Abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) delivered to a heart of a patient may be adjusted based on detection of a surrogate indication of the intrinsic atrioventricular conduction of the heart. In some examples, the surrogate indication is determined to be a sense event of the first depolarizing ventricle of the heart within a predetermined period of time following the delivery of a fusion pacing stimulus to the later depolarizing ventricle. In some examples, the CRT is switched from a fusion pacing configuration to a biventricular pacing configuration if the surrogate indication is not detected, and the CRT is maintained in a fusion pacing configuration if the surrogate indication is detected.

Abstract: A method discriminates between ventricular arrhythmia and supraventricular arrhythmia by determining the direction of an electrical signal conducted through the atrioventricular node. An implantable cardiac defibrillator provides atrioventricular and ventriculoatrial pacing bursts to determine if an arrhythmia with a 1:1 atrial to ventricular relationship is due to ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia. This discrimination capability reduces the incidence of inappropriate shocks from dual-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillators to near zero and provides a method to differentially diagnose supraventricular tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulator includes at least one first sensing unit for detecting intrinsic cardiac activities of a first ventricle, at least one ventricular stimulation unit for stimulating a second ventricle, and a stimulation control unit connected to the first sensing unit. The stimulation unit processed output signals of the first sensing unit and generates control signals for the stimulation units. The stimulation control unit derives a current intrinsic RR interval from detected ventricular intrinsic cardiac activities R of the first ventricle, and to determine from the RR interval a delay interval ?, which begins with a ventricular event of the first ventricle and at the end of which the stimulation control unit triggers a stimulation of the second ventricle (unless it is suppressed).

Abstract: A leadless intra-cardiac medical device senses cardiac activity from multiple chambers and applies cardiac stimulation to at least one cardiac chamber and/or generates a cardiac diagnostic indication. The leadless device may be implanted in a local cardiac chamber (e.g., the right ventricle) and detect near-field signals from that chamber as well as far-field signals from an adjacent chamber (e.g., the right atrium).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices such as pacemakers for optimizing interventricular (VV) pacing delays for use with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In one example, ventricular electrical depolarization events are detected within a patient in which the device is implanted. The onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction is also detected based on cardiomechanical signals detected by the device, such as cardiogenic impedance (Z) signals, S1 heart sounds or left atrial pressure (LAP) signals. Then, an electromechanical time delay (T_QtoVC) between ventricular electrical depolarization and the onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction is determined. VV pacing delays are set to minimize the time delay to the onset of isovolumic ventricular mechanical contraction. Various techniques for identifying the onset of isovolumic ventricular contraction based on Z, S1 or LAP or other cardiomechanical signals are described.

Abstract: An implantable sensor circuit can be configured to generate a first sensor signal representative of mechanical activation of a first chamber of a heart of a subject and a second sensor signal representative of mechanical activation of a second chamber of the heart. A chamber synchrony measurement circuit can be configured to generate a measure of synchrony of the mechanical activations of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber using the first and second sensor signals, a tachyarrhythmia detector circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to receive an indication of a detected episode of tachyarrhythmia, and to initiate, select, or adjust a device-based therapy at least in part using the measure of synchrony of the mechanical activations in response to the tachyarrhythmia detection.

Abstract: An autonomic status indicator representative of a sympathetic/parasympathetic balance of a subject can use atrioventricular (AV) delays measured during recovery from (or in response to) elevated atrial pacing while the subject is at rest.

Abstract: A patient QRS duration can be received or determined, such as using one or more patient physiological sensors. A portion of the QRS duration can be determined, such as a right or left ventricular activation time. In an example, the right ventricular activation time can be determined by identifying an onset of a QRS complex and an R-wave peak in the QRS complex. In an example, when the QRS duration exceeds a threshold duration, and the RV activation time does not exceed a second threshold duration, an indication of a cardiac conduction dysfunction can be provided, such as for discriminating between left bundle branch block and right bundle branch block.

Abstract: A heart monitor is disclosed. The monitor computes ST segment deviations and stores the results in heart rate based histograms. Periodically, the monitor analyzes the histogram data to determine a normal range of ST deviation for a particular heart rate range. The monitor computes heart rate dependent ischemia detection thresholds based on the upper and lower boundaries of the normal range.

Abstract: An A-H delay can be specified, such as by computing the A-H delay using a measured cardiovascular physiologic parameter. The A-H delay can be used for specifying timing between a paced or sensed atrial contraction and a His-bundle pacing time.

Abstract: Cardioprotective pre-excitation pacing may be applied to stress or de-stress a particular myocardial region delivering of pacing pulses in a manner that causes a dyssynchronous contraction. Such dyssynchronous contractions are responsible for the desired cardioprotective effects of pre-excitation pacing. A method and device for applying reverse hysteresis and mode switching to the delivery of such cardioprotective pacing are described.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left and right ventricular electrodes. Pacing using a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing weighted sums of the measured activation times to measure a fusion index and select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses based on comparing fusion indices during pacing from different LV electrodes. One or more embodiments use the same fusion index to select an optimal A-V delay by comparing fusion indices during pacing with different A-V delays at resting atrial rates as well as rates above the resting rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals are used to determine a set of preliminary optimized atrioventricular (AV/PV) and interventricular (VV) pacing delays. In one example, the preliminary optimized AV/VV pacing delays are used as a starting point for further optimization based on impedance signals such as impedance signals detected between a superior vena cava (SVC) coil electrode and a device housing electrode, which are influenced by changes in stroke volume within the patient. Ventricular pacing is thereafter delivered using the AV/VV pacing delays optimized via impedance. In another example, parameters derived from IEGM signals are used to limit the scope of an impedance-based optimization search to reduce the number of pacing tests needed during impedance-based optimization. Biventricular and multi-site left ventricular (MSLV) examples are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically configuring leads for a medical device. According to one aspect, the system generally comprises a medical device and a processing device, such as a programmer or computer, adapted to be in communication with the medical device. The medical device has at least one lead with at least one electrode in a configuration that can be changed using the processing device. The processing device provides a graphical display of the configuration, including a representative image of a proposed electrical signal to be applied by the medical device between the at least one electrode of the medical device and at least one other electrode before the medical device applies the electrical signal between the at least one electrode and the at least one other electrode. In one embodiment, the graphical display graphically represents the lead(s), the electrode(s), a pulse polarity, and a vector.

Abstract: A system comprises a cardiac signal sensing circuit and a processor circuit. The cardiac signal sensing circuit is configured to sense a cardiac signal segment using a set of electrodes connectable to the cardiac signal sensing circuit. The processor circuit is communicatively coupled to the cardiac signal sensing circuit and includes a peak detector circuit. The peak detector circuit is configured to identify, in the cardiac signal segment, a fiducial indicative of ventricular activation that is local to at least one electrode of the first set of electrodes. The fiducial includes a first large positive or negative peak greater than a specified percentage of a maximum peak of the first cardiac signal segment. The processor circuit is configured to provide an indication of local ventricular activation to at least one of a user or process.

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

Abstract: A medical device includes a VNS pulse burst generator for stimulation of the vagus nerve, and a controller for analyzing the cardiac rhythm. It further includes a sequencer that uses an estimator to calculate during a given cycle an estimate of the temporal position of the R wave of the next cycle. The controller is configured to define the moment of application of the VNS pulse burst as an instant corresponding to the estimate minus a predetermined advance delay. VNS therapy is thus delivered in a non-vulnerable period, near the end of the period of natural ventricular escape.

Abstract: Diastolic function is monitored within a patient using a pacemaker or other implantable medical device. In one example, the implantable device uses morphological parameters derived from the T-wave evoked response waveform as proxies for ventricular relaxation rate and ventricular compliance. In particular, the magnitude of the peak of the T-wave evoked response is employed as a proxy for ventricular compliance. The maximum slew rate of the T-wave evoked response following its peak is employed as a proxy for ventricular relaxation. A metric is derived from these proxy values to represent diastolic function. The metric is tracked over time to evaluate changes in diastolic function. In other examples, specific values for ventricular compliance and ventricular relaxation are derived for the patient based on the T-wave evoked response parameters.

Abstract: A medical device and associated method establish an occurrence of a premature atrial contraction. The device senses a ventricular signal. A control unit is configured to determine a metric of the ventricular signal during an interval following the premature atrial contraction and detect a change in cardiac stress tolerance in response to the determined metric.

Abstract: Method and system for non-linear modeling of physiological behavior, such as R-R intervals, in implantable devices, such as a rate responsive pacemakers, comprising a comprehensive modeling and optimization methodology based on fractional calculus and constrained finite horizon optimal control theory that allows for allows for fine-grain optimization of pacemaker response to heart rate variations; and the theoretical basis on which a hardware implementation of the fractional optimal controller that can respond to changes in the heart rate dynamics. Present invention describes a fractal approach to pacemaker control based on the constrained finite horizon optimal control problem. This is achieved by modeling the heart rate dynamics via fractional differential equations. Also, by using calculus of variations, the invention describes how the constrained finite horizon optimal control problem can be reduced to solving a linear system of equations.

Abstract: A pacing system delivers cardiac protection pacing to protect the heart from injuries associated with ischemic events. The pacing system detects an ischemic event and, in response, initiates one or more cardiac protection pacing sequences each including alternative pacing and non-pacing periods. In one embodiment, the pacing system initiates cardiac protection pacing sequences including at least one postconditioning sequence to protect the heart from a detected ischemic event and a plurality prophylactic preconditioning sequences to protect the heart from probable future ischemic events.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining whether a patient is a responder to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization are determined through signals measured from one or more electrodes implanted in the patient's heart. An interval between the beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization is computed and is compared to a threshold. The threshold may be determined empirically. The pacing parameters of a heart stimulation device, such as a pacemaker, may then be configured, for example, by setting the paced atrio-ventricular delay based on whether the patient responds positively to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: A cardiac medical device and associated method control delivery of dual chamber burst pacing pulses in response to detecting tachycardia. A number of cardiac cycles occurring in a first cardiac chamber are identified subsequent to the dual chamber pacing pulses. The number of sensed intrinsic events occurring in a second cardiac chamber during the first chamber cardiac cycles is determined as a number of second chamber events. The tachycardia episode is classified in response to the number of second chamber events.

Abstract: A coupled/paired stimulus pulse is delivered to the heart at an inter-pulse interval following one of i) detection of an intrinsic depolarization or ii) delivery of a primary stimulus pulse. Capture resulting from the coupled/paired stimulus pulse is sensed for. In response to capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse, the inter-pulse interval is incrementally decreased by a first amount until there is no capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse. In response to no capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse, the inter-pulse interval is incrementally increased by a second amount greater than the first amount, until capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse is detected. Once capture is again detected, paired/coupled pacing is delivered at the inter-pulse interval which resulted in capture for a predetermined period of time or until loss of capture occurs.

Abstract: Cardioprotective pre-excitation pacing may be applied to stress or de-stress a particular myocardial region delivering of pacing pulses in a manner that causes a dyssynchronous contraction. Such dyssynchronous contractions are responsible for the desired cardioprotective effects of pre-excitation pacing but may also be hazardous. Described herein is a method and system that uses measures of a patient's heart rate or exertion level to control the duty cycles of intermittent pre-excitation pacing.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac resynchronization therapy (“CRT”] in which a model of baseline cardiac electrical activity, such as a model of global baseline cardiac electrical activity derived from various surface electrocardiograph (“ECG”) signals, is utilized to automatically adjust pacing control parameters of a cardiac implantable electrical device (“CIED”) are provided. The baseline model is modified with simulated pacing control parameters in an iterative fashion until ventricular electrical asynchrony is minimized. The simulated pacing control parameters resulting in the minimum ventricular electrical asynchrony are used to generate an updated model of ventricular activation, and this updated model is used to generate control parameters for the CIED using a QRS glyph morphological framework.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac resynchronization therapy (“CRT”) in which a model of baseline cardiac electrical activity, such as a model of global baseline cardiac electrical activity derived from various surface electrocardiograph (“ECG”) signals, is utilized to automatically adjust pacing control parameters of a cardiac implantable electrical device (“CIED”) are provided. The baseline model is compared to CRT response patterns using modified pacing control parameters in an iterative fashion, based on a patient-specific response pattern phenotype determination, until ventricular electrical asynchrony is minimized. The pacing control parameters resulting in the minimum ventricular electrical asynchrony are used to generate final control parameters for CRT.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses.

Abstract: An implantable heart stimulating device for indicating congestive heart failure (CHF) has a processor and a sensor combination that senses at least two heart events during one heart cycle at different locations of the heart. The processor is supplied with signals from the sensor combination relating to the sensed events, and determines therefrom at least one heart time interval between the sensed events in the same heart cycle. The processor determines a CHF indicator value representing a degree of CHF based on a variability measure calculated from at least two heart time intervals from at least two different heart cycles. The processor determines the CHF indicator value in relation to previous CHF indicator values.

Abstract: Methods and/or devices for sampling a patient's intrinsic AV conduction time during cardiac therapy that may, e.g., change the AV delays to values based on the AV delays themselves, previously-sampled intrinsic AV conduction times, and/or one or more other parameters directly related to AV delays to provide a time period during which to measure the patient's intrinsic AV conduction time.

Abstract: A method discriminates between ventricular arrhythmia and supraventricular arrhythmia by determining the direction of an electrical signal conducted through the atrioventricular node. An implantable cardiac defibrillator provides atrioventricular and ventriculoatrial pacing bursts to determine if an arrhythmia with a 1:1 atrial to ventricular relationship is due to ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia. This discrimination capability reduces the incidence of inappropriate shocks from dual-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillators to near zero and provides a method to differentially diagnose supraventricular tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: Cardiac therapy systems include multiple electrodes respectively positionable at multiple left ventricular electrode sites. A pulse generator is coupled to the electrodes and configured to deliver a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). A processor is configured to measure, for each left ventricular electrode site, a timing interval between first and second cardiac signal features associated with left ventricular depolarization. The timing interval is associated with a degree of responsiveness of each left ventricular electrode site to CRT. The processor is configured to determine a pacing output configuration that provides improved patient responsiveness to CRT based on the timing interval measurements and to select at least one left ventricular electrode site from the plurality of left ventricular electrode sites based on the timing interval measurements. The processor may be configured to monitor for a change in hemodynamic status of the patient based on a change in the timing interval.

Abstract: The disclosure herein relates generally to methods for treating heart conditions using vagal stimulation, and further to systems and devices for performing such treatment. Such methods may include monitoring physiological parameters of a patient, detecting cardiac conditions, and delivering vagal stimulation (e.g., electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve or neurons having parasympathetic function) to the patient to treat the detected cardiac conditions.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, IMD, comprises atrial and ventricular sensing units for sensing atrial or ventricular electric events. The IMD also comprises atrial and ventricular pulse generators for generating atrial or ventricular pacing pulses. The ventricular sensing unit is connectable to a multi-electrode lead to individually sense electric events in a ventricle using multiple electrode pairs implanted at different ventricular sites. A controller blanks the ventricular sensing unit during a blanking period following delivery of an atrial stimulating pulse by the atrial pulse generator and activates the ventricular sensing unit at the expiry of the blanking period. Due to the lower propagation speed of PVC depolarization waves and the multi-site sensing, a PVC depolarization wave initiated at a ventricular site during the blanking period can be detected by the IMD.

Abstract: A cardiac medical device and associated method control delivery of dual chamber burst pacing pulses in response to detecting tachycardia. In one embodiment, a single chamber pacing pulse is delivered in response to detecting a tachycardia. Dual chamber pacing pulses are delivered subsequent to the single chamber pacing pulse. An intrinsic depolarization is sensed subsequent to delivering the dual chamber pacing pulses. The tachycardia episode is classified in response to the sensed intrinsic depolarization.

Abstract: A device includes a signal generator module, a processing module, and a housing. The signal generator module is configured to deliver pacing pulses to an atrium. The processing module is configured to detect a ventricular activation event and determine a length of an interval between the ventricular activation event and a previous atrial event that preceded the ventricular activation event. The processing module is further configured to schedule a time at which to deliver a pacing pulse to the atrium based on the length of the interval and control the signal generator module to deliver the pacing pulse at the scheduled time. The housing is configured for implantation within the atrium. The housing encloses the stimulation generator and the processing module.

Abstract: Risk determination for a near fatal ventricular arrhythmia of a patient. An electrocardiogram of a heart of the patient is obtained. A parameter is measured, using an electrocardiogram of a heart of the patient, indicative of an autonomic nervous system of the patient. A numeric score is assigned for the parameter indicative of the conduction system of the heart. A numeric score is assigned for the parameter indicative of the autonomic nervous system. A ratio of the numeric score of the parameter indicative of the conduction system of the heart of the patient and the numeric score of the parameter indicative of the autonomic nervous system of the patient is calculated. The risk of the potentially near fatal ventricular arrhythmia of the patient is determined to be significant if the ratio is greater than a predetermined threshold. An action responsive to the determining step is taken.

Abstract: Techniques are described for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device for performing paired/coupled pacing either alone or in conjunction with dynamic overdrive/underdrive pacing. In one technique, dynamic overdrive/underdrive pacing is delivered to the ventricles using paired pulses during an episode of atrial fibrillation. The use of paired pulses during dynamic ventricular overdrive/underdrive pacing helps lower and stabilize the ventricular rate to thereby reduce the risk of a ventricular arrhythmia. In another technique, the inter-pulse interval between paired pulses is optimized to lengthen the resulting refractory period to improve hemodynamics. Preferably, the optimized inter-pulse interval is used when applying dynamic ventricular overdrive/underdrive pacing with paired pulses so that the benefits of both techniques are obtained. The optimization technique is also applicable to setting the coupling interval for use with coupled pacing.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, IMD, comprises atrial and ventricular sensing units for sensing atrial or ventricular electric events. The IMD also comprises atrial and ventricular pulse generators for generating atrial or ventricular pacing pulses. A controller controls the operation of the IMD (100) according to a first mode, in which the ventricular pulse generator is prevented from generating a back-up pulse if an evoked response detector fails to detect evoked response to a delivered ventricular pacing pulse, and a second mode, in which the ventricular pulse generator is controlled to generate a back-up pulse if no evoked response is detected following delivery of a ventricular stimulating pulse. The controller switches operation from the first mode to the second mode based on the evoked response detector failing to detect an evoked response to a delivered ventricular pacing pulse.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses.

Abstract: A heart monitor is disclosed. The monitor computes ST segment deviations and stores the results in heart rate based histograms. Periodically, the monitor analyzes the histogram data to determine a normal range of ST deviation for a particular heart rate range. The monitor computes heart rate dependent ischemia detection thresholds based on the upper and lower boundaries of the normal range.

Abstract: A method for operating an implantable medical device to obtain substantially synchronized closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves based on sensed heart sounds includes sensing an acoustic energy; producing signals indicative of heart sounds of the heart of the patient over predetermined periods of a cardiac cycle during successive cardiac cycles; calculating a pulse width of such a signal; and iteratively controlling a delivery of the ventricular pacing pulses based on calculated pulse widths of successive heart sound signals to identify an RV interval or VV interval that causes a substantially synchronized closure of the mitral and tricuspid valve. A medical device for optimizing an RV interval or VV interval based on sensed heart sounds implements such a method and a computer readable medium encoded with instructions causes a computer to perform such a method.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system recognizes patterns of interval durations, distinguishing between events in different heart chambers even though signals associated with those different heart chambers are processed using a commonly shared sensing circuit. A therapy delivery algorithm ignores intervals between cardiac events occurring in different heart chambers when determining a cardiac rate upon which the delivery of therapy is based. This reduces the risk of inappropriate delivery of therapy to the patient. Delayed conduction left ventricular beats are not erroneously recognized as a subsequent right ventricular beat, preventing such short intervals from inappropriately triggering a defibrillation countershock.

Abstract: The present invention, in illustrative embodiments, includes devices for analyzing cardiac signals in an implantable cardiac stimulus system. Within the analysis, a threshold may be defined related to a cardiac event rate. If the cardiac event rate does not exceed the threshold, filtering of captured cardiac signals occurs, including attenuating T-waves. If the cardiac event rate does exceed the threshold, circuitry for analog filtering or programming for digital filtering is bypassed to avoid attenuating low frequency components of the captured cardiac signals.

Abstract: Biventricular-triggered pacing is a pacing mode that can employ in cardiac resynchronization pacing at elevated heart rates. Described herein are methods and devices for implementing biventricular pacing in the context of multi-site left ventricular pacing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and method for use therein, that can detect myocardial ischemic events. In accordance with specific embodiments of the present invention, short-term fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are monitored. This allows myocardial ischemic events to be detected based on these monitored fluctuations. The cardiac intervals for which fluctuations are being monitored can be, for example, RR intervals. Alternatively, or additionally, short-term fluctuations in other types of cardiac intervals may be monitored. Such other cardiac intervals include, for example, PR intervals, PP intervals, QT intervals and RT intervals.

Abstract: An autonomic status indicator representative of a sympathetic/parasympathetic balance of a subject can use atrioventricular (AV) delays measured during recovery from (or in response to) elevated atrial pacing while the subject is at rest.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal analysis in an implanted cardiac monitoring and treatment device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In some examples, captured data including detected events is analyzed to identify likely overdetection of cardiac events. In some illustrative examples, when overdetection is identified, data may be modified to correct for overdetection, to reduce the impact of overdetection, or to ignore overdetected data. Several examples emphasize the use of morphology analysis using correlation to static templates and/or inter-event correlation analysis.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRMD) system equipped to deliver neurostimulation to acupuncture sites within anterior regions of the neck, thorax or abdomen of the patient. Parameters associated with the health of the patient are detected, such as parameters indicative of arrhythmia, heart failure and hypertension.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining whether a patient is a responder to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization are determined through signals measured from one or more electrodes implanted in the patient's heart. An interval between the beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization is computed and is compared to a threshold. The threshold may be determined empirically. The pacing parameters of a heart stimulation device, such as a pacemaker, may then be configured, for example, by setting the paced atrio-ventricular delay based on whether the patient responds positively to cardiac resynchronization therapy.