Patent ID: 6259948
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable medical device for stimulating a patient's heart through at least one electrode implanted in electrical contact with the patient's heart, the medical device comprising:a pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode and configured to generate stimulation pulses to thereby stimulate the patient's heart at a controlled rate;a detection circuit electrically coupled to the electrode and configured to receive signals from the patient's heart indicating intrinsic heart beats;a sensor circuit for monitoring a physiologic variable of the patient and for determining whether the patient is in one of at least two physiologic states, wherein a first physiologic state corresponds to the patient being inactive and a second physiologic state corresponds to the patient being active; anda processor, coupled to the pulse generator, the detection circuit, and the sensor circuit, for increasing the controlled rate in response to the absence of an intrinsic heart beat when the sensor circuit determines that the patient is in the active physiologic state.