METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STIMULATING A HEART

摘要

The present invention relates generally to implantable medical devices and more particularly to systems and methods for stimulating a heart of a patient. A first ventricle is activated by delivering stimulation to at least one stimulation site, a point of time for arrival at the AV node for at least one depolarization wave resulting from the stimulation in the first ventricle is estimated and a first activation time interval substantially corresponding to the time interval required for at least one depolarization wave to travel from the stimulation site in the first ventricle to the AV node using the estimated point of time for arrival of the depolarization wave and a point of time for delivery of stimulation is computed. Thereafter, the other ventricle is stimulated by delivering stimulation to at least one stimulation site. A point of time for arrival at the AV node for at least one depolarization wave resulting from the stimulation in the other ventricle is then estimated and a second activation time interval substantially corresponding to the time required for at least one depolarization wave to travel from the stimulation site in the other ventricle to the AV node using the estimated arrival of the depolarization wave and the point of time for delivery of stimulation is computed. Based on these activation time intervals and a difference between the intervals, a pacing therapy can be determined, wherein the first ventricle is paced prior to activation of the other ventricle if the activation time difference indicates that the first activation time interval is longer than the second activation time interval and the other ventricle is paced prior to activation of the first ventricle if the activation time difference indicates that the second activation time interval is longer than the first activation time interval.

主权项

1. A method for determining cardiac pacing therapy using an implantable cardiac stimulation device, said method comprising:
activating a first ventricle by delivering stimulation to at least one stimulation site; estimating a point of time for arrival at the AV node for at least one depolarization wave resulting from the stimulation of the first ventricle; computing a first activation time interval substantially corresponding to the time interval required for at least one depolarization wave to travel from the stimulation site of the first ventricle to the AV node using the estimated point of time for arrival of the depolarization wave and a point of time for delivery of stimulation; activating the other ventricle by delivering stimulation to at least one stimulation site; estimating a point of time for arrival at the AV node for at least one depolarization wave resulting from the stimulation of the other ventricle; computing a second activation time interval substantially corresponding to the time required for at least one depolarization wave to travel from the stimulation site in the other ventricle to the AV node using the estimated arrival of the depolarization wave and the point of time for delivery of stimulation; and determining a pacing therapy based on an activation time interval difference between the first and second activation time intervals, wherein the first ventricle is paced prior to activation of the other ventricle if the activation time difference indicates that the first activation time interval is longer than the second activation time interval and the other ventricle is paced prior to activation of the first ventricle if the activation time difference indicates that the second activation time interval is longer than the first activation time interval.