Patent ID: 6096061
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable defibrillator adapted to deliver cardiac pacing, cardioversion and defibrillation therapies in selective response to dysrhythmia detection from an implant patient's cardiac signal, the defibrillator comprising:a sensor of the patient's heart rate;a cardioverter/defibrillator for producing electrical shocks of adjustable energy level to be applied to the patient's heart in response to applicable detected levels of pathologic accelerated heart rate;a rate controllable generator responsive to a pacing dysrhythmia sensed by said heart rate sensor for generating cardiac pacing pulses at a rate designed to correct said sensed dysrhythmia for application to the patient's heart;an optimizer for matching the cardiac pacing rate of said generator to the hemodynamic needs of the implant patient under conditions of rest and physical activity; including sensing and distinguishing periods of patient physical activity and rest, and generating a signal representative thereof to control the cardiac pacing rate accordingly as well as according to the extent of activity; anda processor for processing the control signal generated by the optimizer to enhance sensitivity and specificity thereof by detecting true physical activity of the patient and for applying the enhanced processed control signal to said rate controllable generator to appropriately adjust the pacing rate thereof;whereby said defibrillator is adapted to suppress an acceleration of cardiac dysrhythmias by developing and delivering a pacing therapy that matches the patient's hemodynamic needs.