Method and apparatus for control of A-V interval

Claim 2

An electrical medical stimulator, comprising: electrode means for delivery of electrical stimulation to the fat pad associated with the AV node of a human heart; means for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations of said human heart; pulse generator means for generating stimulus pulses and for providing said stimulus pulses to said first electrode means; means for sensing the rate at which said human heart is beating; means for sensing the durations of the A-V conduction intervals of said human heart means for defining a desired A-V conduction interval range as a function of heart rate; and control means responsive to said A-V interval sensing means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means to vary the duration of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 3

An electrical medical stimulator, comprising: electrode means for delivery of electrical stimulation to the fat pad associated with the AV node of a human heart; means for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations of said human heart; pulse generator means for generating stimulus pulses and for providing said stimulus pulses to said first electrode means; means for sensing the durations of the A-V conduction intervals of said human heart means for defining a desired A-V conduction interval range; and control means responsive to said A-V interval sensing means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means to vary the durations of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 4

An electrical medical stimulator, comprising: electrode means for delivery of electrical stimulation to the fat pad associated with the AV node of a human heart; means for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations of said human heart; pulse generator means for generating stimulus pulses and for providing said stimulus pulses to said first electrode means; means for sensing the durations of the A-V conduction intervals of said human heart means for defining a desired A-V conduction interval range; and control means responsive to said A-V interval sensing means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means to vary the durations of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 5

An electrical medical stimulator, comprising: electrode means for delivery of electrical stimulation to the fat pad associated with the AV node of a human heart; means for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations of said human heart; pulse generator means for generating stimulus pulses and for providing said stimulus pulses to said first electrode means; means for measuring a physiologic parameter indicative of the need for cardiac output; means for sensing the durations of the A-V conduction intervals of said human heart means for defining a desired A-V conduction interval range as a function of said physiologic parameter; control means responsive to said A-V interval sensing means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means to vary the durations of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 6

An electrical medical stimulator, comprising: electrode means for delivery of electrical stimulation to the fat pad associated with the AV node of a human heart; means for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations of said human heart; pulse generator means for generating stimulus pulses and for providing said stimulus pulses to said first electrode means; means for measuring a physiologic parameter indicative of the need for cardiac output; means for sensing the durations of the A-V conduction intervals of said human heart means for defining a desired A-V conduction interval range as a function of said physiologic parameter; control means responsive to said A-V interval sensing means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means to vary the durations of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 7

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising: means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm; and means for activating the operation of said pulse generator means in response to the occurrence of said predefined heart rhythm.

Claim 8

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 4, wherein said means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm comprises means for detecting the occurrence of a rapid heart rate.

Claim 9

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 4, wherein said means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm comprises means for detecting the occurrence of PVC's.

Claim 10

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 4, wherein said control means comprises means for controlling operation of said pulse generator means during the occurrence of said predefined heart rhythm to vary the durations of said A-V conduction intervals to fall within said desired interval range.

Claim 11

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 4, wherein said control means comprises means for limiting the number of said stimulus pulses delivered following activation of said pulse generator means in response to the occurrence of said predefined heart rhythm.

Claim 12

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising: means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm; and means for disabling the operation of said pulse generator means in response to detection of said predefined heart rhythm.

Claim 13

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 9, wherein said means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm comprises means for detecting the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia.

Claim 14

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 9, wherein said means for detecting the occurrence of a predefined heart rhythm comprises means for detecting a change in the durations of said A-V conduction intervals, following generation of said stimulus pulses.

Claim 15

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising means for activating said pulse generator to generate said stimulus pulses in response to said A-V conduction intervals falling below said desired interval range.

Claim 16

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising means for preventing said pulse generator from generating said stimulus pulses in response to said A-V conduction intervals falling above said desired interval range.

Claim 17

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising means for varying parameters of said stimulus pulses in response to said A-V conduction intervals falling below said desired interval range.

Claim 18

An electrical medical stimulator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising means for varying parameters of said stimulus pulses in response to said A-V conduction intervals falling above said desired interval range.