Patent ID: 8224443

Claim:
A method for controlling pacemaker therapy in a patient with an implanted biological pacemaker, comprising: pacing a heart using an electronic pacemaker; configuring the electronic pacemaker to periodically enter a biological pacemaker weaning mode further including the steps of: ceasing pacing for at least a predetermined length of time; monitoring the heart to detect electrical depolarizations of the heart during the predetermined length of time; determining the length of time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization; determining if the length of time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization is less than a maximum predetermined interval; continuing to withhold pacemaker therapy as long as the length of time is less than the maximum predetermined interval; and returning to a non-weaning mode if the length of time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization exceeds a maximum value, wherein the weaning mode further includes continuing to monitor subsequent electrical depolarizations while withholding pacing therapy; determining if a cardiac cycle length decreases subsequent to cessation of pacing; continuing to withhold pacing therapy if the cardiac cycle length decreases during the time between the cessation of pacing and the detected electrical depolarization within a predetermined number of cardiac cycles; and resuming pacing therapy if the cardiac cycle length does not decrease to a time less than a predetermined cycle length goal within a predetermined number of cardiac cycles.