Patent ID: 7286873
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a cardiac pacing device during coupled or paired pacing comprising: implementing an atrial-based pacing mode comprising sensing intrinsic atrial depolarizations and generating an atrial sense event signal in response thereto; providing atrial pacing pulses to the atrium of the heart at an atrial pacing rate, each atrial pacing pulse separated by an atrial escape interval corresponding to the atrial pacing rate, and restarting the atrial escape interval in response to an atrial sense event signal; sensing intrinsic ventricular depolarizations and generating a ventricular sense event signal in response thereto; and detecting the presence or absence of AV conduction; providing paired or coupled pacing pulses in the atrium at an atrial extra stimulus interval (AESI) timed from immediately preceding atrial pacing pulses and atrial sense event signals, respectively, sufficient to effect post-extra-systolic potentiation (PESP) of the atrium; and adjusting the AESI when the absence of AV conduction is detected to attempt to restore AV conduction.