Patent ID: 7725189
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a capture verification condition for a heart stimulating system, said heart stimulating system comprising a control circuit, a pacing electrode, a sensing electrode, a pacing circuit electrically connected to the pacing electrode, and a sensing circuit electrically connected to the sensing electrode, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said pacing electrode to allow said pacing electrode to deliver pacing pulses in vivo to a heart chamber; positioning said sensing electrode to allow said sensing electrode to sense evoked response in vivo produced in response to said pacing pulses delivered by said pacing electrode; delivering a plurality of pacing pulses via said pacing electrode to said heart chamber, said plurality of pacing pulses including pulses causing said heart chamber to capture and pulses which do not cause said heart chamber to capture; sensing signals in said sensing circuitry, as sensed signals, via said sensing electrode within a time window following each of said plurality of delivered pacing pulses, and storing the sensed signals in a memory; automatically electronically categorizing the stored signals in a first group, representing captured cases, and a second group, representing non-captured cases; based on said stored signals, automatically electronically determining a weight vector that assigns different weights to different parts of each sensed signal within said time window, and automatically electronically calculating a weighted area within said time window by applying said weight vector to the signals in said first group and the signals in said second group, said weight vector causing a greater distinction between the signals in said first group and the signals in said second group than would exist without said weight vector; and automatically electronically determining a capture verification condition by determining whether said weighted area of a sensed signal within said time window is above or below a predetermined value.