Patent ID: 6748267
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A heart therapy device, comprising:a heart rate detection means for detecting a heart rate, the heart rate detection means having an output; an evaluation and control means coupled to the output of the heart rate detection means, the evaluation and control means having an output and being for evaluating a measured heart rate, including allocating the measured heart rate to one of a first, second and third heart rate value range, and for outputting a therapy control signal in accordance with said allocation, the evaluation and control means including: a three-area memory for storing the first, second, and third heart rate value ranges, the heart rate value ranges ascending incrementally in value, a heart rate discriminator coupled to the heart rate detection means and the three-area memory for allocating a measured heart rate to the first, second or third heart rate value range, and for outputting a corresponding first, second or third discriminator output signal, a stability evaluation means for evaluating heart rate stability over a predetermined period of time in response to the output of the second heart rate discriminator output signal and outputting a stability output signal, the stability evaluation means including: a heart rate measured value memory for storing a predetermined number of heart rate measured values or of all heart rate values measured within a predetermined period of time, a statistical processing unit connected to said heart rate measured value memory for statistically processing and assessing a heart rate stability value, and a stability discriminator stage for outputting a first stability signal if the heart rate stability is above a predetermined threshold value, and a second stability signal if the heart rate stability is below the predetermined threshold value, a logical processing unit for processing the second discriminator output signal and the stability output signal for generating a second or third therapy control signal, while the first and third discriminator output signals being directly outputted as first and third therapy control signals, respectively; and a therapy means coupled to the output of said evaluation and control means for producing at least two different, uniquely pre-defined therapies in response to said second and third therapy control signal, respectively, wherein the logical processing unit outputs the second therapy control signal in response to the generation of the first stability signal, and outputs the third therapy control signal in response to the generation of the second stability signal upon a heart rate lying within the second heart rate value range.