Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc.

David Bassin

Anthony J Murphy

David Mason

John P Wickham

Anthony C Stephens

Paul Lunsmann

Peter M Nickolls

Geoff Drane

Robert Dodd

Barry Flower

Tony Murphy

A method, useable in implantable cardioverter defibrillators, for classifying heart rhythms of a patient by means of electrogram morphology. A number of features (metrics) of the electrogram are measured to form a description of the shape of individual electrograms, and the metrics are then converted into a cardiac rhythm diagnosis by means of a pattern classification technique.

Method of classifying heart rhythms by analyzing several morphology

An implantable dual chamber ICD and method senses atrial (A-A) and ventricular (V-V) intervals, calculates the ratio (A/V interval ratio) of A-A intervals to V-V intervals, classifies heart rhythms with V-V intervals (i) above a revert rate threshold as not tachycardia, (ii) below a high rate threshold as treatable tachycardia, (iii) between the two thresholds and below an A-dominant A/V interval ratio threshold as a non-treatable tachycardia, (iv) between the revert rate threshold and the high rate threshold and above a V-dominant threshold as treatable tachycardia and, when the heart rhythm is intermediate all four thresholds, (v) utilizes one or a combination of advanced discriminators (e.g., ventricular windowing, ventricular interval variability, sudden onset, AV-delay creep, ventricular electrogram morphology, active sensing, minute ventilation, or right ventricular pressure) to classify whether the heart rhythm is a non-treatable or a treatable tachycardia.

Heart rhythm classification method, and implantable dual chamber

An apparatus and a method for discriminating between tachycardias of physiological origin, and those of pathological origin having similar atrial and ventricular rates, are disclosed. The apparatus includes two sensing electrodes for registering the electrograms from the atrium and the ventricle of the heart. There is further included a signal processing element for determining the times of atrial and ventricular events, and an algorithm for classifying the heart rhythm. The algorithm includes a means for discriminating between different types of heart rhythms having overlapping ventricular rates and having similar atrial and ventricular rates. The method utilizes an analysis of the relationships between successive atrial and ventricular intervals (i.e., atrial-atrial (AA), ventricular-ventricular (VV) and atrial-ventricular (AV) intervals) in discriminating between such heart rhythms.

Apparatus and method for discriminating between associated and

Apparatus and method for discriminating between heart rhythms with

An apparatus and method for the detection and treatment of arrhythmias using a processor having a neural network with a hierarchical arrangement including a first lower level for classifying individual waveforms, a second higher level for diagnosing detected arrhythmias and a third higher level for the application of therapy in response to a diagnosed arrhythmia. The neural network may be a back propogation neural network or an associative memory type neural network. The arrhythmias detected may be at least one of bradycardia, tachycardia and fibrillation. The apparatus may include a cardioverting/defibrillating pacemaker. In general, the apparatus acquires physiological signals representative of heart activity in a patient. A neural network receives the physiological signals and determines if any arrhythmia is present, and if present, selects therapy to be applied to the heart. A therapy generator then applies the therapy selected by the neural network. The physiological signals may be processed or unprocessed ECG signal, signals indicative of the properties of the blood including the presence of gases, blood temperature, and blood flow signals or signals representative of ventricular wall impedance or ventricular volume.

Apparatus and method for the detection and treatment of arrhythmias

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Coogee, Australia

David Bassin