Patent ID: 6161041
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A cardiac pacemaker system for pacing a patient, having VP means for generating and delivering ventricular pacing pulses to a patient's ventricle, VS means for sensing ventricular QRS and T waves, rate means for determining the patient's spontaneous heart rate, and control means for controlling when said VP means generates and delivers ventricular pacing pulses and the pacing rate of such pulses, wherein said control means further comprises VT prevention means for controlling said VP means to deliver pacing pulses at a rate overriding the patient's spontaneous rate when a threshold of refractory dispersion is detected during patient awakening, said VT prevention means comprising:awakening means for determining an awakening period when the patient is awakening;depolarization means for determining a first measure of dispersion of the patient's depolarization wave during awakening;repolarization means for determining a second measure of dispersion of the patient's repolarization wave during awakening; andintervention means for controlling said VP means to generate and deliver pacing pulses at an intervention rate that overrides the patient's spontaneous rate as a function of said first and second measures.