Patent ID: 8190256

Claim:
A cardiac pacing device, comprising: one or more electrodes configured to electrically couple to a heart; a pulse generator coupled to the one or more electrodes, the pulse generator configured to deliver pacing pulses to the heart; circuitry configured to determine a patient's sleep/wake status; and a therapy controller coupled to the pulse generator and the circuitry, the therapy controller configured to control delivery of a primary cardiac pacing therapy associated with one or more primary pacing parameters, including a primary lower rate limit, transition from the primary pacing therapy to an alternate cardiac pacing therapy associated with one or more alternate pacing parameters, including an alternate lower rate limit, the transition based on the patient's sleep/wake status, compare the primary lower rate limit and the alternate lower rate limit, and select, based on comparison of the primary lower rate limit and the alternate lower rate limit, between pacing during the alternate cardiac pacing therapy using a sensor indicated rate based on the primary lower rate limit and pacing during the alternate cardiac pacing therapy using a sensor indicated rate based on the alternate lower rate limit.