Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090082652 | IMPLANTABLE BODY FLUID ANALYZER - An exemplary implantable microarray device includes an inlet for a body fluid, a plurality of individual reaction cell arrays where each reaction cell array includes a series of reaction cells configured to receive the body fluid, a sensor array to sense a reaction result for an individual reaction cell array where the reaction result corresponds to a reaction between the body fluid and at least one reagent in each of the reaction cells of the individual reaction cell array and a positioning mechanism to position an individual reaction cell array with respect to the sensor array. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed. | 03-26-2009 |
20100042174 | SELECTING PACING SITE OR SITES BASED ON CARDIO-PULMONARY INFORMATION - An exemplary method for multi-tier pacing includes delivering single site, left ventricular pacing, sensing patient activity; comparing the sensed patient activity to a patient activity threshold and, if the sensed patient activity exceeds the patient activity threshold, then delivering multi-site, left ventricular pacing for a predetermined period of time and, after the predetermined period of time, delivering single, site left ventricular pacing. In such a method, the period of time may be determined based on cardio-pulmonary demand. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed. | 02-18-2010 |
20100069778 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THORACIC FLUID LEVELS BASED ON IMPEDANCE USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for monitoring thoracic fluid levels based on thoracic impedance (Z | 03-18-2010 |
20100152801 | Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Optimization Using Vector Measurements Obtained from Realtime Electrode Position Tracking - An exemplary method includes selecting multiple electrodes located in a patient; acquiring position information during one or more cardiac cycles for the multiple electrodes where the acquiring includes using each of the electrodes for measuring one or more electrical potentials in an electrical localization field established in the patient; calculating one or more vector metrics based on the acquired position information for one or more vectors, each vector defined by two of the multiple electrodes; and analyzing the one or more vector metrics to assess cardiac performance during the one or more cardiac cycles. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
20100160993 | IMPLANTABLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING BNP LEVELS, HF AND MI - Methods for monitoring a patient's level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and implantable cardiac systems capable of performing such methods, are provided. A ventricle is paced for a period of time to provoke a ventricular evoked response, and a ventricular intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) indicative of the ventricular evoked response is obtained. Based on the ventricular IEGM, there is a determination of at least one ventricular evoked response metric (e.g., ventricular evoked response peak-to-peak amplitude, ventricular evoked response area and/or ventricular evoked response maximum slope), and the patient's level of BNP is monitored based on determined ventricular evoked response metric(s). Based on the monitored level's of BNP, the patients heart failure (HF) condition and/or risks and/or occurrences of certain events (e.g., an acute HF exacerbation and/or an acute myocardial infarction) can be monitored. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161006 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING DIASTOLIC FUNCTION USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - 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. | 06-24-2010 |
20100204593 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF PULMONARY EDEMA - A method of identifying a potential cause of pulmonary edema is provided. The method includes obtaining one or more impedance vectors between predetermined combinations of the electrodes positioned proximate the heart. At least one of the impedance vectors is representative of a thoracic fluid level. The method also includes applying a stimulation pulse to the heart and sensing cardiac signals of the heart that are representative of an electrophysiological response to the stimulation pulse. The method further includes monitoring the cardiac signals and at least one of the impedance vectors with respect to time to identify the potential cause of pulmonary edema. | 08-12-2010 |
20100234906 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RATE-ADAPTIVE PACING BASED ON A CARDIAC FORCE-FREQUENCY RELATION DETECTED BY AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for use in controlling rate-adaptive pacing within implantable medical devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). In one example, a force-frequency relationship is determined for the heart of the patient, which is representative of the relationship between cardiac stimulation frequency and myocardial contractile force. To this end, various parameters are detected for use as surrogates for contractile force, including selected systolic pressure parameters and cardiogenic impedance parameters. Rate-adaptive pacing is then controlled based on the detected force-frequency relationship to, for example, deactivate rate-adaptive pacing if the slope and/or abscissa of the force-frequency relationship indicates significant contractility dysfunction within the patient. In other examples, rather than deactivating rate-adaptive pacing, control parameters are adjusted to render the rate-adaptive pacing less aggressive. In still other examples, trends in the slope and/or abscissa of the force-frequency relationship are monitored to detect contractility dysfunction and/or heart failure and titrate medications accordingly. | 09-16-2010 |
20100249756 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CARDIOPULMONARY FLUID TRANSFER RATES USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for use by a pacemaker or other implantable medical device for detecting and tracking trends in cardiopulmonary fluid transfer rates—such as heart-to-lung fluid perfusion rates and lung-to-lymphatic system fluid excretion rates—and for detecting heart failure, dyspnea or other cardiopulmonary conditions. In one example, the device periodically measures transthoracic admittance values. A first exponential time-constant (k | 09-30-2010 |
20100268059 | THERAPY OPTIMIZATION VIA MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING - An exemplary method includes accessing cardiac information acquired via a catheter located at various positions in a venous network of a heart of a patient where the cardiac information comprises position information, electrical information and mechanical information; mapping local electrical activation times to anatomic positions to generate an electrical activation time map; mapping local mechanical activation times to anatomic positions to generate a mechanical activation time map; generating an electromechanical delay map by subtracting local electrical activation times from corresponding local mechanical activation times; and rendering at least the electromechanical delay map to a display. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 10-21-2010 |
20100286652 | TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERY OF STEM CELL AND RELATED THERAPIES TO TREAT CARDIAC CONDITIONS - An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information; detecting cardiac events within the information including T waves, QRS complexes and/or P waves; and calling for delivery of matter to the heart during a period of time based on the cardiac events. The delivery may occur between a detected T wave and its immediately subsequent QRS complex. The matter being delivered may include stem cells, progenitor cells, nutrients and/or drugs. | 11-11-2010 |
20100286736 | TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERY OF STEM CELL AND RELATED THERAPIES TO TREAT CARDIAC CONDITIONS - An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information, detecting a T wave and, based on the detecting, calling for delivery of matter to the heart where the matter may include one or more of stem cells, progenitor cells, nutrients and drugs. Another exemplary method includes calling for delivery of electrical energy to cells destined for implantation in the body or cells already implanted in the body. Such delivery may be timed according to cardiac electrical activity and/or delivered at an energy level below a capture threshold of neighboring tissue. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed. | 11-11-2010 |
20100292747 | TECHNIQUES FOR DELIVERY OF STEM CELL AND RELATED THERAPIES TO TREAT CARDIAC CONDITIONS - An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information; detecting an R wave; and based on the detecting, calling for delivery of energy to cells located in a structure outside of the myocardium only during a period time within the QRS complex corresponding to the detected R wave. The energy delivered may be electrical stimulation energy or mechanical energy. | 11-18-2010 |
20110028801 | CARDIOVASCULAR VESSEL ELASTICITY MONITORING - Elasticity of a cardiovascular vessel of a patient is monitored to provide an indication of whether the patient's health is changing. In some aspects the elasticity of a cardiovascular vessel is determined irrespective of the current blood pressure level of the patient at the time the elasticity is determined. For example, vessel elasticity may be determined based on a defined set of data that maps vessel elasticity with reflectance times for different blood pressure levels. In some implementations, this set of data corresponds to a set of iso-pressure lines. | 02-03-2011 |
20110054559 | PACING, SENSING AND OTHER PARAMETER MAPS BASED ON LOCALIZATION SYSTEM DATA - An exemplary method generates a map of a pacing parameter, a sensing parameter or one or more other parameters based in part on location information acquired using a localization system configured to locate electrodes in vivo (i.e., within a patient's body). Various examples map capture thresholds, qualification criteria for algorithms, undesirable conditions and sensing capabilities. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054560 | PACING, SENSING AND OTHER PARAMETER MAPS BASED ON LOCALIZATION SYSTEM DATA - An exemplary method generates a map of a pacing parameter, a sensing parameter or one or more other parameters based in part on location information acquired using a localization system configured to locate electrodes in vivo (i.e., within a patient's body). Various examples map capture thresholds, qualification criteria for algorithms, undesirable conditions and sensing capabilities. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110082350 | ASSESSING A DEGREE OF VASCULAR BLOCKAGE OR RISK OF ISCHEMIA - A system and method for determining a patient's degree of cardiac vascular blockage or, equivalently, a patient's risk of cardiac ischemia, based on the time interval between the onset of exercise activity and the onset of an episode of cardiac ischemia. In one embodiment, an implantable cardiac device may obtain an EGM and possibly other measures of patient physiologic activity. These measures are used to determine when the patient has initiated exercise activity. Analysis of the EGM then detects an elevated or depressed ST segment, which typically indicates an episode of cardiac ischemia. The time interval between the onset of exercise and the onset of ischemia is a metric reflecting the patient's degree of vascular blockage or, equivalently, the patient's risk of ischemia. Other metrics may be derived, such as a substantially workload-level invariant measure determined as the product of the exercise workload level and the ischemia onset time interval. | 04-07-2011 |
20110118803 | Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Optimization Using Vector Measurements Obtained From Realtime Electrode Position Tracking - An exemplary method includes selecting a first pair of electrodes to define a first vector and selecting a second pair of electrodes to define a second vector; acquiring position information during one or more cardiac cycles for the first and second pairs of electrodes wherein the acquiring comprises using each of the electrodes for measuring one or more electrical potentials in an electrical localization field established in the patient; and determining a dyssynchrony index by applying a cross-covariance technique to the position information for the first and the second vectors. Another method includes determining a phase shift based on the acquired position information for the first and the second vectors; and determining an interventricular delay based at least in part on the phase shift. | 05-19-2011 |
20110144510 | METHODS TO IDENTIFY DAMAGED OR SCARRED TISSUE BASED ON POSITION INFORMATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION - An exemplary system includes one or more processors; memory; and control logic, of one or more modules operable in conjunction with the one or more processors and the memory, to acquire myocardial potential data associated with position information, acquire myocardial electrical activation data associated with position information, acquire myocardial position data with respect to time, generate isopotential contours based on the potential data, generate isochronal contours based on the electrical activation data, generate isomotion contours based on the position data with respect to time, and overlay the generated isopotential contours, isochronal contours and isomotion contours on a display to indicate a region of myocardial damage or myocardial scarring with respect to a map that comprises anatomical markers. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 06-16-2011 |
20110184274 | ELECTRODE CONFIGURATIONS FOR LEADS OR CATHETERS TO ENHANCE LOCALIZATION USING A LOCALIZATION SYSTEM - An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184304 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH SLEEP APNEA DETECTION CONTROL AND METHOD - A method for use in an implantable medical device comprises the steps of monitoring respiration with an amplifier having a gain, generating a moving apneic threshold based on recent respiration cycles, accumulating differences between amplitudes of respiration cycles and the moving apnea detection threshold and comparing the accumulated differences against an apnea detection threshold to detect the onset of an episode of apnea. The method further comprises measuring respiration levels upon detecting the onset of apnea, confirming the episode of apnea based upon the respiration levels measured upon detecting the onset of apnea; and adjusting one of the gain of the amplifier and the apnea detection threshold so that the time from the detection of onset of apnea to the time of confirmation of the episode of apnea is within a predetermined time range following the detection of the onset of apnea. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184485 | ADAPTIVE RATE PROGRAMMING CONTROL IN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES USING VENTRICULAR-ARTERIAL COUPLING SURROGATES - Selection of an appropriate rate programming control (RPC) setting in an implantable medical device (IMD), uses analysis of VA coupling surrogate conditions. The VA coupling surrogate conditions are derived from signals such as cardiogenic impedance, blood pressure, and the pulsatile components of PPG. By analyzing a waveform of the measured surrogate condition, the IMD estimates wall stiffness, through the slope of the waveform, and peripheral arterial pressure, through the reflection time between the main wave and reflection wave of the waveform. These values are plotted against each other on a VA coupling coordinate plane. Based on the location and orientation of the resulting VA coupling plot, the IMD selects an appropriate RPC setting. | 07-28-2011 |
20110196440 | ADAPTIVE DETERMINATION OF PATIENT SPECIFIC OPTIMAL AV DELAY DURING ELEVATED HEART RATES BASED ON CARDIAC OUTPUT MEASUREMENTS - Adaptively creating a table of optimal, patient-specific atrioventricular (AV) delays for a an implantable medical device (IMD) begins as the IMD detects the patient entering a target heart rates within a defined range of elevated heart rates. On detection, the device begins testing AV delays by pacing the heart at a number of different AV delays. The IMD selects the optimal AV delay based on a comparison of measurements of cardiac output obtained during each delay's test pacing period. The optimal AV delay corresponds to the one which resulted in the highest cardiac output. The device selects this optimal AV delay and stores it in an AV delay table on the device. The process continues as the device detects the patient entering the other target heart rates in order to complete the table. | 08-11-2011 |
20110213260 | CRT LEAD PLACEMENT BASED ON OPTIMAL BRANCH SELECTION AND OPTIMAL SITE SELECTION - An exemplary method includes accessing cardiac information acquired via a catheter located at various positions in a coronary sinus of a patient where the cardiac information includes electrical information and mechanical information; calculating scores based on the cardiac information where each of the scores corresponds to the coronary sinus or a tributary of the coronary sinus; and based on the scores, selecting a tributary of the coronary sinus as an optimal candidate for placement of a left ventricular lead. Accordingly, the selected tributary may be relied on during an implant procedure for the left ventricular lead. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110230771 | HEART FAILURE STATUS MONITORING - Left atrial pressure and temperature of a patient are monitored to identify a normal wake state, a normal sleep state, and any deviation from those normal states (e.g., an alarm state). In the event an alarm state is identified, a determination is made as to whether to generate an indication of heart failure exacerbation based on a heart failure score. In addition, congestion and perfusion in a patient may be monitored over time to provide a two-dimensional indication of a trend relating to the heart failure status of the patient. | 09-22-2011 |
20120016253 | Methods and Systems for Filtering Respiration Noise from Localization Data - A method of filtering respiration noise from a localization signal includes acquiring a localization signal from at least one position measurement sensor within a localization field and acquiring an acceleration signal for at least one localization field generator (e.g., a patch electrode). A displacement signal for the field generator is calculated, for example by integrating the acceleration signal twice, and transformed into the frequency domain in order to calculate a fractional power indicative of patient respiration. The fractional power can then be compared to a threshold value, and the localization signal can be filtered if the fractional power exceeds the threshold value. Alternatively, the acquired acceleration signal can be used to gate collection of data points from the localization signal. | 01-19-2012 |
20120046564 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO MONITOR AND IDENTIFY TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA - A system and method are provided for monitoring ischemic development. The system and method identify a non-physiologic event and obtain cardiac signals along multiple sensing vectors, wherein at least a portion of the sensing vectors extend to or from electrodes located proximate to the left ventricle. The system and method monitor a segment of interest in the cardiac signals obtained along the multiple sensing vectors to identify deviations in the segment of interest from a baseline. The system and method record at least one of timing or segment shift information associated with the deviations in the segments of interest; and identify at least one of size, direction of development or rate of progression of an ischemia region based on the at least one of timing or segment shift information. | 02-23-2012 |
20120089032 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISCRIMINATING AND MONITORING ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIA BASED ON CARDIOGENIC IMPEDANCE - A medical device is provided that comprises a lead assembly. The lead assembly includes at least one intra-cardiac (IC) electrode, an extra-cardiac (EC) electrode and a subcutaneous remote-cardiac (RC) electrode. The IC electrode is configured to be located within the heart. The EC electrode is configured to be positioned proximate to at least one of a superior vena cava (SVC) and a left ventricle (LV) of a heart. The RC electrode is configured to be located remote from the heart. An arrhythmia monitoring module is configured to analyze intra-cardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals from the at least one IC electrode to identify a potential atrial arrhythmia. An extra-cardiac impedance (ECI) module is configured to measure extra-cardiac impedance along an ECI vector between the EC and RC electrodes to obtain ECI measurements. The hemodynamic performance (HDP) assessment module is configured to determine a hemodynamic performance based on the ECI measurements. The arrhythmia monitoring module is configured to declare the potential atrial arrhythmia to be an atrial arrhythmia based on the hemodynamic performance determined from the ECI measurements. The medical device further provides the HDP assessment module that derives a current ECI waveform from current ECI measurements and compares the current ECI pattern with a prior ECI waveform that is derived from prior ECI measurements. | 04-12-2012 |
20120172867 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING ARRHYTHMIAS IN THE HEART USING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM HEART WALL MOTION - A system and method for treating an arrhythmia in a heart are provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to monitor movement of one or more position sensor over a period of time. The position sensors may, for example, comprise electrodes or coils configured to generate induced voltages and currents in the presence of electromagnetic fields. The positions sensors are in contact with portions of heart tissue and changes in position are representative of motion of that tissue. The electronic control unit is further configured to generate an indicator, responsive to the movements of the sensors over the period of time, of a characteristic of the heart affected by delivery of ablation energy to heart tissue. In this manner, the effectiveness and safety of cardiac tissue ablation for treatment of the arrhythmia can be assessed and a post-ablation therapy regimen determined. | 07-05-2012 |
20120190991 | System and Method for Detecting a Clinically-Significant Pulmonary Fluid Accumulation Using an Implantable Medical Device - Techniques are provided for detecting a clinically-significant pulmonary fluid accumulation within a patient using a pacemaker or other implantable medical device. Briefly, the device detects left atrial pressure (LAP) within the patient and tracks changes in the LAP values over time that are indicative of possible pulmonary fluid accumulation within the patient. The device determines whether the changes in LAP values are sufficiently elevated and prolonged to warrant clinical intervention using, e.g., a predictor model-based technique. If the fluid accumulation is clinically significant, the device then generates warning signals, records diagnostics, controls therapy and/or titrates diuretics. False positive detections of pulmonary edema due to transients in LAP are avoided with this technique. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)-based techniques are also described. | 07-26-2012 |
20120215274 | ACCELEROMETER ENHANCED IMPLANTABLE CARDIO-DEVICE - An implantable medical device (“IMD”) processes and analyzes valuable clinical information regarding cardiac performance. A database or correlator is pre-customized to the specific patient, by correlating signals received by a remote accelerometer associated with heart movements with accurate heart sounds recorded from a microphone to provide a more effective and customized basis for estimating heart sound. The information is then used to better control an implantable medical device. | 08-23-2012 |
20120253359 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LEAD PLACEMENT OPTIMIZATION DURING LEAD IMPLANTATION - Disclosed herein is a method of optimizing the implantation of an implantable medical lead into a patient to optimize electrotherapy administered via the lead. The method includes: inserting the lead into the patient, the lead including a first electrode; providing a second electrode in the patient, wherein the second electrode is not part of the lead; generating an electrical vector between the first electrode and second electrode, the electrical vector being generated as the lead is being implanted; analyzing the electrical vector as the lead is being implanted; and optimizing the implantation of the lead based off of the analysis of the electrical vector to optimize electrotherapy administered via the lead. | 10-04-2012 |
20120330371 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING DIASTOLIC FUNCTION USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - 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. | 12-27-2012 |
20130035736 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING PAIRED PACING BASED ON PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR USE WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices equipped to deliver paired postextrasystolic potentiation (PESP) pacing to control the paired pacing rate based on changes in patient activity. In one example, the current activity level of the patient is detected during paired pacing using an accelerometer. The cardiac output level needed to maintain the current activity level of the patient is determined with reference to pre-stored lookup tables relating activity levels with corresponding minimum necessary cardiac output levels for the particular patient. The minimum paired pacing rate sufficient to achieve the cardiac output level is then determined based, e.g., on stroke volume derived from cardiogenic impedance signals. Paired pacing is then delivered at the minimum paired pacing rate sufficient to achieve the needed cardiac output, thereby assuring that the paired pacing rate is sufficient to meet the current physiological demands of the patient without consuming too much oxygen. | 02-07-2013 |
20130053912 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING HEART FAILURE AND CONTROLLING CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY USING HYBRID IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT CONFIGURATIONS - Techniques are provided for use with an implantable medical device for detecting and assessing heart failure and for controlling cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) based on impedance signals obtained using hybrid impedance configurations. The hybrid configurations exploit right atrial (RA)-based impedance measurement vectors and/or left ventricular (LV)-based impedance measurement vectors. In one example, current is injected between the device case and a ring electrode in the right ventricle (RV) or RA. RA-based impedance values are measured along vectors between the device case and an RA electrode. LV-based impedance values are measured along vectors between the device case and one or more electrodes of the LV. Heart failure and other cardiac conditions are detected and tracked using the measured impedance values. CRT delay parameters are also optimized based impedance. In this manner, multiple hybrid impedance measurement configurations are exploited whereby different vectors are used to inject current and measure impedance. | 02-28-2013 |
20130053913 | Method and System to Adjust Pacing Parameters Based on Systolic Interval Heart Sounds - A method is provided to determine pacing parameters for an implantable medical device (IMD) and collects heart sounds during the cardiac cycles. The method comprises changing a value for a pacing parameter between the cardiac cycles and analyzing a characteristic of interest from the heart sounds. The method comprises setting a desired value for the pacing parameter based on the characteristic of interest from the heart sounds. The system comprises inputs configured to be coupled to at least one lead having electrodes to sense intrinsic events and to deliver pacing pulses over cardiac cycles. The system has a sensor for collecting heart sounds during cardiac cycles and controller to control delivery of pacing pulses based on pacing parameters. The controller changes a value for at least one of the pacing parameters between the cardiac cycles and provides an analysis module to analyze a characteristic of interest from the heart sounds. | 02-28-2013 |
20130053919 | IMPLANTABLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING BNP LEVELS, HF AND MI - Methods for monitoring a patient's level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and implantable cardiac systems capable of performing such methods, are provided. A ventricle is paced for a period of time to provoke a ventricular evoked response, and a ventricular intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) indicative of the ventricular evoked response is obtained. Based on the ventricular IEGM, there is a determination of at least one ventricular evoked response metric (e.g., ventricular evoked response peak-to-peak amplitude, ventricular evoked response area and/or ventricular evoked response maximum slope), and the patient's level of BNP is monitored based on determined ventricular evoked response metric(s). Based on the monitored level's of BNP, the patients heart failure (HF) condition and/or risks and/or occurrences of certain events (e.g., an acute HF exacerbation and/or an acute myocardial infarction) can be monitored. | 02-28-2013 |
20130103108 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO INCREASE STROKE VOLUME BY SYNCHRONIZING / MODULATING HEART RATE WITH ACTIVITY RATE - A method of synchronizing a heart rate with an activity rate of a patient includes determining the activity rate of the patient. The method also includes synchronizing a pacing pulse with a phase of the activity rate to improve a cardiac stroke volume of the patient. The synchronizing includes lowering the heart rate during down motion associated with the activity rate and increasing the heart rate during an up motion associated with the activity rate when a stride rate is slower than a target heart rate. | 04-25-2013 |
20140343649 | METHOD TO ENHANCE ELECTRODE LOCALIZATION OF A LEAD - An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 11-20-2014 |
20140343650 | METHOD TO ENHANCE ELECTRODE LOCALIZATION OF A LEAD - An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 11-20-2014 |
20140343651 | METHOD TO ENHANCE ELECTRODE LOCALIZATION OF A LEAD - An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 11-20-2014 |
20140343652 | METHOD TO ENHANCE ELECTRODE LOCALIZATION OF A LEAD - An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 11-20-2014 |