Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for detecting and treating a plurality of cardiac dysrhythmias in an ailing human heart using an implantable programmable automatic cardioverter defibrillator electrically connected to a plurality of implantable electrodes placed proximate the human heart, the method comprising the device-implanted steps of: a) providing a plurality of cardiac sensing modalites; b) selecting from the plurality of sensing modalites a set of two or more corner point values for each sensing modality provided; c) programming at least two sets of corner point values into the cardioverter defibrillator; d) combining the selected sets of corner point values within the programming as interdependent detection parameter thresholds defining a plurality of cardioverter defibrillator detection envelopes; e) detecting a cardiac dysrhythmia falling within the detection envelopes; f) diagnosing a cardiac dysrhythmia from results of the detected cardiac dysrhythmia based on the detection envelopes; and g) providing a cardioverter defibrillator treatment regimen consistent with the diagnosed cardiac dysrhythmia.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for detecting and treating a plurality of cardiac dysrhythmias in an ailing human heart using an implantable programmable automatic cardioverter defibrillator electrically connected to a plurality of implantable electrodes placed proximate the human heart, the method comprising the device-implanted steps of: a) providing a plurality of cardiac sensing modalites; b) selecting from the plurality of sensing modalites a set of two or more corner point values for each sensing modality provided; c) programming at least two sets of corner point values into the cardioverter defibrillator; d) combining the selected sets of corner point values within the programming as interdependent detection parameter thresholds defining a plurality of cardioverter defibrillator detection envelopes; e) detecting a cardiac dysrhythmia falling within the detection envelopes; f) diagnosing a cardiac dysrhythmia from results of the detected cardiac dysrhythmia based on the detection envelopes; and g) providing a cardioverter defibrillator treatment regimen consistent with the diagnosed cardiac dysrhythmia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of providing a plurality of cardiac sensing modalities comprises providing a range of modalities selected from a list of modalities consisting of: cardiac electrical cycle rates; ventricular beat to beat intervals; ventricular interval instability; duration periods during which cardiac cycle rates are measured; and acceleration of cardiac electrical cycle rates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 in which step d defines at least three combined detection envelopes, one each for ventricular fibrillation, high rate ventricular tachycardia and low rate ventricular tachycardia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying at least one of the selected sets of corner point values to include a rate ruling zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
211 words
A cardiac dysrhythmia detection system for a programmable implantable cardioverter defibrillator that determines whether one or more preprogrammed electrical countershock therapies should be delivered through a plurality of implantable electrodes placed proximate a human heart, the detection system comprising: means for providing electrical signals representative of a plurality of cardiac sensing modalities; and control means for analyzing the electrical signals and, in response, determining whether a preprogrammed electrical countershock therapy should be delivered by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, the control means including: memory means for storing values defining one or more interdependent detection parameter thresholds, each threshold being established for a programmably selectable combination of two or more of the plurality of cardiac sensing modalities by selecting at least two corner points as a set of corner points that define a boundary condition for the particular combination of the plurality of cardiac sensing modalities for a given cardiac dysrhythmia; means for comparing the electrical signals to the one or more interdependent detection parameter thresholds and automatically diagnosing a cardiac dysrhythmia whenever the interdependent detection parameter thresholds are exceeded by the electrical signals for the particular combination of cardiac sensing modalities; and means for selecting one or move preprogrammed electrical countershock therapies to be delivered in response to the means for comparing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
211 words
A cardiac dysrhythmia detection system for a programmable implantable cardioverter defibrillator that determines whether one or more preprogrammed electrical countershock therapies should be delivered through a plurality of implantable electrodes placed proximate a human heart, the detection system comprising: means for providing electrical signals representative of a plurality of cardiac sensing modalities; and control means for analyzing the electrical signals and, in response, determining whether a preprogrammed electrical countershock therapy should be delivered by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, the control means including: memory means for storing values defining one or more interdependent detection parameter thresholds, each threshold being established for a programmably selectable combination of two or more of the plurality of cardiac sensing modalities by selecting at least two corner points as a set of corner points that define a boundary condition for the particular combination of the plurality of cardiac sensing modalities for a given cardiac dysrhythmia; means for comparing the electrical signals to the one or more interdependent detection parameter thresholds and automatically diagnosing a cardiac dysrhythmia whenever the interdependent detection parameter thresholds are exceeded by the electrical signals for the particular combination of cardiac sensing modalities; and means for selecting one or move preprogrammed electrical countershock therapies to be delivered in response to the means for comparing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The detection system of claim 5 in which the means for comparing uses combination of two or more cardiac sensing modalities to define a multivariant boundary condition for the given cardiac dysrhythmia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The detection system of claim 5 in which the plurality of cardiac sensing modalities comprises providing a range of modalities selected from a list of modalities consisting of: cardiac electrical cycle rates; ventricular beat to beat intervals; ventricular interval instability; duration periods during which cardiac cycle rates are measured; and acceleration of cardiac electrical cycle rates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The detection system of claim 5 in which the memory means defines more than one set of corner points for a particular combination of cardiac sensing modalities so as to create a detection envelope for each of a different type of cardiac dysrhythmia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The detection system of claim 8 in which the memory means uses more than one set of corner points for a particular combination of cardiac sensing modalities to define at least three combined performance envelopes, one each for ventricular fibrillation, high rate ventricular tachycardia and low rate ventricular tachycardia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The detection system of claim 5 further comprising means for modifying at least one or more interdependent detection parameter thresholds to include a rate ruling zone.