Cardiac pacing sensing and control
Inventors
Sanghera, Rick • Marcovecchio, Alan • McGeehan, Sean P.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12303696-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cardiac pacing system having a pulse generator for generating therapeutic electric pulses, a lead electrically coupled with the pulse generator having an electrode, a first sensor configured to monitor a physiological characteristic of a patient, a second sensor configured to monitor a second physiological characteristic of a patient and a controller. The controller can determine a pacing vector based on variables including a signal received from the second sensor, and cause the pulse generator to deliver the therapeutic electrical pulses according to the determined pacing vector. The controller can also modify pacing characteristics based on variables including a signal received from the second sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a cardiac pacing system that includes a pulse generator with a housing, at least one lead having an electrode that electrically couples with the pulse generator, sensors configured to monitor a physiological characteristic of a patient, and a controller. The controller receives input signals from the sensors and applies a signal selection algorithm to select from the input signals the input signal(s) that result in the highest sensitivity or specificity for detecting a heartbeat.
The controller generates therapeutic electrical pulses based at least partially on the selected signal(s). The signal selection can also include acceptability requirements and acceptability metrics, and input signals below the requirements are discarded.
The acceptability requirements can be based on signal amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio, signal width, frequency spectrum, and timing ratios, and can be modified based on heart rate, posture, or time of day. The signal selection algorithm can assign greater weight to input signal(s) that are more deterministic for heartbeat detection, and selected signals can be formed by combining two or more of the input signals.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claim types: a cardiac pacing system claim and a non-transitory, machine-readable medium claim. Across both independent claims, there are two core inventive operations: sensor-driven selection of heartbeat-detecting input signal(s) using a sensitivity or specificity criterion, and generation of therapeutic electrical pulses based at least partially on the selected signal(s).
Sensor-input heartbeat selection for highest sensitivity or specificity
A controller receives input signals from the sensors and applies a signal selection algorithm to select from the input signals the input signal(s) that result in the highest sensitivity or specificity for detecting a heartbeat.
Therapeutic pulse generation based on selected signals
The controller generates the therapeutic electrical pulses based at least partially on the selected signal(s), where the therapeutic electrical pulses are generated by the pulse generator.
Non-transitory instructions performing sensor-input heartbeat selection and pulse generation
A non-transitory, machine-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed, cause operations comprising receiving input signals from sensors, applying a signal selection algorithm to select the input signal(s) resulting in the highest sensitivity or specificity for detecting a heartbeat, and generating therapeutic electrical pulses based at least partially on the selected signal(s) generated by a pulse generator.
The independent claim coverage centers on selecting among multiple sensor-derived input signals for heartbeat detection using a sensitivity or specificity criterion, then generating therapeutic electrical pulses based at least partially on the selected signals. Dependent claim refinements described in the provided content add acceptability requirement-based discarding, context-dependent modification of those requirements, and signal weighting favoring more deterministic heartbeat detection, with optional combining of multiple input signals.
Stated Advantages
Improves heartbeat detection by selecting input signal(s) that result in the highest sensitivity or specificity.
Enables context-dependent signal selection by modifying acceptability requirements based on heart rate, posture, or time of day.
Enhances selection quality by assigning greater weight to input signal(s) that are more deterministic for heartbeat detection.
Supports more reliable heartbeat detection by discarding input signals that fail acceptability requirements based on signal amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio, signal width, frequency spectrum, and timing ratios.
Documented Applications
Cardiac pacing systems that generate therapeutic electrical pulses using sensor signals to detect heartbeats via selected input signal(s).
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