Apparatus and method for antitachycardia pacing in dual chamber arrhythmia control system

Claim 1

A dual chamber antitachycardia pacing device for the reversion of tachycardias in a heart comprising: means for detecting tachycardia, means for measuring cycle length of said tachycardia, means for determining a VA interval value less than or equal to the tachycardia cycle length, means for determining an initial value AV delay interval, pulse generating means responsive to said tachycardia detecting means for generating heart stimulating pulses for the atrium and for the ventricle, said pulse generating means including means for delivering a series of M pulse trains with each train consisting of a total of 2N pacing pulses delivered in an alternating sequence to the ventricle and to the atrium, so that timing of said delivered pulses is in accordance with the values of the VA interval and the AV interval, whereby each train comprises the delivery of a pacing pulse to the atrium at the expiration of each of N VA delay intervals and a pacing pulse to the ventricle at the expiration of each of N AV delay intervals, and means for varying said AV delay interval from said programmed initial value at least once prior to completion of said series of M pulse trains.

Claim 25

A method of antitachycardia pacing in a dual chamber pacing device comprising the steps of: measuring cycle length of the tachycardia, determining a VA interval value less than or equal to the tachycardia cycle length, determining an initial value of the AV delay interval, delivering a pulse to the ventricle, delivering a pulse to the atrium at the expiration of said determined VA interval value, delivering a pulse to the ventricle at the expiration of said AV interval value, repeating pulse delivery to the atrium and the ventricle until the expiration of N VA intervals and N AV intervals thereby completing a first train of pulses, delivering a series of M trains of pulses similar to said first train of pulses, varying said AV delay interval value from the initial value at least once prior to the completion of said series of M trains of pulses.

Claim 26

A method of antitachycardia pacing in a dual chamber pacing device comprising the steps of: measuring cycle length of the tachycardia, determining a VA interval value less than or equal to the tachycardia cycle length, determining an initial value of the AV delay interval, delivering a pulse to the ventricle, delivering a pulse to the atrium at the expiration of said determined VA interval value, delivering a pulse to the ventricle at the expiration of said AV interval value, repeating pulse delivery to the atrium and the ventricle until the expiration of N VA intervals and N AV intervals thereby completing a first train of pulses, delivering a series of M trains of pulses similar to said first train of pulses, varying said AV delay interval value from the initial value at least once prior to the completion of said series of M trains of pulses.

Claim 51

A method of antitachycardia pacing in a dual chamber pacing device comprising the steps of: detecting a tachycardia, measuring cycle length of the tachycardia, delivering trains of antitachycardia pacing pulses to the atrium and to the ventricle, sensing inherent QRS complexes during the delivery of said trains of pacing pulses, determining an acceleration detection cycle length value less than said tachycardia cycle length, measuring cycle lengths of said sensed QRS complexes, and delivering at least one of cardioversion and defibrillation therapy when a number of said cycle lengths of said sensed QRS complexes are less than said acceleration detection cycle length.

Claim 52

A method of antitachycardia pacing in a dual chamber pacing device comprising the steps of: detecting a tachycardia, measuring cycle length of the tachycardia, delivering trains of antitachycardia pacing pulses to the atrium and to the ventricle, sensing inherent QRS complexes during the delivery of said trains of pacing pulses, determining an acceleration detection cycle length value less than said tachycardia cycle length, measuring cycle lengths of said sensed QRS complexes, and delivering at least one of cardioversion and defibrillation therapy when a number of said cycle lengths of said sensed QRS complexes are less than said acceleration detection cycle length.