Method and apparatus to automatically optimize the pacing mode and pacing cycle parameters of a dual chamber pacemaker

摘要

A cardiac stimulating system incorporating a microprocessor-based controller is designed to automatically optimize both the pacing mode and one or more pacing cycle parameters in a way that results in optimization of a cardiac performance parameter, such as cardiac output. For each of a plurality of modes in which a DDD cardiac pacer can operate, a pacing parameter such as the AV interval of the pacer is incrementally adjusted and following that, an observation is made as to the effect of the adjustment on cardiac output. After the process has been repeated for all possible pacing modes, a determination is made to find the pacing mode and the AV interval or other pacing parameter that results in the maximum cardiac output or other optimal cardiac performance parameter. It is these pacing parameters that are then programmed into the microcontroller for causing the pacemaker to function in the desired mode and at the desired parameter values.