US5042497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrhythmia prediction and prevention for implanted devices
Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
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Filing: 1990-01-30
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2010-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias for use in combination with an implanted arrhythmia treatment device comprising means for sensing the neural activity of a patient and triggering the implanted arrhythmia treatment device to take preventative and curative actions for an impending arrhythmia upon an elevation of the neural activity. The preventative actions include overdrive pacing of the heart, charging a defibrillator capacitor, activating an alternative cardiac sensing scheme, and applying an anti-arrhythmia drug to the heart of a patient.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Edward Shapland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/36585; A61N1/37; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3956; A61N1/3962; A61N1/39622
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias for use in combination with an implantable arrhythmia treatment device, said system comprising: means for monitoring the neural activity of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; means for taking actions in said implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon said means for monitoring detecting a predetermined change in said neural activity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias for use in combination with an implantable arrhythmia treatment device, said system comprising: means for monitoring the neural activity of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; means for taking actions in said implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon said means for monitoring detecting a predetermined change in said neural activity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the neural activity being monitored is sympathetic or parasympathetic neural activity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for determining the heart rate variability based upon the interval between consecutive heart beats.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for determining the respiration rate variability based upon the interval between consecutive breaths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for measuring the systolic time interval of the heart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for overdrive pacing the heart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions charges a defibrillation capacitor in said implanted device in preparation for delivering a defibrillation pulse to the patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for adjusting a particular mode of therapy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for activating a cardiac sensing scheme in said implanted arrhythmia treatment device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for alerting a patient in which the implantable arrhythmia treatment device is implanted of said impending arrhythmia by said alarm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for applying a cardiovascular drug to the heat of the patient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for storing data relating to heart function for later review by a physician.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias for use in combination with an implantable arrhythmia treatment device, said system comprising: means for monitoring the sympathetic neural activity of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; means for monitoring the ECG of the heart of the patient; means for detecting the concurrence of both a change in the sympathetic neural activity and an abnormal characteristic of said ECG, and generating a concurrence output signal; means for taking actions in said implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon the generation of said concurrence output signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias for use in combination with an implantable arrhythmia treatment device, said system comprising: means for monitoring the sympathetic neural activity of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; means for monitoring the ECG of the heart of the patient; means for detecting the concurrence of both a change in the sympathetic neural activity and an abnormal characteristic of said ECG, and generating a concurrence output signal; means for taking actions in said implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon the generation of said concurrence output signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for monitoring the autonomic neural activity comprises means for determining the heart rate variability based upon the interval between consecutive heart beats.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for monitoring the autonomic neural activity comprises means for determining the respiration rate variability based upon the interval between consecutive breaths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for monitoring the autonomic neural activity comprises means for measuring the systolic time interval of the heart.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for overdrive pacing the heart.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for taking actions charges a defibrillation capacitor in said implanted device in preparation for delivering a defibrillation pulse to the patient.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for choosing a particular mode of therapy for preventing the onset of the arrhythmia.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for taking actions comprises means for activating a cardiac sensing scheme in said implanted arrhythmia treatment device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias comprising the steps of: sensing the neural activity of the heart of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; triggering an implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to take actions to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon an elevation of the sympathetic neural or reduction in parasympathetic activity.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias comprising the steps of: sensing the neural activity of the heart of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; triggering an implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to take actions to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon an elevation of the sympathetic neural or reduction in parasympathetic activity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of sensing senses the sympathetic neural activity of the heart of the patient.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of triggering an implanted arrhythmia treatment device comprises overdrive pacing of the heart.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of triggering an implanted arrhythmia treatment device comprises charging a defibrillation capacitor in preparation for delivering a defibrillation pulse.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of triggering an implanted arrhythmia treatment device comprises activating an alternative cardiac sensing scheme.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of triggering an implanted arrhythmia device comprises the application of a cardiovascular drug.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said step of triggering an implanted arrhythmia treatment device comprises the application of an anti-arrhythmia drug to the heart of the patient.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias comprising the steps of: sensing the neural activity of the heart of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; sensing the ECG of the heart of the patient; triggering an implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to take actions to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon the concurrence of a change in the neural activity and an abnormal condition of the ECG.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for predicting and preventing cardiac arrhythmias comprising the steps of: sensing the neural activity of the heart of a patient to predict an impending arrhythmia; sensing the ECG of the heart of the patient; triggering an implantable arrhythmia treatment device prior to an initial irregular beat of said impending arrhythmia to take actions to prevent the initial irregular beat or prepare for said arrhythmia upon the concurrence of a change in the neural activity and an abnormal condition of the ECG.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said step of sensing senses the autonomic neural activity of the heart of the patient.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-26 | 2003-02-25 | 2003-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |