Patent ID: 7505813
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for use by an implantable medical device for determining a preferred atrioventricular (AV) delay pacing value for use in delivering cardiac pacing therapy to the heart of a patient in which the device is implanted, the method comprising: pacing the heart using an initial AV pacing delay set to a value less than an intrinsic AV conduction delay; sensing an internal electrical cardiac signal between an atrial tip electrode and a case of the implantable device and identifying an atrial event and a subsequent paced ventricular event therein; measuring a time delay between the atrial event and the subsequent paced ventricular event; and determining the preferred AV pacing delay value based on the initial AV pacing delay, the measured time delay between the atrial event and the subsequent paced ventricular event, and on a predetermined preferred time delay to be achieved between atrial events and subsequent paced ventricular events.