Medtronic, Inc.

Donald N Jensen

Yong Kyun Cho

Scott Eric Jahns

David Lipson

Jon M Ocel

Catherine R Condie

Gregory P Werness

James R Keogh

David E Francischelli

Luc Roland Mongeon

Greg P Werness

Michael F Hess

Linda L Ruetz

Scott Davie

Ulla Strobel

The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus measures sinus tachycardia and a change in the atrial-ventricular conduction, and includes a controller for receiving the measurement of the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction to detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon the sinus tachycardia and the change in the atrial-ventricular conduction.

Apparatus to monitor obstructive sleep apnea termination

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus includes an intracardiac impedance sensor to measure intracardiac impedance, a movement sensor to measure an amount of movement of a patient, and a controller operatively coupled to said intracardiac impedance sensor and said movement sensor, said controller adapted to receive at least one of an intracardiac impedance and the amount of movement of the patient and detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon said intracardiac impedance and said movement.

Method and apparatus to detect and monitor the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea

A suction assisted ablation device having a support surface, suction elements disposed adjacent the support surface, at least one electrode and at least one suction conduit is provided. The device may further include fluid openings, which allow fluid to irrigate target tissue and aid in ablation. A method for ablating tissue using suction is also provided.

Suction stabilized epicardial ablation devices

A method and apparatus for providing a therapy to the patient that includes a therapy component configured to provide the therapy to the patient, sensing circuitry sensing a parameter of the patient, and a microprocessor coupled to the therapy component and the sensing circuitry to determine onset of a first state of the patient in response to the sensed physiologic parameter, and to determine whether the onset of the first state is detected for a predetermined time period.

Method and apparatus for modifying delivery of a therapy in response to onset of sleep

An implantable device having enhanced capabilities for monitoring a patient's heart rate and respiration trends over extended periods of time is disclosed. The information collected by the implantable device may be stored and telemetered to an associated external device such as a device programmer for display and analysis. Heart rates are measured by measuring the time intervals between sensed depolarizations of a chamber of the patient's heart and preceding sensed depolarizations or delivered pacing pulses. Intervals may be measured in the ventricle and/or atrium of the patient's heart. According to another aspect of the invention, an implanted impedance sensor is employed to monitor minute ventilation. The heart rate and minute ventilation data is used to develop long-term trend data used for diagnostic purposes. In one embodiment of the invention, heart interval and minute ventilation measurements are taken only during defined time periods of the night and/or day when the patient is at rest. A sensor such as an activity sensor or metabolic rate sensor may be used to confirm patient inactivity.

Method and apparatus for monitoring heart rate and abnormal respiration

An implantable medical device system is described including an implantable medical device for implantation in a patient. One embodiment of the implantable medical device includes a therapy component for providing a therapy to the patient, a minute ventilation (MV) sensing circuit producing MV values indicative of a MV of the patient at time intervals, and computational circuitry. The computational circuitry receives a number of the MV values over a period of time, calculates a statistical parameter (e.g., a mean) of the MV values, and calculates a deviation of the MV values from the statistical parameter (e.g., a standard deviation of the MV values). The computational circuitry detects an onset of sleep in the patient when the deviation of the MV values from the statistical parameter is less than a predetermined MV threshold value, and signals the therapy component to modify the therapy when the onset of sleep is detected in the patient. A method is disclosed for providing therapy to a patient, including detecting an onset of sleep in the patient, and modifying the therapy following the detecting the onset of sleep in the patient.

Method for providing a therapy to a patient involving modifying the therapy after detecting an onset of sleep in the patient, and implantable medical device embodying same

A method and apparatus for cardiac pacing, which provides for delivery of pacing pulses at an increased rate in response to a detected rapid drop in heart rate. A rapid drop may be detected in response to a drop of greater than a defined amount from the highest detected heart rate, over a preceding time period. Alternatively, an unbroken sequence of pacing pulses delivered at a base pacing rate may trigger pacing at an increased pacing rate.

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Derwood, MD, United States of America

Donald N Jensen