Pacemaker with vasovagal syncope detection

摘要

A rate-responsive cardiac pacemaker implements a novel scheme which detects incipient vasovagal syncope (or other episodes caused by a vasodepressive or cardioinhibitory disorder) when a) the heart rate drops below a programmable minimum size, and b) the rate after said drop is below a programmable maximum drop ending rate. The pacemaker implements a stability and intervention procedure upon the detection of an episode, in which it ignores transient drops in rate, and paces at a predetermined high rate if the drops are stable. The pacemaker then gradually reduces the pacing rate over a predetermined time to the pre-episodic level. A sleep disable feature disables the vasovagal syncope detection and therapy features during the patient's sleeping hours to reduce or eliminate false positive responses.