Patent ID: 7532930
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. An implantable electrostimulator for the stimulation of a heart, in particular for at least two heart chambers, said electrostimulator comprising: at least one atrial and ventricular channel; electrode connections which are connected to a stimulation unit for the delivery of atrial and ventricular stimulation pulses, in such a way that atrial or ventricular stimulation pulses are to be delivered by way of one or more electrode lines connected to the electrode connections; a stimulation control unit which is connected to the stimulation unit and which is adapted to trigger the delivery of stimulation pulses and to determine the strength of the stimulation pulses and for that purpose to deliver a stimulation control signal to the stimulation unit; and a detection unit which is connected to the stimulation control unit and at least indirectly to the electrode connections and which is adapted to evaluate electrical potentials which are applied to the electrical connections and which in particular are to be intracardially recorded in order to detect intrinsic atrial events characteristic of natural contractions of an atrium, and wherein the stimulation control unit is adapted for the purposes of stimulation success checking (capture detection) in the atrium to trigger at least one atrial stimulation pulse and to detect stimulation success (capture) in the atrium or ineffective atrial stimulation (non-capture) on the basis of non-detection or detection respectively of at least one possibly occurring intrinsic (natural, spontaneous) atrial event within a predetermined period of time,