US5411531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for control of A-V interval
Assignee: DUTHLER REED A
•
Filing: 1993-09-23
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Granted: 1995-05-02
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Expires: 2013-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling the duration of A-V conduction intervals in a patient's heart. Stimulation of the AV nodal fat pad is employed to maintain the durations of the A-V conduction intervals within a desired interval range, which may vary as a function of sensed heart rate or other physiologic parameter. AV nodal fat pad stimulation may also be triggered in response to defined heart rhythms such as a rapid rate or the occurrence of PVC's, to terminate or prevent induction of arrhythmias.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. S. Hill
- 👤 Rahul Mehra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/3621; A61N1/3622; A61N1/3627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
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 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
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
Dependent Claim
111 words
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
Dependent Claim
111 words
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
Dependent Claim
130 words
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
Dependent Claim
130 words
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
Dependent Claim
47 words
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
Dependent Claim
31 words
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
Dependent Claim
28 words
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
Dependent Claim
46 words
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
Dependent Claim
40 words
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
Dependent Claim
46 words
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
Dependent Claim
29 words
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
Dependent Claim
40 words
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
Dependent Claim
40 words
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
Dependent Claim
40 words
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
Dependent Claim
37 words
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
Dependent Claim
37 words
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.
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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) | 1998-05-01 | 1998-10-31 | 1999-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-10-31 | 2003-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-01 | 2006-10-31 | 2007-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |