Patent ID: 6748271
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method for operating a cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:sensing ventricular depolarizations and generating ventricular sense signals in accordance therewith; detecting a ventricular bradycardia when a ventricular rate is below a specified bradycardia limit value; initiating delivery of one or more electrostimulation pulses to the ventricle during a refractory period of the ventricle when bradycardia is detected to thereby increase the contractility of the ventricle; terminating delivery of electrostimulation pulses when the ventricular rate equals or exceeds the bradycardia limit value; and, increasing the bradycardia limit value to a hysteresis value when delivery of the electrostimulation pulses is begun and returning the bradycardia limit value to its previous non-hysteresis value when delivery of the electrostimulation pulses is terminated.