Patent ID: 6584354
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of determining atrial capture threshold utilizing a programmer in telemetric communication with a dual chamber cardiac stimulation device, the programmer adapted to interrogate and provide operational commands to the stimulation device and retrieving and analyzing diagnostic data therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:interrogating the cardiac stimulation device to obtain an initial value for an atrial stimulation pulse amplitude; providing a command to cause the stimulation device to adjust the atrial stimulation pulse amplitude to said initial value; lengthening the post ventricular refractory period (PVARP) from an initial value to a first value; delivering an atrial stimulation pulse; detecting loss of capture and in the event of capture, decreasing the atrial stimulation pulse amplitude and repeating the detecting step until loss of capture occurs; and recording the atrial capture threshold as being the atrial pulse amplitude below which capture is lost.