Patent ID: 8934971
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. An implantable cardiac stimulation device comprising: a first sensing circuit that senses atrial activity of a heart; and a pulse generator that, responsive to the first sensing circuit sensing an AF episode, initiates delivery of a first plurality of stimulation pulses to the AV node of the heart during an AV nodal refractory period following the sensed AF episode; wherein the pulse generator is arranged to provide the stimulation pulses with an energy above the atrial capture threshold of the heart to extend the AV nodal refractory period; and wherein after the plurality of first stimulation pulses are delivered, a first atrial event of a next cardiac cycle is sensed and a time period T2 is selected so that only a single atrial event occurs during that time period T2, and wherein if it is determined that the AF episode is not terminated, the pulse generator delivers a second plurality of stimulation pulses to the AV node of the heart at the completion of the time period T2.