Patent ID: 6456880
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
In an implantable cardiac stimulation device, a system that monitors progression or regression of a patient's heart condition, the system comprising:a plurality of electrodes that provide a plurality of electrode configurations including right and left heart sensing electrode configurations; at least one sensing circuit that senses cardiac activity with the plurality of the electrode configurations to provide a plurality of electrical signals representing electrical activity of the heart; a processor coupled to the at least one sensing circuit and programmed to determine, at spaced apart times, a ventricular repolarization interval in each of the electrical signals and a corresponding ventricular repolarization interval dispersion; a memory that stores the ventricular repolarization interval dispersions over time, relative changes in the ventricular repolarization interval dispersions, over time, being indicative of the progression or regression of the patient's heart condition; and a telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the ventricular repolarization interval dispersions stored in the memory to an external receiver.