Patent ID: 6134472
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable heart stimulation device comprising:a pulse generator which generates a series of stimulation pulses at a variable rate;an electrode connected to said pulse generator and adapted for delivering said stimulation pulses in vivo to a heart;a control unit connected to said pulse generator for causing said pulse generator to emit the respective stimulation pulses at set times corresponding to respective at rates;a stroke volume at measuring unit for measuring respective stroke volumes of said heart at different rates of said stimulation pulses;a calculation unit, connected to said control unit and to said stroke volume measurement unit, for calculating values of an auxiliary function of two independent variables which, with the stroke volumes from said stroke volume measurement unit and the rates from said control unit as said two independent variables, produces a function of rate alone having an extreme point indicative of a calculated rate at which optimal heart functioning occurs; andan extreme point identifier, supplied with said values of said auxiliary function, which identifies said calculated rate, and that which is connected to said control unit and which supplies said calculated rate to said control unit, said control unit setting said times for emission of respective stimulation pulses dependent on said calculated rate.