46 results about "Atrial tachycardia" patented technology

A method and apparatus for detecting atrial arrhythmias and discriminating atrial fibrillation (AF) and organized atrial tachycardia (OAT) that includes defining a threshold detection criteria for a cluster signature evidence metric corresponding to a Lorenz distribution of ventricular cycle lengths representative of AF or OAT. Using a signal containing VCL information, a number of consecutive ventricular cycle lengths are determined during a selected time interval for generating a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional histogram as a numerical representation of a Lorenz plot of VCLs. A number of cluster signature metrics are computed using the stored ventricular cycle length information, and a cluster signature evidence metric is computed from the cluster signature metrics. AF or OAT is detected if a comparative analysis of a corresponding cluster signature evidence metric meets a respective threshold detection criteria.

Apparatus is provided, which includes an electrode device, configured to be coupled to an atrial site of a subject containing parasympathetic nervous tissue, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to, responsively to a detection of an episode of non-sinus atrial tachycardia, restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, by driving the electrode device to apply a parasympathetic stimulation signal to the atrial site, and configuring the parasympathetic stimulation signal to activate the parasympathetic nervous tissue sufficiently to restore the NSR. Other embodiments are also described.

A graphical user interface is provided controllably displaying information retrieved from an implantable device, such as a pacemaker. The graphical user interface is comprised of a first and second window. The first window is adapted to display data identifying a plurality of episodes recorded by the implantable device, wherein the data is comprised of a plurality of fields. One of the fields may be used to identify a type of episode, such as ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial and ventricular tachycardia (A&V), atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (Afl), atrial tachycardia (AT), and premature atrial contraction (PAC). The second window is adapted to display data types, such as VT, A&V, AF, Afl, AT, and PAC, that may be present in the plurality of fields, wherein at least one of the data types may be selected to filter the episodes displayed in the first window and display those episodes having the selected data types.

An embodiment of the invention includes a surgical device for coagulating soft tissue such as atrial tissue in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia; tendon or ligament shrinkage; or articular cartilage removal. The surgical device integrates a suction mechanism with the coagulation mechanism improving the lesion creation capabilities of the device. The surgical device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about conductive elements capable of coagulating soft tissue when radiofrequency or direct current energy is transmitted to the conductive elements. Openings through the insulative covering expose regions of the conductive elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source. Suction causes the soft tissue to actively engage the opening thus the integrated, exposed conductive elements to facilitate the coagulation process and ensure the lesions created are consistent, continuous, and transmural. The embodiments of the invention can also incorporate cooling mechanisms associated with the conductive elements and coupled to a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface to cool thus pushing the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

An embodiment of the invention includes a surgical device for coagulating soft tissue such as atrial tissue in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia; tendon or ligament shrinkage; or articular cartilage removal. The surgical device integrates a suction mechanism with the coagulation mechanism improving the lesion creation capabilities of the device. The surgical device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about conductive elements capable of coagulating soft tissue when radiofrequency or direct current energy is transmitted to the conductive elements. Openings through the insulative covering expose regions of the conductive elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source. Suction causes the soft tissue to actively engage the opening thus the integrated, exposed conductive elements to facilitate the coagulation process and ensure the lesions created are consistent, continuous, and transmural. The embodiments of the invention can also incorporate cooling mechanisms associated with the conductive elements and coupled to a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface to cool thus pushing the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

Improved methods and devices perform tachycardia detection and anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a tachycardia (e.g., VT or AT) to normal sinus rhythm. According to one embodiment, an anti-tachycardia pacing method includes sensing, during sinus rhythm, first and second cardiac signals at first and second sites, respectively, in a patient's heart. The first and second sites include left and right ventricles or left and right atria, for example. The method further includes sensing third and fourth cardiac signals at the first and second sites, respectively, during a tachycardia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or atrial tachycardia). The cardiac signals are processed to provide respective values. One or more anti-tachycardia pacing pulses are delivered at the site closest to the reentrant circuit based on a comparison of a first ratio of the first and third values and a second ratio of the second and fourth values. Unipolar sensing of the cardiac signals may be employed by, for example, shorting together pairs of electrodes implanted at each site.

A method for operating a cardiac pacemaker in which the mode of operation of the pacemaker is altered in response to detecting an episode of atrial tachycardia. In accordance with the invention, the pacemaker's pacing mode is altered in a manner that attempts to maintain hemodynamic stability during the atrial tachycardia. Such a mode switch is particularly applicable to pacemaker patients suffering from some degree of congestive heart failure.