Implantable apparatus for the early diagnosis and suppression of tachycardia in the heart

摘要

An implantable apparatus for the early diagnosis of tachycardia in the heart is provided with a microelectrode array, which is in contact with the cardiac muscle tissue, for detecting stimulus conduction potentials in the cardiac muscle tissue, a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the refractory time of the cardiac muscle cells in the monitored cardiac region, a measuring device, which is in connection with the microelectrode array, for determining the stimulus conduction velocity in the monitored cardiac muscle region, a computing device for determining the product value of the refractory time and the stimulus conduction velocity, a comparator for comparing the product value with a tachycardia threshold, any falling short of the tachycardia threshold signaling a condition of the heart in risk of tachycardia, a stimulation arrangement for generating antitachycardia stimulation upon detection of a condition of risk of tachycardia in particular via the microelectrode array, and a control unit for controlling the measuring and evaluation processes within the apparatus.