APPARATUS FOR SETTING THE PARAMETERS OF AN ALERT WINDOW USED FOR TIMING THE DELIVERY OF ETC SIGNALS TO A HEART UNDER VARYING CARDIAC CONDITIONS

摘要

A method for setting the parameters of an alert time window in an excitable tissue control device operative under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient. The method includes providing said excitable tissue control device with a set of data including a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters. Each set of window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of the different cardiac conditions. Each set of window parameters includes at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point of the alert window. The sets of window parameters are obtained by processing data collected within a data collection session from a plurality of cardiac beats of the same patient under the different cardiac conditions. The methods updates for each current beat cycle the values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining variables corresponding to said cardiac condition defining parameters, automatically selects a current set of alert time window parameters based on the current values of the cardiac condition defining variables, starts and terminates the alert time window based on the time of detecting a first depolarization event at a first cardiac site, detects within the duration of the alert window a second depolarization event at a second cardiac site, and triggers the delivery of a delayed non-excitatory excitable tissue control signal at the second cardiac site based on the time of detection of the second depolarization event. The different cardiac conditions include different beat cycle lengths, and may include beats which are or are not influenced by prior application of ETC signals to the heart and, where relevant, naturally and artificially paced beats. The alert window parameters may include an event detection sensitivity level parameter. Implantable and external devices are describe which are adapted for implementing the disclosed method.