Medtronic, Inc.

Lepeng Zeng

John Louis Sommer

Scott J Brabec

Yong-Fu Xiao

Jon F Urban

Jeffrey M Gillberg

Eduardo N Warman

Paul J Degroot

An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.

Using focal myocardial stimulation to distinguish supraventricular tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia

Various techniques for delivering atrial pacing and supraventricular stimulation to achieve a desired ventricular rate and/or cardiac output are described. One example method described includes delivering a pacing signal configured to cause an atrial depolarization to a heart of a patient, wherein the atrial depolarization results in an associated refractory period during the cardiac cycle, and delivering a signal to a supraventricular portion of the heart of the patient subsequent to the atrial refractory period and during a ventricular refractory period of the cardiac cycle.

Supraventricular stimulation to control ventricular rate

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Lepeng Zeng