Patent ID: 7181279

Claim:
An implantable heart stimulating device comprising: a first pacing circuit connectable to a first pacing electrode, adapted to interact with a first ventricle of a heart, to allow said first pacing circuit to deliver pacing pulses via the first pacing electrode to pace the first ventricle; a first sensing circuit connectable to a first sensing electrode, adapted to interact with the first ventricle, to transfer signals to the first sensing circuit to allow said first sensing circuit to sense said first ventricle; a second pacing circuit connectable to a second pacing electrode, adapted to interact with a second ventricle of the heart, to allow said second pacing circuit to deliver pacing pulses via said second pacing electrode to pace the second ventricle; a second sensing circuit connectable to a second sensing electrode, adapted to interact with the second ventricle, to transfer signals to said second sensing circuit to allow said second sensing circuit to sense said second ventricle; and a control circuit that operates with time cycles corresponding to normal heart cycles, said control circuit operating with a first time delay to cause, within one of said time cycles, at least said first pacing circuit to pace the first ventricle or said first sensing circuit to sense the first ventricle, and to thereafter cause said second pacing circuit to deliver a pacing pulse to the second ventricle with said first time delay, said control circuit also operating with a criterion that characterizes a signal sensed by said first sensing circuit or said second sensing circuit, that satisfies said criterion, as being in a category of signals representative of premature ventricular contraction, and said control circuit further operating with at least one of a second time delay, each different from said first time delay, and a third time delay for, within one of said time cycles, causing at least one of said first sensing circuit to sense the first ventricle and said second sensing circuit to sense the second ventricle, followed by delivery, if a predetermined pacing rule is satisfied, of a pacing pulse to the second ventricle, with said second time delay with said second pacing circuit, if the sensing was done by said first sensing circuit, or to deliver a pacing pulse to the first ventricle with said third time delay with said first pacing circuit if the sensing was done with said second sensing circuit.