Tachycardia Or Fibrillation Detected Patents (Class 600/518)
  • Publication number: 20100010360
    Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is detected in an electrical signal representative of a beating heart by measuring atrial activity over a time window of three or more beats, measuring beat interval variation over the time window and combining the measures of atrial activity and beat interval variation to produce an indication of an atrial fibrillation condition in the electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Lucy Gibson, Paul Albrecht, Paul Grimshaw
  • Patent number: 7647095
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying a determined cardiac event in a medical device based on detected variation in hemodynamic status that includes a plurality of sensors sensing cardiac signals, and a physiologic sensor sensing physiologic signals to generate a plurality of variation index samples corresponding to the sensed signals. A microprocessor detects a cardiac event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, computes a variation index trend associated with a predetermined number of variation index samples of the plurality of variation index samples, determines a rate of change of the computed variation index trend, and confirms the determined cardiac event in response to the computed variation index trend and in response to the determined rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Sourav Bhunia
  • Publication number: 20090306486
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an implantable cardiac signal sensing circuit, configured to provide a sensed near-field depolarization signal from a ventricle and to provide a sensed a far-field intrinsic atrial signal using a far-field atrial sensing channel, and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the cardiac signal sensing circuit. The controller circuit includes a P-wave detection module configured to detect an atrial depolarization in the sensed far-field intrinsic atrial signal and a tachyarrhythmia detection module configured to detect an episode of tachyarrhythmia using the sensed near-field depolarization signal and to determine whether the tachyarrhythmia episode is indicative of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) using the detected atrial depolarization and the sensed near-field depolarization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Dan Li, Allan C. Shuros, Quan Ni, Aaron R. McCabe, Yunlong Zhang, Jaeho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090299205
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various techniques for discriminating supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) from ventricular tachycardia (VT). As one example, a method includes detecting a tachycardia rhythm, identifying a rate of change in heart rate corresponding to the tachycardia rhythm, identifying a rate of change in heart rate variability corresponding to the tachycardia rhythm, and classifying the tachycardia rhythm as at least one of supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia based on the rate of change in heart rate and rate of change in heart rate variability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Chow
  • Publication number: 20090299422
    Abstract: Techniques for storing electrograms (EGMS) that are associated with sensed episodes or events that may be non-physiological and, instead, associated with a sensing integrity condition are described. In some examples, a device or system identifies suspected non-physiological NSTs, and stores an EGM for the suspected non-physiological NSTs within an episode log. In some examples, a device or system determines whether to store an EGM for a suspected non-physiological episode or event based on whether an impedance integrity criterion has been satisfied. For example, a device or system may store an EGM for a detected short interval if the impedance integrity criterion has been met. In some examples, a device or system determines whether to buffer EGM data based on whether an impedance integrity criterion or other sensing integrity criterion has been met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Ousdigian, Catherine R. Condie, Karen J. Kleckner, Bruce D. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 7627368
    Abstract: A medical device performs a method for detecting atrial arrhythmias. A signal including ventricular cycle length information is sensed in a patient and used to determine each difference between successive ventricular cycle lengths occurring during a predetermined time period. Each succeeding difference is stored as a data point in a histogram, and a metric of variability of the data points of the histogram is determined. An atrial arrhythmia is detected in response to the metric crossing a threshold. The threshold is determined in response to the number of ventricular cycle lengths occurring during the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P.M. Houben, Vincent Larik, Tim D.J. Jongen
  • Publication number: 20090292180
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and software for diagnosing the state or condition of a human, animal or other living thing, which always generates physiological modulating signals having temporal-spatial organization, the organization having dynamic patterns whose structure is fractal, involving the monitoring of at least one physiological modulating signal and obtaining a set of temporal-spatial values of each of said physiological modulating signals, and processing the respective temporal-spatial values using linear and nonlinear tools to determine the linear and nonlinear characteristics established for known criteria to determine the state or condition of the person, being or living things, and to use this data for diagnosis, tracking, and treatment and developmental issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Susan Mirow
  • Publication number: 20090275849
    Abstract: A method for calculating a variability value that is indicative of AF by obtaining a signal sequence of a plurality of RR intervals by monitoring electrical activity of a patient's heart. Each RR interval is converted into an instantaneous heart rate value and sorted into ascending order. The difference between each successive heart rate is calculated, discarding the two largest differences. The variability value is calculated by adding the retained differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Donald-Bane Stewart
  • Publication number: 20090270750
    Abstract: Cardiac methods and devices that separate signals using at least two composite signals acquired at least at two input impedances. A target source impedance may be selected, and a cardiac signal may be separated from composite signals using the selected target source impedance. Medical systems include a cardiac device having a housing that provides amplification circuitry configured to have a first amplifier input impedance and a second amplifier input impedance, such as using two separate circuits or switching between two input impedances. One or more electrode assemblies are coupled to the amplification circuitry. A signal processor is provided in the housing configured to separate a source signal using a first composite signal detected at the first input impedance and a second composite signal detected at the second input impedance. The phase response of the first input amplifier circuit is about equal to that of the second input amplifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Apurv Kamath, Darrel Orvin Wagner, Paul Haefner, Marina Brockway
  • Publication number: 20090270749
    Abstract: Detection of atrial fibrillation involves detecting a plurality of ventricular events and obtaining a series of probabilities of AF, each corresponding to a probability of AF for a different beat window having a plurality of ventricular events. AF onset is detected when one or each of a plurality of consecutive AF probabilities satisfies an AF trigger threshold. AF termination is detected when one or each of a plurality of consecutive AF probabilities does not satisfy the AF trigger threshold. A probability of AF is obtained using one or more of a probability of AF that is based on the presence of irregularity of the ventricular events (PMC); a probability of AF that is based on variances of R-R intervals of the ventricular events (PVAR); and/or a combination of these probabilities (PCOMBINED).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Haluska
  • Publication number: 20090264947
    Abstract: Implantable cardiac stimulator, with chamber stimulation unit connectable to left/right ventricular stimulation electrode to generate/deliver chamber stimulation pulses for stimulation of ventricle; ventricular sensing unit (VSU) to detect respective chamber contraction and deliver ventricular sensing signal when chamber contraction detected; optional atrial stimulation unit, connectable to atrial stimulation electrode to generate atrial stimulation pulses to stimulate atrium; atrial sensing unit, to detect atrial contraction, deliver atrial sensing signal indicating respective atrial event; tachycardia detection unit, connected to VSU to detect and categorize ventricular/supraventricular tachycardia; treatment control unit (TCU), triggers chamber stimulation unit to deliver antitachycardiac stimulation (ATP); analyzer unit, connected to atrial sensing unit and TCU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas DOERR, Peter Schneider, Torsten Lang
  • Publication number: 20090264783
    Abstract: Methods and systems described herein are especially useful wherein monitoring for atrial fibrillation (AF) is based on RR interval variability as measured from an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. An activity threshold, which can be patient specific, is obtained. Patient activity is monitored. Based on the monitored patient activity and the activity threshold, there is a determination of when it is likely that AF monitoring based on RR interval variability is adversely affected by patient activity. When it has been determined that it is likely that AF monitoring based on RR interval variability is adversely affected by patient activity, whether and/or how AF monitoring is performed is modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Cecilia Qin Xi, Cem Shaquer
  • Patent number: 7596405
    Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is detected in an electrical signal representative of a beating heart by measuring atrial activity over a time window of three or more beats, measuring beat interval variation over the time window and combining the measures of atrial activity and beat interval variation to produce an indication of an atrial fibrillation condition in the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: United Therapeutics Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Lucy Gibson, Paul Albrecht, Paul Grimshaw
  • Patent number: 7593766
    Abstract: A detector for atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter comprises an atrial input for receiving an atrial signal representing an intraatrial electrogram or a time course of an intraatrial impedance, a ventricular input for receiving a ventricular event signal comprising information on an occurrence of a cyclically reoccurring ventricular event in chronological association to an atrial signal received via atrial input, an averaging unit adapted to average a plurality of sections of said atrial signal, each section to be considered for averaging starts or ends at a predetermined offset before a ventricular event, and to put out an averaged atrial signal, a peak amplitude determination unit adapted to determine peak-to-peak amplitude of said averaged atrial signal, and threshold comparator adapted to compare peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal to predetermined reference value and to generate an AF warning signal if peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal is less than predetermined threshol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas S. Faber, Michael Lippert, Marc Oliver Schweika-Kresimon
  • Patent number: 7593772
    Abstract: A computationally efficient method of determining the duration of ventricular fibrillation and the probability of successful defibrillation by analyzing an electrocardiogram using the logarithm of the absolute value of the autocorrelation function over a range of lags is disclosed. The method is particularly well suited for use in currently available defibrillators. The method is used in conjunction with frequency based measures, such as the angular velocity, to provide markedly improved accuracy in determining ventricular fibrillation duration, to indicate appropriate therapies to be delivered, and to assess the quality of ventricular fibrillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Lawrence Duane Sherman
  • Publication number: 20090234400
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively treating a ventricular tachycardia based on sensed atrial and ventricular intervals from the patient's heart. A detection window of the ten most recent atrial and ventricular intervals are analyzed for the occurrence of either tachycardia or fibrillation. When a majority of the sensed intervals are satisfied, the apparatus starts a duration time interval. Ventricular intervals and atrial intervals are compare, ventricular interval greater than the atrial interval by a bias factor the system delivers tachycardia therapy to the heart. Alternatively, the method withholds tachycardia therapy to the heart when the atrial rate is classified as atrial fibrillation and the ventricular response is unstable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: David B. Krig, James O. Gilkerson, Robert D. Dreher, Jan D. Wald, William J. Linder, William L. Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20090234410
    Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting an impending cardiac decompensation of a patient measure an electrocardiogram signal of the patient. An incidence of cardiac arrhythmias is determined from the electrocardiogram signal. A risk of impending decompensation is determined in response to the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. In many embodiments, the impending decompensation can be detected early enough to avoid, or at least delay, the impending decompensation, such that patient trauma and/or expensive ICU care can be avoided. Although embodiments make specific reference to monitoring electrocardiogram and other physiological signals with an adherent patch, the system methods and devices are applicable to many applications in which physiological monitoring is used, for example wireless physiological monitoring with implanted sensors for extended periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Corventis, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Yatheendhar D. Manicka, Badri Amurthur, Scott T. Mazar
  • Patent number: 7580740
    Abstract: Methods and systems are directed to detecting atrial tachyarrhythmia. A plurality of A-A intervals is detected. The detected A-A intervals are selected and used to detect atrial tachyarrhythmia. Selecting A-A intervals may be based on determining that A-A intervals are qualified. Qualified A-A intervals may be determined if a duration of the particular A-A interval falls outside a predetermined duration range, for example. Qualified A-A intervals may also be determined based on events occurring between consecutively sensed atrial events of the particular A-A interval, and whether the duration of the particular A-A interval falls within the predetermined duration range, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeho Kim, Joseph M. Bocek, Anthony S. Harrington, Harley G. White
  • Patent number: 7580741
    Abstract: A probability function for heart rate is determined using collected and measured heart rate values. One or more heart rate probability values are selected. Thresholds for arrhythmia rate zones are determined from the probability function based on the selected probability values. Determining the rate zone thresholds may involve determining a threshold for a lower 15 rate limit and/or determining one or more tachyarrhythmia rate zone thresholds. The number of rate zones may also be determined based on the probability function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelley Marie Cazares, Carlos Alberto Ricci, Jaeho Kim
  • Patent number: 7570990
    Abstract: Atrial fibrillation or flutter detector having impedance unit, with measurement input, connected to atrial electrode line having electrode for unipolar measurement of atrium impedance and implemented to generate atrial impedance signal obtained in unipolar manner so that impedance signal comprises multiple impedance values detected at different instants within particular atrial cycle for each atrial cycle, comprising atrial contraction and the following relaxation of the atrium, and having a signal input, via which ventricle signal is supplied to detector, which reflects instants of ventricular contractions in chronological assignment to impedance signal, the detector having an analysis unit, implemented to average multiple sequential impedance signal sections of unipolar atrial impedance signal, delimited by two sequential ventricular contractions with one another and determine maximum amplitude of averaged unipolar atrial impedance signal section, compare to comparison value, and if maximum amplitude of ave
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas S. Faber, Michael Lippert, Marc Oliver Schweika-Kresimon
  • Patent number: 7542956
    Abstract: The disparate data and commands from are received from a managed resource (102) and have potentially different semantics. The disparate data and commands are processed according to rules received from an autonomic manager (112) to produce a single normalized view of this information. The actual state of the managed resource is determined from the normalized view of disparate data. The actual state of the managed resource (102) is compared to a desired state of the managed resource (102). When a match does not exist between the actual state and the desired state, a configuration adjustment to the managed resource (102) and/or another resource is determined to allow the actual state to be the same as the desired state. Then, the configuration adjustment is applied to the managed resource (102). When a match exists between the actual state and the desired state, maintenance functions associated with the managed resource (102) are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Strassner, Barry J. Menich
  • Patent number: 7539536
    Abstract: This document describes systems, devices, and methods that use multiple morphology templates for discriminating between rhythms, such as supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTs) and ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs), for delivering a countershock in response to a VT episode, but withholding delivery of such a countershock in response to an SVT episode. In certain examples, the particular morphology used for storing morphological features is selected at least in part using a sensor-indicated activity level of a subject, or a metabolic need of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Schwartz, Joseph M. Bocek, Jaeho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090118630
    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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc
    Inventor: Dan Li
  • Publication number: 20090112110
    Abstract: A system and method provides monitoring for atrial fibrillation. A data acquisition processor acquires a cardiac signal data stream from a patient and a wave detector detects an R-wave in a cardiac signal of the data stream. A T-wave in the cardiac signal occurring after the detected R-wave and a Q-wave in a subsequent cardiac signal of the data stream is also detected by the wave detector. A filter provides signal gating and extraction of data representing a Region of Interest (ROI) time window from the detected T-wave to the Q-wave. An integration processor detects characteristics of a P wave signal occurring within the ROI time window. At least one of the detected P wave characteristics is compared to characteristics derived from data representing at least one P wave signal and generating an output signal in response to the comparison for use in determining if the patient is in atrial fibrillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongxuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090105602
    Abstract: A two-stage digital algorithm uses a highly sensitive low power digital first stage to detect one or more alarm conditions, and one or more complex digital subsequent stages that identify the detected alarm condition with more specificity. The one or more complex digital subsequent stages are not activated, and consume no power, until an alarm condition is sensed by the low power consumption digital first stage. Given that the second stage will process the data more rigorously, the low power first stage can be set to be more sensitive and generate what would otherwise be excessive alarms, which are ultimately filtered out by the subsequent stages. By staging the digital analysis algorithms, the present invention achieves high sensitivity for alarm conditions with low computational throughput and low power consumption, and achieves high specificity with more computationally intensive algorithms that only run occasionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Stacy Gehman, Thomas Lyster
  • Patent number: 7515956
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator includes a tachycardia detection system that detects one-to-one (1:1) tachycardia, which is a tachycardia with a one-to-one relationship between atrial and ventricular contractions. When the 1:1 tachycardia is detected, the system discriminates ventricular tachycardia (VT) from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on analysis of a cardiac time interval. Examples of the cardiac time interval include an atrioventricular interval (AVI) and a ventriculoatrial interval (VAI). A template time interval is created during a known normal sinus rhythm. The system measures a tachycardia time interval after detecting the 1:1 tachycardia, and indicates a VT detection if the tachycardia time interval differs from the template time interval by at least a predetermined percentage of the template time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Julie Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090082781
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an implantable acoustic transducer, an acoustic transducer interface circuit communicatively coupled to the acoustic transducer, and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the acoustic transducer interface circuit. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving an indication of a patient condition associated with a development of a blood vessel obstruction, initiate delivery of acoustic energy that mitigates the blood vessel obstruction. Other systems and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Binh C. Tran, Abhi Chavan, Rodney W. Salo, Jonathan Kwok
  • Publication number: 20090062671
    Abstract: In a method of diagnosing an atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter condition, a monitoring device implanted in a subject acquires strips of a subcutaneous ECG signal of a predetermined length. The strips are acquired at regular, periodic intervals, and the timing of when the strips are acquired is not triggered by analysis of the subcutaneous ECG signal by the monitoring device. The acquired subcutaneous ECG strips are stored in memory of the implanted monitoring device, and transmitted from the implanted monitoring device for receipt by an external analysis system. In the external analysis system, the received subcutaneous ECG strips are processed to generate information for an assessment of an atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter burden for the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Andres Belalcazar
  • Publication number: 20090043218
    Abstract: A method employable during a tachycardia-tachyarrhythmia condition in a person for detecting, verifying and distinguishing ventricular and supra-ventricular tachyarrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation, including (a) confirming the presence of a tachyarrhythmia heart rate, (b) on such confirmation, collecting time-frame-simultaneous ECG and heart-sound information, (c) following such collecting, choosing selected ECG time-span, and heart-sound intensity, data, and (d) utilizing the chosen, selected ECG time-span, and heart-sound intensity, data, characterizing the defined condition as resulting from one of (a) supra-ventricular tachyarrhythmia, (b) ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and (c) ventricular fibrillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Robert A. Warner, Patricia A. Arand, Peter T. Bauer
  • Patent number: 7480529
    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: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Li
  • Patent number: 7477935
    Abstract: Methods of using a template having a template data set and template parameters to provide improved alignment of captured cardiac signal data to a stored template. More particularly, in an illustrative method, a captured cardiac signal is first configured using template parameters for a stored template. Then, once configured, the captured cardiac signal is then compared to the stored template. Other embodiments include implantable cardiac treatment devices including operational circuitry configured to perform the illustrative method. In a further embodiment, more than one stored templates may be used. Each template can have independently constructed parameters, such that a single captured cardiac signal may be configured using first parameters for comparison to a first template, and using second parameters for comparison to a second template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Cameron Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Surekha Palreddy, Jay A. Warren, Alan H. Ostroff
  • Patent number: 7474916
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for discriminating supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT) from ventricular tachycardia (VT). A monitoring EGM signal is acquired during a sensing window timed according to the time of R-wave detection on a reference EGM signal. A normal sinus rhythm (NSR) template is generated using the monitoring EGM signal during the time-referenced sensing window. During an unknown rhythm, the monitoring EGM signal sensed during the time-referenced sensing window is compared to the NSR template for use in computing a morphology metric. The morphology metric is compared to a VT/VF detection threshold for discriminating SVT from VT/VF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: German Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20080281370
    Abstract: An indication of an actual or potential heart failure condition is computed. One example includes monitoring a first heart rate preceding a first onset of a first sinus tachyarrhythmia episode. Upon detecting the first sinus tachyarrhythmia episode, the indication is automatically provided using information about the first heart rate and how quickly the first onset occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Yayun Lin, Shelley M. Cazares, Donald L. Hopper
  • Patent number: 7444179
    Abstract: A method of determining a state of ventricular fibrillation, includes: measuring the rhythm of the heart during ventricular fibrillation for a period of time; creating a lagged phase space reconstruction of the measured rhythm; determining a first value related to the rate of change of the leading edge of the phase space reconstruction over the period of time; and determining the state of ventricular fibrillation by relating the first value to the state of ventricular fibrillation. A defibrillation system includes at least one processor in communication with a sensor to measure heart rhythm and an applicator to apply a defibrillation pulse. The processor is adapted to create a lagged phase space reconstruction of ventricular fibrillation heart rhythm and to determine a first value related to the rate of change of the leading edge of the phase space reconstruction over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Lawrence D Sherman, Clifton W Callaway, James J. Menegazzi
  • Patent number: 7443303
    Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow is provided. The system includes one or more computer devices which execute workflow software to assign tasks to medical staff. The workflow software may be configured to assign tasks to persons on the medical staff based on a set of criteria including a path length determined by a shortest-path algorithm. The system may include portable wireless communication devices and an interactive voice recognitions (IVR) subsystem to permit persons on the staff to communicate information by voice to the computer devices via the portable wireless communication devices and to receive audio messages from the computer devices via the wireless communication devices. The workflow software may be configured to display a staff screen in which the displayed data is filtered by medical staff role and sorted by medical staff identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Spear, Wendy R. Larson, Jeffery A. Martin
  • Patent number: 7440799
    Abstract: Miniature heart-monitoring devices, such as defibrillators and cardioverters, are implanted in humans to detect and correct abnormal heart rhythms Microprocessors and stored instructions, or algorithms within these devices govern how they interpret and react to abnormal heart rhythms. Algorithms that are too simple lead to unnecessary shocking of the heart, while those that are too complex consume considerable battery power. Accordingly, the inventor devised a relatively simple yet accurate algorithm for determining appropriate therapy options. One version of the algorithm computes three statistics—a range statistic, a minimum interval statistic, and a dispersion index—from a set of depolarization intervals. A scalar interval dispersion assessment, based on the three statistics, is then compared to a threshold to identify a rhythm as a flutter or fibrillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton M. Morris
  • Patent number: 7430446
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) includes a tachyarrhythmia detection and classification system that classifies tachyarrhythmias based on a morphological analysis of arrhythmic waveforms and a template waveform. Correlation coefficients each computed between morphological features of an arrhythmic waveform and morphological features of the template waveform provide for the basis for classifying the tachyarrhythmia. In one embodiment, morphological features are collected from a sensed arrhythmic waveform, and temporally corresponding morphological features are extracted a stored template waveform. In one embodiment, a correlation analysis takes into account the uncertainty associated with the production of the template waveform by using a template band that includes confidence intervals. In one embodiment, a correlation analysis produces Mahalanobis distance-based correlation coefficients for use in the classification of the tachyarrhythmia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Li
  • Publication number: 20080228093
    Abstract: Methods and devices used to classify cardiac events based on morphological analysis of sensed signals are described. A signal comprising a cardiac signal component and a noise signal component is sensed. The sensed signal is processed to preferentially alter morphology of the cardiac signal component. The altered morphology of the cardiac signal component enhances detection of one or more features of the cardiac signal component. The features of the cardiac signal component are detected and the cardiac event is classified using the detected features. Processing the sensed signal may involve the use of adaptable signal processing parameters. For example, the signal processing parameters may be selected to accentuate one or more desirable features of the cardiac signal component or to mitigate one or more undesirable features of the cardiac signal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Yanting Dong, Jeremy J. Maniak, Scott A. Meyer, Kevin John Stalsberg, Alok S. Sathaye, Benjamin Ettori
  • Publication number: 20080228094
    Abstract: Embodiments include heart monitoring systems, apparatus, and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia. An apparatus includes at least one first-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a first input related to cardiac function, and to produce a first-tier trigger signal when the first input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes an ECG sensor/analyzer. In another embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes a patient activator. An apparatus further includes at least one second-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a second input related to cardiac function, and to produce a second-tier trigger signal when the second input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a second-tier sensor-analyzer includes a heart sound sensor/analyzer. A triggering element is adapted to produce a response-invoking signal in response to the first-tier trigger signal and the second-tier trigger signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Sarah A. Audet, James K. Carney, William J. Combs
  • Patent number: 7421292
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling the recording of diagnostic data, such as intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) data, so as to reduce device power consumption. In one technique, the risk of onset of an arrhythmia is evaluated and the recording of diagnostic data is then selectively controlled based upon the evaluation. More specifically, a temporary “pre-trigger” memory for recording IEGM data is activated only at times when there is a significant risk that an arrhythmia will actually occur. Power savings are thereby achieved as compared to devices that require the pre-trigger memory to be continuously active. In another technique, parameters employed to trigger the recording of diagnostic data are adaptively modified to reduce the likelihood of any unnecessary recording of such data. Preferably, both the risk-based techniques and the adaptive techniques are implemented in the same system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Kroll
  • Publication number: 20080208070
    Abstract: An automated external defibrillator (AED) with an improved rescue protocol is described which follows a “shock first” or a “CPR first” rescue protocol after identification of a treatable arrhythmia, depending upon an estimate of the probability of successful resuscitation made from an analysis of a patient parameter measured at the beginning of the rescue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: David Snyder, Stacy Gehman
  • Patent number: 7418295
    Abstract: A medical device system that receives cardiac data representing a plurality of stored arrhythmic episodes, and analyzing the cardiac data to identify and display a subset of stored arrhythmic episodes as a function of user-specified episode criteria. The medical device system presents a query window on an interactive display in order to receive user-specified episode criteria via one or more input fields. The medical device displays only those episodes matching the episode criteria such as arrhythmia type, zone of detection, date of occurrence and average heart rate in beats per minute (BPM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Vickie L. Conley, Allan T. Koshiol
  • Publication number: 20080188765
    Abstract: Ventricular tachycardia signals are induced in a living subject. Pace-mapped signals are then obtained from multiple points within the ventricle, and automatically compared numerically with the induced signals. Recognition of a high degree of cross correlation between the induced signals and one or more of the pace-mapped signals identifies arrhythmogenic foci or pathways, which may then be ablated, so that the arrhythmia becomes non-inducible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Silvia Stolarski, Aharon Turgeman, Meir Bar-Tal, Ronnie Abbo, Assaf Govari, Yaron Ephrath, Andres Claudio Altmann, Dror Levy
  • Publication number: 20080188764
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting atrial arrhythmias include acquiring a cardiac signal comprising R-waves. Differences between pairs of consecutive R-R intervals occurring during a first time interval are computed from the cardiac signal. An atrial arrhythmia is detected subsequent to the first time interval in response to the computed differences. Storage of the cardiac signal is triggered in response to the atrial arrhythmia detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Brian B. Lee, Eric J. Panken
  • Publication number: 20080177194
    Abstract: A system including an implantable trigger event detector and an implantable ischemia detector. The implantable trigger event detector is adapted to detect at least one first condition and to output a responsive trigger signal including information about whether the first condition has been detected. The implantable ischemia detector is adapted to detect a second condition indicative of one or more physiologic cardiovascular events in a subject that are indicative of ischemia. The ischemia detector is coupled to the trigger event detector to receive the trigger signal, and the ischemia detector is enabled upon the trigger signal indicating that the first condition has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Richard Fogoros, Julie Thompson, Bruce H. KenKnight, Michael J. Pederson, Abhilash Patangay, Tamara Colette Baynham, Yatheendhar D. Manicka, Scott T. Mazar
  • Publication number: 20080167567
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting the onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) from electrocardiogram (ECG) data representing a patient. A signal processing component determines parameters representing the activity of the heart of the patient from the ECG data. A feature extraction component calculates a plurality of features useful in predicting postoperative AF from the determined parameters. A classification component determines an AF index for the patient from the calculated plurality of features. The AF index represents the likelihood that the patient will experience AF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: C. Allen Bashour, Bala Gopakumaran Nair, Mirela Visinescu, Meng Xu, Liang Li, Mohamed H. Bakri
  • Publication number: 20080125824
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying tachyarrhythmia episode types and delivering therapy to mitigate the identified tachyarrhythmia episode types are described. Electrogram signals of cardiac activity are sensed and stored by an implantable cardiac device. Tachyarrhythmia episodes are detected and tachyarrhythmia episode types are identified based on characteristics of the electrogram signals. In preparation for performing ablation, a tachyarrhythmia episode is induced. The features of the induced tachyarrhythmia episode are compared to characteristics of the identified episode types. A similarity between the induced tachyarrhythmia episode and at least one of the episode types identified from the stored electrogram signals is indicated to facilitate performing the ablation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: William H. Sauer, Shelley Marie Cazares, Dan Li
  • Patent number: 7353057
    Abstract: A lightweight, battery-operated, voltage-stabilized, bioelectronic and non-invasive measuring apparatus derives the electrical heart potentials using measuring electrodes fixed to the patient and uses electronic numerical evaluation to produce therefrom an electronic risk display for safely diagnosing atrial fibrillation at the earliest possible time in the illness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: GME Rechte und Beteiligungen GmbH
    Inventors: Edmund Schiessle, Roland Reinhardt, Hans-Juergen Deeg, Friedhelm Soborowski
  • Patent number: 7346388
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) executes a rate accuracy enhancement algorithm to select measured atrial and ventricular intervals for classifying a detected tachycardia based on average atrial and ventricular rates calculated from the selected atrial and ventricular intervals. The detected tachycardia is classified as ventricular tachycardia (VT) if the average ventricular rate is substantially higher than the average atrial rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Bijan Elahi, Joseph M. Bocek, Jaeho Kim
  • Patent number: 7328063
    Abstract: An implantable medical device senses a plurality of electrograms from substantially different atrial locations, detects regional depolarizations from the electrograms, and analyzes timing relationships among the regional depolarizations. The timing relationships provide a basis for effective therapy control and/or prognosis of certain cardiac disorders. In one embodiment, an atrial activation sequence is mapped to show the order of occurrences of the regional depolarizations during an atrial depolarization for classifying a detected tachyarrhythmia by its origin. In another embodiment, conduction time between two atrial locations is measured for monitoring the development of an abnormal atrial conditions and/or the effect of a therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Yunlong Zhang, Julie Thompson, James O. Gilkerson, Yongxing Zhang