Patent ID: 6625491
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable pacemaker, defibrillator and/or cardiovertor of the multisite type, for use with electrodes placed in at least two sites of the same chamber type, selected from among the group consisting of right and left ventricular sites, right and left atrial sites, and two sites of the same cavity, said multisite type device having a cardiac signal collection circuit to detect a depolarization potential at one of said sites, a stimulation circuit to apply stimulation pules to at least certain of said foregoing at least two sites, and a first mode of multisite stimulation operation, comprising:means for monitoring depolarization signals and determining a heart rate; means for comparing the determined heart rate to a first predetermined threshold; means for detecting an induced tachycardia condition, in response to the comparing means determining that the heart rate exceeds the first predetermined threshold for a length of time, said length of time being greater than a second predetermined threshold; and means for temporarily modifying said first mode of operation of the device for a predetermined length of time in response to said detected induced tachycardia condition and thereafter restoring the device operation to its first mode of operation, and in response to a subsequent determination of an induced tachycardia condition, modifying the first mode of operation in a semi-permanent manner.