Patent ID: 7813791
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for use by an implantable medical device for implant within a patient for distinguishing cardiac events sensed by the device, said method comprising: sensing time-varying electrical cardiac signals within the patient using the device; identifying time-varying ventricular electrical cardiac event waveforms therein using the device; determining an initial ventricular rate based on all ventricular event waveforms detected within the time-varying signal; detecting a possible ventricular tachyarrhythmia within the patient based on a ventricular rate derived from all ventricular events within the time-varying signal by comparing the initial ventricular rate against upper and lower ventricular fibrillation (VF) thresholds; if the initial ventricular rate is between the upper and lower VF thresholds, converting the time-varying event waveforms using the device into frequency-domain waveforms to detect spectral components of the events; and distinguishing different types of ventricular cardiac events corresponding to individual heartbeats based on the spectral components of the events.