Patent ID: 6647293
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
A method for controlling the delivery of a stimulation pulse by an implantable cardiac device, comprising the following process steps:scanning a cardiac signal during a scanning period; providing scanning values derived during said scanning step; calculating model coefficients according to a method of autoregressive modeling from the scanning values derived during said scanning step; precalculating, during a prediction period, anticipated signal values following the scanning period according to the method of autoregressive modeling based on the scanning values and the calculated model coefficients; iteratively calculating the anticipated signal values by entering a last anticipated signal value as a last scanning value in the method of autoregressive modeling; and when said step of precalculating produces an abnormal signal value, applying a stimulation pulse that counteracts the abnormal signal value at a point in time determined from said step of precalculating, wherein said step of precalculating is performed to precalculate the propagation of wave fronts on the atrial myocardium of the heart and to determine the time of an excitable gap prior to the arrival of a precalculated wave front at a stimulation electrode of the implantable cardiac device, and said step of a stimulation pulse is carried out, when the abnormal signal value indicates an atrial fibrillation, to apply the stimulation pulse in the excitable gap.