Patent ID: 6466821
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable cardiac stimulation device for stimulating a patient's heart based upon a determination of the patient's body position and activity level, the stimulation device comprising:a pulse generator configured to generate stimulation pulses at a controlled stimulation rate; a first sensor positioned along a first sensor axis and configured to deliver a first signal having a DC position signal component indicative of the position of the patient's body along the first sensor axis and an AC activity level component indicative of activity of the patient's body along the first sensor axis; a second sensor positioned along a second sensor axis, essentially orthogonal to the first sensor axis, and configured to deliver a second signal having a DC position signal component indicative of the position of the patient's body along the second sensor axis and an AC activity level component indicative of activity of the patient's body along the second sensor axis; a controller, connected to the pulse generator and the first and second sensors, that triggers the pulse generator to generate stimulation pulses in response to activity level signals and a patient's calculated body position; and wherein the controller periodically calculates the patient's body position as a function of the activity level and position signals.