difference signal corresponding to the template and a fourth order difference signal of the unknown cardiac signal, determining a first morphology match metric between the template fourth order difference signal and the fourth order difference signal of the unknown cardiac signal, and classifying the unknown cardiac signal in responsed to the determined first morphology match score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Xusheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8838240
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for sensing, during an event of tachycardia, hemodynamic signals concurrently from at least two spatially separated locations within a patient, and quantifying a spatial relationship between the hemodynamic signals. Hemodynamic stability or state of the patient during the tachycardia event is determined based at least in part on the quantified spatial relationship. One or more anti-tachycardia therapies to treat the tachycardia may be selected based at least in part on the determined stability or state of patient hemodynamics, and the selected one or more anti-tachycardia therapies may be delivered to treat the tachycardia. The hemodynamic signals may comprise at least two, or a mixed combination, of cardiac impedance signals, cardiac chamber pressure signals, arterial pressure signals, heart sounds; and acceleration signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Li, Krzysztof Siejko, Abhilash Patangay
  • Publication number: 20140257124
    Abstract: An atrial fibrillation analyzer includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a detected waveform signal indicating a detection result of a pulse wave or an electrocardiogram; an RR interval calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of a spectrum of each unit period obtained by frequency analysis performed on the acquired detected waveform signal every unit period longer than 4 seconds and equal to or shorter than 16 seconds, a parameter corresponding to an average RR interval of the unit period every unit period; a power calculation unit that calculates power of a frequency band determined in advance in an RR waveform signal indicating a temporal change of the average RR interval calculated by the RR interval calculation unit; and an analysis unit that determines whether or not the power satisfies specific conditions and outputs information indicating presence of atrial fibrillation from the determination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori MORITA
  • Publication number: 20140257123
    Abstract: An atrial fibrillation analyzer includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a waveform signal indicating a temporal change of a pulse wave or an electrocardiogram; an RR interval calculation unit that calculates a parameter corresponding to an average RR interval for each frame on the basis of a spectrum of each frame obtained by frequency analysis of the acquired waveform signal, and calculates an RR waveform signal indicating a temporal change of the parameter; a power calculation unit that calculates a temporal change of power of a predetermined frequency band in a frequency spectrum of the RR waveform signal; a variation coefficient calculation unit that calculates a variation coefficient of the average RR interval; an analysis unit that analyzes presence of atrial fibrillation on the basis of a set of the power and the variation coefficient; and a measurement unit that measures an amount of activity of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8825147
    Abstract: A cardiac muscle excitation waveform detector including: a waveform acquisition section that acquires, in a preset period, a waveform from an intracardiac electrocardiogram measured in middle of occurrence of atrial fibrillation; a waveform detection condition setting section that sets conditions for detecting a waveform of cardiac muscle excitation; and an excitation waveform detection section that detects a waveform of cardiac muscle excitation from the waveforms based on the conditions, wherein the waveform detection condition setting section includes a section that sets conditions based on a contour of a waveform to detect candidates for the waveform of cardiac muscle excitation, a section that sets a search period for searching for a waveform of cardiac muscle excitation; and a section that sets a preset period subsequent to detection as a detection exclusion period during which the candidate waveforms are not detected when the waveform of cardiac muscle excitation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takizawa, Tatsuo Nishihara, Yuuho Iwanaga, Satoshi Suzuki, Naoki Hattori, Hiroki Yuze
  • Patent number: 8825146
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an arrhythmia detection and classification system that classifies an arrhythmia episode based on an irregularity parameter and/or a complexity parameter. The arrhythmia episode is detected from a cardiac signal. The irregularity parameter is indicative of the degree of cycle length irregularity of the cardiac signal and the complexity parameter is indicative of the degree of morphological complexity of the cardiac signal. One example of the irregularity parameter is an irregularity sample entropy, or a parameter related to the irregularity sample entropy, computed to indicate the cycle length irregularity. One example of the complexity parameter is a complexity sample entropy, or a parameter related to the complexity sample entropy, computed to indicate the morphological complexity. In one embodiment, the detected arrhythmia episode is classified using both the irregularity parameter and the complexity parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Li
  • Publication number: 20140235987
    Abstract: A method and system for determining activation times for electric potentials from complex electrograms to identify the location of arrhythmic sources or drivers. The method includes counting a number deflections in a recorded cardiac electrogram signal from at least one electrode for a predetermined amount of time. A deflection time is identified for each of the counted number of deflections. A most negative slope is identified between each of the identified deflections times. Each of the identified most negative slopes is correlated to a possible activation time. Each possible activation time is associated with a corresponding electrode from the at least one electrode. A spatial voltage gradient at each corresponding electrode is calculated for each possible activation time. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is identified. The greatest spatial voltage gradient is correlated to an activation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Subham GHOSH
  • Publication number: 20140236033
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for the detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and related conditions. One embodiment provides a method comprising measuring electrical activity of the heart using electrodes arranged on the heart surface to define an area for detecting aberrant electrical activity (AEA) and then using the measured electrical activity (MEA) to detect foci of AEA causing AF. A pacing signal may then be sent to the foci to prevent AF onset. Atrial wall motion characteristics (WMC) may be sensed using an accelerometer placed on the heart and used with MEA to detect AF. The WMC may be used to monitor effectiveness of the pacing signal in preventing AF and/or returning the heart to normal sinus rhythm (NSR). Also, upon AF detection, a cardioversion signal may be sent to the atria using the electrodes to depolarize an atrial area causing AF and return the heart to NSR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: InCube Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Mir Imran
  • Patent number: 8812102
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a cardiac signal sensing circuit, a physiologic sensor circuit configured to provide a physiologic sensor signal representative of mechanical cardiac activity, a therapy circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a cardiac depolarization detection circuit, a tachyarrhythmia detection circuit, and a timer circuit. A time interval between a mechanical cardiac event and a detected fiducial electrical cardiac event is monitored. The control circuit is configured to correct the monitored time interval for variation with heart rate to form a corrected electromechanical time interval, initiate anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy when the corrected electromechanical time interval satisfies a specified time interval threshold value during a detected episode of tachyarrhythmia, and withhold anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Li, Amy Jean Brisben
  • Patent number: 8812094
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of differentiating between ventricular tachycardias (VTs) and supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) with the assistance of morphology detection, and signal processing devices implementing such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Philipp Staeuber, Andreas Neumann, Ulrich Busch, Peter Wohlgemuth
  • Publication number: 20140228697
    Abstract: A system for measuring heart rate variability (HRV) comprising 3 sub-systems: a data collection sub-system, a data analysis sub-system, and an output sub-system. A patient is connected to a heart monitoring device such as an ECG and the data collection sub-system records the patients heart beats, and an ECG chart is produced from which the patient's HRV value is derived by the data analysis sub-system. The present invention obtains the HRV value through calculation of a new parameter called relative density (RD). In accordance with the inventive method, data points are generated from the peak interval data of measured heart beats and the HRV relative density parameter (RD) is calculated by correlation between two subsets of data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Jacob Levitan, Roi Kobo
  • Publication number: 20140228696
    Abstract: A system to detect a cause of a complex rhythm disorder in a human heart includes a plurality of sensors disposed spatially in relation to the heart, where the signals generated by the sensors are associated with activations of the heart. A processor collects and analyzes the signals to identify a region of the heart having an activation trail that is rotational or radially emanating, where the activation trail is indicative of the complex rhythm disorder and is based on activation times associated with the activations of the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Wouter-Jan Rappel
  • Publication number: 20140221861
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiac tissue and treatment modalities for ablating ROS-associated tissue in cardiac disease. The methods rely upon targeting ROS-associated cardiac tissue for ablation and/or gene therapy in a subject using analytical tools based upon a plurality of recorded atrial EGMs for a tissue to assess ROS content and underlying AF organization as a function of ROS blockade conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Rishi Arora