Patent ID: 6604000
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of treating ischemia of a patient's heart using an implantable cardiac stimulation device operating according to a set of prescribed adaptable pacing parameters including a pacing rate set as a function of the patient's activity level up to a maximum sensor rate and an aggressiveness value specifying the rate of increase of the pacing rate per the increase in the patient's activity level, wherein each of the parameters has an original value in the absence of ischemia, the method comprising the steps of:detecting the presence of ischemia in the patient's heart; and incrementally altering at least one of the prescribed adaptable pacing parameters of the cardiac stimulation device by a specified amount, initially from its respective original value, in response to detecting the presence of ischemia in the patient's heat, and continuing to periodically incrementally alter at least one of the prescribed adaptable pacing parameters by the specified amount while ischemia is still detected, and incrementally altering the at least one of the prescribed adaptable pacing parameters back toward its original value in response to not detecting the presence of ischemia by the ischemia detecting means for a prescribed period of time.