Patent ID: 8965502
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A cardiac stimulator, comprising at least three stimulation electrode poles; at least one electrode lead; at least one stimulation unit connected to said at least three stimulation electrode poles via said at least one electrode lead; at least one sensing unit configured to detect electrical or mechanical actions of the heart and configured to detect signals characteristic of a heart action; wherein the at least one sensing unit comprises, or is connected to, an evaluation unit configured to evaluate signals detected by the sensing unit, to evaluate a stimulation success or failure of a suprathreshold stimulation for each of said at least three stimulation electrode poles, and to supply a corresponding evaluation result signal; and a therapy control unit connected to the stimulation unit and the evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit forwards said evaluation result signal to said therapy control unit; wherein the therapy control unit is configured to control a respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy dependent on the corresponding evaluation result signal of the evaluation unit, wherein the respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy is configured to be activated or deactivated dependent on said stimulation success or failure of said suprathreshold stimulation, wherein therapy parameters of the respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy are selected and/or adjusted dependent on the respective evaluation result signal; wherein the respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy is optimized automatically and while in progress, wherein said therapy control unit optimizes the therapy parameters that are optimal for said respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy, wherein the evaluation unit evaluates signals detected by the at least one sensing unit after delivery of said suprathreshold stimulation pulse with respect to a success of the stimulation, and supplies a corresponding evaluation result signal; and, wherein the therapy control unit allows a respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy for at least one respective cardiac cycle only if the evaluation result signal shows an effective stimulation in at least one ventricular stimulation site, or all sites being stimulated wherein the a least one sensing unit is further configured to determine the duration of a repolarization in at least two sites, and, wherein therapy control unit selects and/or adjusts therapy parameters of the cardiac contractility modulation therapy, such that said therapy parameters that are optimal for said respective cardiac contractility modulation therapy are defined by one or more of