Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Michael L Favet

Gary Thomas Seim

Hal M Propp

Carlos Alberto Ricci

Victor T Chen

An implantable cardiac device detects a patient therapy request originating from external to the implantable device. A shock therapy delay period is timed in response to the detection of the patient therapy request. Atrial shock therapy is provided to the patient after expiration of the shock therapy delay period (if the presence of an ongoing atrial arrhythmia is detected). The patient therapy request may be provided by a patient activator including a magnet for operating a reed switch in the implanted device to provide the request. A patient activator including an input and receiver/transmitter circuitry may be employed to request the immediate providing of atrial shock therapy, and/or to set the duration the shock therapy delay period. By allowing specific delays to therapy after a therapy request, a patient can prepare for the requested therapy and thereby mitigate therapy discomfort.

Delay to therapy following patient controlled atrial shock therapy request

Delay to therapy following controlled atrial shock therapy request

An apparatus and method of automatically measuring the lead impedance of a high energy shock lead before delivery of high energy therapy used to treat heart arrhythmia. In one example, an impedance measurement circuit measures the impedance between electrodes in a plurality of pairs of electrodes. The measured lead electrode impedance is compared to a predetermined value to detect if the lead is shorted to another lead. If a high-energy shock electrode is shorted to another lead, a shorted lead indicator is set to a fault state. Based on the state of the shorted lead indicator, a processor prevents or allows the delivery of high energy therapy. By checking for a lead short before delivery of the therapy, all of the energy of the therapy is delivered to the patient rather than being bypassed by a shorted lead connection.

Shock lead impedance measurement to ensure safe delivery of shock therapy to maintain circuit integrity

An implantable cardiac device detects a patient therapy request originating from external to the implantable device. A shock therapy delay period is timed in response to the detection of the patient therapy request. Atrial shock therapy is provided to the patient after expiration of the shock therapy delay period (if the presence of an ongoing atrial arrhythmia is detected). The patient therapy request may be provided by a patient activator including a magnet for operating a reed switch in the implanted device to provide the request. A patient activator including an input and receiver/transmitter circuitry may be employed to request the immediate providing of atrial shock therapy, and/or to set the duration of the shock therapy delay period. By allowing specific delays to therapy after a therapy request, a patient can prepare for the requested therapy and thereby mitigate therapy discomfort.

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Vadnais Heights, MN, United States of America

Michael L Favet