U.S. patent application number 15/141430 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for system and method for cardiac pacing.
The applicant listed for this patent is Medtronic, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sarah A. Audet, James K. Carney, James D. Reinke, Andrew J. Ries, Robert W. Stadler, John D. Wahlstrand, Zhongping Yang.
Application Number | 20170232261 15/141430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59560169 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170232261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stadler; Robert W. ; et
al. |
August 17, 2017 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARDIAC PACING
Abstract
An implantable medical device system is configured to deliver
cardiac pacing by receiving a cardiac electrical signal by sensing
circuitry of a first device via a plurality of sensing electrodes,
identifying by a control module of the first device a first cardiac
event from the cardiac electrical signal, setting a first pacing
interval in response to identifying the first cardiac event,
controlling a power transmitter of the first device to transmit
power upon expiration of the first pacing interval, receiving the
transmitted power by a power receiver of a second device; and
delivering at least a portion of the received power to a patient's
heart via a first pacing electrode pair of the second device
coupled to the power receiver.
Inventors: |
Stadler; Robert W.;
(Shoreview, MN) ; Yang; Zhongping; (Woodbury,
MN) ; Audet; Sarah A.; (Shoreview, MN) ;
Carney; James K.; (Roseville, MN) ; Reinke; James
D.; (Maple Grove, MN) ; Ries; Andrew J.; (Lino
Lakes, MN) ; Wahlstrand; John D.; (Shoreview,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Medtronic, Inc. |
Minneapolis |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59560169 |
Appl. No.: |
15/141430 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62296398 |
Feb 17, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N 1/37288 20130101;
A61N 1/36585 20130101; A61B 5/0422 20130101; A61N 1/3756 20130101;
A61N 1/36542 20130101; A61N 1/3787 20130101; A61N 1/057
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61N 1/365 20060101
A61N001/365; A61B 5/042 20060101 A61B005/042; A61N 1/05 20060101
A61N001/05; A61N 1/378 20060101 A61N001/378; A61N 1/375 20060101
A61N001/375 |
Claims
1. An implantable medical device system for delivering cardiac
pacing, comprising: a first device comprising a power transmitter,
sensing circuitry, a control module, a first housing enclosing the
power transmitter, the sensing circuitry and the control module, a
plurality of sensing electrodes, and an extra-cardiovascular
sensing extension extending from the first housing and carrying at
least one of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the control
module configured to: identify a first cardiac event by identifying
a P-wave from a cardiac electrical signal received by the sensing
circuitry via the plurality of sensing electrodes, identify a
second cardiac event by identifying an R-wave; determine an
interval between the P-wave and the R-wave; and set a first pacing
interval to be less than the interval between the P-wave and the
R-wave in response to identifying the first cardiac event, and
control the power transmitter to transmit power upon expiration of
the first pacing interval; and a second device comprising a pacing
electrode pair, a second housing, and a power receiver enclosed by
the second housing, the power receiver coupled to the first pacing
electrode pair, the first pacing electrode pair carried by the
second housing; wherein the power receiver is configured to receive
the transmitted power and deliver at least a portion of the
received power to a patient's heart via the first pacing electrode
pair.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the extension comprises a
proximal end coupled to the first housing, a distal end extending
away from the first housing, and a body extending from the proximal
end to the distal end, the body having at least one bend, at least
one of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried by the body
distal to the at least one bend.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the extension comprises a second
electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried by the
body proximal to the at least one bend.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a
third electrode of the plurality of electrodes carried by one of
the first housing and the sensing extension body, wherein the first
electrode and the third electrode define a first sensing vector and
the second electrode and one of the first electrode and the third
electrode define a second sensing vector different than the first
sensing vector.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the extra-cardiovascular sensing
extension comprises a proximal end coupled to the first housing, a
distal end extending away from the first housing, and a body
extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the body
comprising a curved portion between the proximal end and the distal
end, a first sensing electrode of the plurality of sensing
electrodes carried along the curved portion, a second sensing
electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried proximal
to the curved portion, and a third sensing electrode of the
plurality of sensing electrodes carried distal to the curved
portion, the first, second and third sensing electrodes defining at
least two different sensing electrode vectors.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the
extra-cardiovascular sensing extension is configured to be deployed
along an intercostal space of the patient.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the
extra-cardiovascular sensing extension is configured to be deployed
substernally.
8. (canceled)
9. The system of claim 1, wherein: the second device further
comprises an activity sensor; and the control module is configured
to: determine a second pacing interval based on a signal from the
activity sensor; start the second pacing interval upon identifying
an R-wave; and control the power transmitter to transmit power in
response to expiration of the second pacing interval.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control module is further
configured to: determine whether identifying of the first cardiac
event is unavailable; disable setting the first pacing interval in
response to determining that identifying the first cardiac event is
unavailable; and enable setting the second pacing interval in
response to disabling setting the first pacing interval.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is
configured to: identify a next first cardiac event during the
second pacing interval; re-enable setting the first pacing interval
in response to identifying the next first cardiac event; and
disable setting the second pacing interval in response to
re-enabling setting the first pacing interval.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter comprises
a first coil for inductive power transmission and the power
receiver includes a second coil for receiving the transmitted
power.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter comprises
a transmitting ultrasound transducer for transmitting the power and
the power receiver includes a receiving ultrasound transducer for
receiving the transmitted power.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device is deployed to
deliver at least a portion of the transmitted power to evoke a
depolarization of the left ventricle.
15. The system of claim 1, further including a third device
comprising a second pacing electrode pair, a third housing, and a
second power receiver enclosed by the third housing, the second
power receiver coupled to the second pacing electrode pair, the
second pacing electrode pair carried by the third housing; wherein
the third device is configured to receive power transmitted by the
second device and deliver at least a second portion of the
transmitted power to the patient's heart via the second electrode
pair.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the second device is
configured to be deployed for delivering the portion of the
transmitted power via the first pacing electrode pair to a first
location of the patient's heart; the third device is configured to
be deployed for delivering the second portion of the transmitted
power via the second pacing electrode pair to a second location of
the patient's heart spaced apart from the first location.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first location is along a
left ventricle of the heart and the second location is along a
right ventricle of the patient heart.
18. A method for delivering cardiac pacing by an implantable
medical device system, comprising: receiving a cardiac electrical
signal via a plurality of sensing electrodes coupled to sensing
circuitry of a first device, at least one of the plurality of
sensing electrodes carried by an extra-cardiovascular sensing
extension extending from the first device; identifying by a control
module of the first device a first cardiac event by identifying a
P-wave from the cardiac electrical signal; identifying a second
cardiac event by identifying an R-wave; determining an interval
between the P-wave and the R-wave; setting a first pacing interval
to be less than the interval between the P-wave and the R-wave in
response to identifying the first cardiac event; controlling a
power transmitter of the first device to transmit power upon
expiration of the first pacing interval; receiving the transmitted
power by a power receiver of a second device; and delivering at
least a portion of the received power to a patient's heart via a
first pacing electrode pair of the second device coupled to the
power receiver.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the cardiac
electrical signal comprises receiving the signal using one of the
plurality of sensing electrodes carried distal to a bend of a body
of the sensing extension, the body extending from a proximal end
coupled to a housing of the first device to a distal end extending
away from the housing.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the cardiac
electrical signal comprises receiving the signal using a second
electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried by the
body proximal to the bend.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the cardiac
electrical signal comprises selecting one of a first sensing
electrode vector and a second sensing electrode vector for
receiving the cardiac electrical signal, wherein the first sensing
electrode vector is defined by a first electrode carried by the
sensing extension body and a second electrode carried by a housing
of the first device, the second sensing electrode vector is defined
by a third electrode carried by the sensing extension body and one
of the first electrode and the third electrode.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the cardiac
electrical signal comprises selecting one of a first sensing
electrode vector and a second sensing electrode vector for
receiving the cardiac electrical signal, wherein the first sensing
electrode vector comprises a first electrode carried by a curving
portion of a body of the sensing extension and a second electrode
carried proximal to the curving portion of the sensing extension
body; the second sensing electrode vector comprises one of the
first electrode and the second electrode and a third electrode
carried distal to the curving portion of the sensing extension
body.
23. The method of claim 18, further comprising deploying the
extra-cardiovascular sensing extension along an intercostal space
of the patient for receiving the cardiac electrical signal.
24. The method of claim 18, further comprising deploying at least a
portion of the extra-cardiovascular sensing extension
substernally.
25. (canceled)
26. The method of claim 18, further comprising: determining a
second pacing interval based on a signal from an activity sensor;
starting the second pacing interval upon identifying an R-wave; and
controlling the power transmitter to transmit power in response to
expiration of the second pacing interval.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: determining whether
identifying of the first cardiac event is unavailable; disabling
setting the first pacing interval in response to determining that
identifying the first cardiac event is unavailable; and enabling
setting the second pacing interval in response to disabling setting
the first pacing interval.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: identifying a next
first cardiac event during the second pacing interval; re-enabling
setting the first pacing interval in response to identifying the
next first cardiac event; and disabling setting the second pacing
interval in response to re-enabling setting the first pacing
interval.
29. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the power
comprises applying current to a first coil for inductive power
transmission and receiving the transmitted power comprises
harvesting current induced in a second coil by the current applied
to the first coil.
30. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the power
comprises activating an ultrasound transducer and receiving the
power comprises harvesting power includes harvesting current
induced in a receiving ultrasound transducer.
31. The method of claim 18, wherein delivering at least a portion
of the received power to a patient's heart via the first pacing
electrode pair comprises delivering at least a portion of the
transmitted power to evoke a depolarization of the left
ventricle.
32. The method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving at least
a portion of the transmitted power by a third device having a
second pacing electrode pair; and delivering at least a second
portion of the transmitted power to the patient's heart via the
second electrode pair.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: deploying the
second device having the first pacing electrode pair to a first
location of the patient's heart; and deploying the third device
having the second pacing electrode pair to a second location of the
patient's heart spaced apart from the first location.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein: deploying the second device to
the first location comprises deploying the second device along a
left ventricle of the patient's heart; and deploying the third
device to the second location comprises deploying the third device
along a right ventricle of the patient's heart.
35. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising a set of
instructions which when executed by a control module of an
implantable medical device system comprising a first device and a
second device cause the system to: receive a cardiac electrical
signal via a plurality of sensing electrodes coupled to sensing
circuitry of the first device, at least one of the plurality of
sensing electrodes carried by an extra-cardiovascular sensing
extension extending from the first device; identify by a control
module of the first device a first cardiac event by identifying a
P-wave from the cardiac electrical signal; identifying a second
cardiac event by identifying an R-wave; determining an interval
between the P-wave and the R-wave; setting a first pacing interval
to be less than the interval between the P-wave and the R-wave in
response to identifying the first cardiac event; control a power
transmitter of the first device to transmit power upon expiration
of the first pacing interval; receive the transmitted power by a
power receiver of the second device; and deliver at least a portion
of the received power to a patient's heart via a pacing electrode
pair of the second device coupled to the power receiver.
36. An implantable medical device comprising: a power transmitter,
sensing circuitry, a control module, a housing enclosing the power
transmitter, the sensing circuitry and the control module, a
plurality of sensing electrodes, and an extra-cardiovascular
sensing extension extending from the housing and carrying at least
one of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the control module
configured to: identify a first cardiac event by identifying a
P-wave from a cardiac electrical signal received by the sensing
circuitry via the plurality of sensing electrodes, identify a
second cardiac event by identifying an R-wave; determine an
interval between the P-wave and the R-wave; and set a first pacing
interval to be less than the interval between the P-wave and the
R-wave in response to identifying the first cardiac event, and
control the power transmitter to transmit power for pacing to
another device upon expiration of the first pacing interval.
37. The system of claim 36, wherein the extension comprises a
proximal end coupled to the first housing, a distal end extending
away from the first housing, and a body extending from the proximal
end to the distal end, the body having at least one bend, at least
one of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried by the body
distal to the at least one bend.
38. The system of claim 37, wherein the extension comprises a
second electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried by
the body proximal to the at least one bend.
39. The system of claim 36, wherein the first device comprises a
third electrode of the plurality of electrodes carried by one of
the first housing and the sensing extension body, wherein the first
electrode and the third electrode define a first sensing vector and
the second electrode and one of the first electrode and the third
electrode define a second sensing vector different than the first
sensing vector.
40. The system of claim 36, wherein the extra-cardiovascular
sensing extension comprises a proximal end coupled to the first
housing, a distal end extending away from the first housing, and a
body extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the body
comprising a curved portion between the proximal end and the distal
end, a first sensing electrode of the plurality of sensing
electrodes carried along the curved portion, a second sensing
electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes carried proximal
to the curved portion, and a third sensing electrode of the
plurality of sensing electrodes carried distal to the curved
portion, the first, second and third sensing electrodes defining at
least two different sensing electrode vectors.
41. The system of claim 36, wherein the power transmitter comprises
a first coil for inductive power transmission.
42. The system of claim 36, wherein the power transmitter comprises
a transmitting ultrasound transducer for transmitting the power.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/296,398, filed on Feb. 17, 2016. The disclosure
of the above application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure relates generally to implantable medical
devices and, in particular, to a system and method for delivering
cardiac pacing without transvenous leads.
BACKGROUND
[0003] During normal sinus rhythm (NSR), the heart beat is
regulated by electrical signals produced by the sino-atrial (SA)
node located in the right atrial wall. Each atrial depolarization
signal produced by the SA node spreads across the atria, causing
the depolarization and contraction of the atria, and arrives at the
atrioventricular (A-V) node. The A-V node responds by propagating a
ventricular depolarization signal through the bundle of His of the
ventricular septum and thereafter to the bundle branches and the
Purkinje muscle fibers of the right and left ventricles.
[0004] Conduction defects may occur along the intrinsic conduction
pathways of the heart leading to irregularities in heart rate and
asynchrony between heart chambers. Cardiac pacemakers are available
to deliver electrical pacing pulses to one or more heart chambers
to restore a more normal heart rhythm. Cardiac pacemakers may be
coupled to one or more medical electrical leads to position
electrodes at desired pacing sites, e.g., at endocardial pacing
sites or within a cardiac vein. Single chamber leadless pacemakers
have been proposed that carry electrodes on the housing of the
pacemaker and may be implanted in a heart chamber without requiring
a transvenous lead. The single chamber leadless pacemaker may sense
cardiac electrical signals that indicate depolarization of the
heart chamber in which the pacemaker is implanted and deliver
pacing pulses in the same cardiac chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an implantable medical
device (IMD) system for delivering cardiac pacing according to one
example.
[0006] FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a side view of an
implantable cardiac pacing system having a sensing device deployed
at least partially substernally within a patient.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the sensing device of FIG.
1 according to one example.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the sensing device of FIG.
1 having an alternative sensing extension.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the system of FIG. 1
according to one example.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an alternative
configuration of the system of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for delivering cardiac
pacing by the system of FIG. 1 according to one example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In the following description, references are made to
illustrative embodiments for carrying out the methods described
herein. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized
without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an implantable medical
device (IMD) system 10 for delivering cardiac pacing according to
one example. IMD system 10 includes a sensing device 14 and a pulse
delivery device 100. Sensing device 14 is implanted outside the
cardiovascular system, e.g., subcutaneously, submuscularly, or
substernally, and includes a housing 15 that encloses internal
circuitry of sensing device 14, e.g., cardiac electrical sensing
circuitry, a primary and/or rechargeable battery, electromechanical
and/or thermal sensors to generate a signal correlated to patient
activity, posture, temperature or other parameters used for
controlling the timing and rate of pacing pulses, and
power-transmitting circuitry as described below in conjunction with
FIG. 3. Sensing device 14 may include one or more housing-based
electrodes and/or an electrode extension 16 extending from housing
15 for carrying one or more electrodes for sensing cardiac
electrical signals produced by the patient's heart 8, e.g., P-waves
attendant to the depolarization of the atria of heart 8 and/or
R-waves attendant to the depolarization of the ventricles of heart
8.
[0014] Pulse delivery device 100 is a miniaturized device
configured to harvest power transmitted by sensing device 15 and
deliver at least a portion of the transmitted power as a pacing
pulse to heart 8 to cause an evoked depolarization of the
myocardium. As described in conjunction with FIG. 5, pulse delivery
device 100 includes a housing, a housing-based pacing electrode
pair, a power receiver coupled to the housing based electrodes, and
a power harvesting circuit for coupling at least a portion of
received power to a cathode electrode of the pacing electrode pair
to deliver the received power in the form of a pacing pulse to
capture the patient's heart 8.
[0015] Sensing device 14 is configured to sense a cardiac
electrical signal, identify cardiac events from the cardiac
electrical signal and control a power transmitter to transmit a
power signal to pulse delivery device 100. Sensing device 14
transmits the power signal to pulse delivery device 100 at an
appropriate pacing interval following a cardiac event, e.g.,
following a P-wave or an R-wave, or following a preceding pacing
pulse, to restore a more normal heart rhythm and/or cardiac chamber
synchrony, e.g., when a conduction defect, atrial arrhythmia or
other heart rhythm abnormality is present. Sensors incorporated in
sensing device 14 may be used in determining the timing of the
power transmission, monitor sensing device temperature, and/or
monitor the patient's physiologic status.
[0016] In some examples, system 10 may include multiple pulse
delivery devices, e.g., pulse delivery device 100 and pulse
delivery device 102. In the example shown, pulse delivery device
100 is deployed along the left ventricle 9 of heart 8 for pacing
the left ventricle. Pulse delivery device 100 may be deployed
within a cardiac vein using a transvenous approach via the right
atrium and coronary sinus. In other examples, pulse delivery device
100 may be implanted within the left ventricle (LV) along the
endocardium or implanted epicardially, e.g., along the anterior,
posterior, or lateral free wall or apex of the left ventricle.
Pulse delivery device 102 is shown deployed along the right
ventricle (RV) of the patient's heart 8 in the example of FIG. 1.
Pulse delivery device 102 may be implanted endocardially using a
transvenous approach via the right atrium (RA) at or near the right
ventricular apex.
[0017] Pulse delivery devices 100 and 102 may include an active or
passive fixation member, such as a single- or multi-tined fixation
member, a hook, a helical screw, or other member that passively or
actively engages with tissue at a target implant site, e.g., with
the ventricular trabeculae, endocardium, epicardium, or cardiac
vein inner walls. Pulse delivery device 100 is deployed and
anchored at a first pacing site, e.g., along the left ventricle,
and pulse delivery device 102 is deployed and anchored at a second
pacing site spaced apart from the first pacing site, which may be
in the same cardiac chamber such as the left ventricle, or a
different cardiac chamber such as the right ventricle. The
locations of pulse delivery devices 100 and 102 in FIG. 1 are
illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting.
[0018] In the illustrative examples presented herein, pulse
delivery device 100 is described as being deployed for delivering
LV pacing pulses. However, pulse delivery devices 100 and 102 are
not limited to ventricular pacing applications. In other examples,
a pulse delivery device 100 may be deployed in, along our outside
an atrial chamber or a ventricular chamber for delivering cardiac
pacing pulses. In still other examples, pulse delivery device 100
is not limited to delivering cardiac pacing pulses and may be
positioned along a nerve or other excitable tissue for delivering a
neurostimulation therapy, such as along the spinal cord, vagal
nerve, phrenic nerve, a skeletal muscle nerve, sensory nerve,
brain, etc.
[0019] Sensing device 14 is deployed to an extra-cardiovascular
location selected to enable acquisition of a cardiac electrical
signal with acceptable signal-to-noise ratio for processing and
analysis that allows reliable sensing and identification of cardiac
events, e.g., at least R-waves, at least P-waves and R-waves, or at
least P-waves, R-waves and T-waves. The implant location of sensing
device 14 is also selected to enable acceptable power transmission
efficiency to at least pulse delivery device 100 and pulse delivery
device 102 if present. In other examples, multiple sensing devices
may be implanted at extra-cardiovascular locations, each paired
with a designated pulse delivery device 100 or 102. The separate
implantation sites of each of the multiple sensing devices may be
selected to provide optimal sensing of cardiac events used to set
pacing timing intervals for controlling power transmission time to
the respective pulse delivery device and to provide acceptable
power transmission efficiency to the respective pulse delivery
device.
[0020] For example, if sensing device 14 is implanted
subcutaneously along a left intercostal space of ribcage 32 for
transmitting power to pulse delivery device 100 positioned along
the LV, a second sensing device may be implanted for transmitting
power to pulse delivery device 102 implanted along the RV. The
second sensing device may be implanted substernally, subcutaneously
along a right intercostal space, or subcutaneously along a left
intercostal space but medially, superiorly or inferiorly to sensing
device 14. When more than one sensing device is included in system
10, the multiple sensing devices may be positioned along a common
intercostal space but at different medial or lateral locations or
along different intercostal spaces at the same or different medial
or lateral locations.
[0021] Sensing extension 16 is provided to extend at least one
electrode away from housing 15 to provide a sensing vector having
greater inter-electrode spacing and having an angle relative to the
heart axis that maximizes the signal strength of desired cardiac
events, e.g., P-waves. Sensing extension 16 may be provided as a
removable or non-removable member of sensing device 14 but may be
coupled to sensing device 14 prior to implantation to provide
one-step placement of sensing device 14 with sensing extension 16
already fixedly attached to housing 15, e.g., via a coupling
member. For example, sensing device 14 and extension 16 may be
implanted as a singular unit via an open incision at the desired
implant site or advanced to and released at the implant site using
a delivery tool such as a catheter or guide wire to enable a small
incision and minimal invasiveness of the implant procedure. While
sensing extension 16 is shown as a linear extension in the example
of FIG. 1, other examples of non-linear sensing extensions
including one or more bends or curves are shown in FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0022] System 10 may further include an external device 40
configured to transmit programming commands to sensing device 14
via wireless telemetry and receive data from sensing device 14. In
some examples, sensing device 14 is a rechargeable device including
one or more rechargeable batteries that are charged by external
device 40. In such examples, external device 40 includes a power
transmitter 46 including a regulated power source and a coil 48 for
inductive power transfer via radio frequency (RF) coupling between
primary coil 48 and a secondary coil included in sensing device 14.
A power receiver in sensing device 14 receives the transmitted
power and harvests at least a portion of the power for recharging
the battery(ies). In some examples, a coil or transducer used for
transmitting power from sensing device 14 to pulse delivery device
100 is also configured to receive power from external device
40.
[0023] Sensing device 14 is a programmable device including a
telemetry circuit for sending and receiving data to external device
40. External device 40 is shown in telemetric communication with
sensing device 14 by a communication link 42. External device 40
may include a processor; computer-readable storage media such as
RAM, ROM, flash storage or other storage media; a display; a user
interface; a telemetry unit 44 including a communication antenna or
coil 45 for telemetric communication with sensing device 14 via
communication link 42, and a power transmitter 46 including a
primary coil 48 for transmitting RF energy to sensing device 14 at
a selected resonant frequency separated from the communication
frequency used by the telemetry unit antenna 45.
[0024] External device 40 communicates with sensing device 14 for
transmitting and receiving data via communication link 42.
Communication link 42 may be established between sensing device 14
and external device 40 using a radio frequency (RF) link such as
BLUETOOTH.RTM., Wi-Fi, or Medical Implant Communication Service
(MICS) or other RF or communication frequency bandwidth.
[0025] External device 40 may be embodied as a programmer used in a
hospital, clinic or physician's office to retrieve data from
sensing device 14 and to program operating parameters and
algorithms in sensing device 14 for controlling sensing and power
transmission functions. External device 40 may be used to program
cardiac event sensing parameters and power signal transmission
control parameters used by sensing device 14 to control the timing
and strength of power transmission to pulse delivery device 100,
thereby controlling the timing and available energy for delivering
pacing pulses by pulse delivery device 100.
[0026] Data stored or acquired by sensing device 14, including
cardiac electrical signals, power transmission history, detected
pacing pulses delivered by pulse delivery device 100, activity,
posture, temperature, physiologic status, etc. or associated data
derived therefrom, may be retrieved from sensing device 14 by
external device 40 using an interrogation command. External device
40 may alternatively be embodied as a home monitor, bedside or
hand-held device and used for recharging one or more batteries of
sensing device 14, programming sensing device 14, and retrieving
data from sensing device 14. Pulse delivery devices 100 and 102 may
have no or limited communication capabilities. In other examples,
pulse delivery devices 100 and 102 may be configured for
bi-directional communication with external device 40 and/or sensing
device 14.
[0027] FIG. 2A is a front view of an implantable cardiac pacing
system 10 in which sensing device 14 is shown implanted at least
partially substernally within patient 12. FIG. 2B is a side view of
sensing device 14 implanted substernally within patient 12. Pulse
delivery device 100 is shown positioned along the left ventricle of
heart 8, e.g., along a cardiac vein, epicardially, within or along
the pericardium 38, or endocardially. Sensing device 14 may be
implanted so that all or a portion of sensing extension 16 extends
beneath sternum 22. Housing 15 of sensing device 14 may be
positioned entirely beneath sternum 22, e.g., along the anterior
mediastinum 36. In other examples, sensing device 14 may be
implanted such that housing 15 is adjacent to or inferior to
xiphoid process 20 with sensing extension extending superiorly
beneath sternum 22.
[0028] Sensing device 14 is shown extending approximately parallel
with sternum 22 but may extend in an at least a partially
substernal position at an angle relative to sternum 22, e.g., with
sensing extension 16 directed at an angle laterally to the left or
the right of sternum 22. In other examples, sensing device 14 or at
least a portion of sensing extension 16 may be implanted partially
beneath ribcage 32.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of sensing device 14 according
to one example. Sensing device housing 15 encloses circuitry
including a sensing module 62, a control module 60, and a telemetry
module 64, all of which may be in the form of an integrated circuit
coupled to a battery 66 for providing power to the components of
the integrated circuit as needed. Battery 66 may include one or
more rechargeable and/or non-rechargeable battery cells. In one
example, battery 66 or another charge storage device is recharged
via current induced on coil 72 via power transmitted by external
device 40 (FIG. 1).
[0030] As described above, power may be transmitted to recharge
battery 66 by RF coupling between a primary coil 48 included in
external device 40 and secondary, induction coil 72 included in
sensing device 14 for receiving power transmitted from external
device 40. Secondary coil 72 may be additionally be coupled to
telemetry module 64 to function as an antenna for communication
telemetry with external device 40 depending on the communication
telemetry frequency being used. Sensing device 14 may include a
single coil 72 and decode circuitry to separate RF telemetry
communication signals received from external device 40 from RF
coupled power transmission from external device 40 for recharging
battery 66.
[0031] Control module 60 may be configured to monitor the charge of
battery 66 and transmit a signal via telemetry module 64 to
external device 40 to signal when a recharge of battery 66 is
required. During recharging, control module 60 may monitor the
battery charge and control telemetry module 64 to transmit a signal
when battery 66 is fully charged, and recharging is complete.
Examples of an implantable medical device with a rechargeable
battery and associated recharging methods are generally disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 8,909,351 (Dinsmoore, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No.
8,630,717 (Olson, et al.), both of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
[0032] Housing 16 also encloses a power transmitter circuit 70 for
transmitting power to pulse delivery device 100. In some examples,
a second coil may be provided for RF power transmission from
sensing device 14 to pulse delivery device 100 when power
transmitter circuit 70 is configured to generate and control RF
power transmission signals. In other examples, sensing device
includes a single coil 72 for receiving power transmission from
external device 40 for recharging battery 66, and power transmitter
circuit 70 is configured as an acoustic power transmitter including
ultrasonic transducers, such as piezoelectric transducers, for
transmitting power via acoustical signals.
[0033] Housing 15 may be generally cylindrical or prismatic and may
be formed of an electrically non-conductive material, such as a
polymer, glass or ceramic that provides acceptable acoustical
and/or RF coupling from power transmitter 70 and to secondary coil
72, respectively, when positioned inside housing 15. In other
examples, at least a portion of housing 15 may be formed of an
electrically conductive material, e.g., a titanium alloy, stainless
steel, or other biocompatible metal. In this case, secondary coil
72 may extend along a non-conductive portion of housing 15 or
extend along an outer surface of housing 15 to promote efficient RF
coupling between coil 72 and the external, primary coil 48. In some
examples, housing 15 is formed from a special grade of titanium
that allows RF coupling through housing 15 to coil 72. Housing 15
may be coated or partially coated with a non-conductive coating
such as parylene or other material.
[0034] In some examples, housing 15 may carry one or more
housing-based electrodes 80. Sensing extension 16 is shown
extending from housing distal end 50. An electrode 80 may be
carried by the housing proximal end 52, as either an exposed
portion of an electrically conductive housing 15 or as a tip,
button or ring electrode mounted along proximal housing end 52.
Electrode 80 may be coupled to sensing module 62 via an electrical
feedthrough or may be an electrically conductive portion of housing
15 serving as a ground or anode electrode. For example housing 15
may be formed of a titanium alloy with an insulating coating such
as a parylene coating having an opening exposing electrode 80. In
other examples, one or more exposed, electrically conductive
portions of housing 15 may be provided as one or more housing-based
electrodes that are selectable by sensing module 62 in any
combination with the sensing extension electrodes 82, 84, and 86 to
form a sensing electrode vector for acquiring cardiac electrical
signals.
[0035] Sensing extension 16 includes an extension body 18 carrying
three electrodes 82, 84, and 86 in the example shown. Electrodes
82, 84, and 86 may be ring electrodes, short coil electrodes, plate
electrodes or the like. The distal-most electrode 86 may be a
hemispherical tip electrode or a helical or hook type electrode
providing fixation of sensing extension distal end 19. While three
electrodes are shown along sensing extension 16, it is recognized
that less than three or more than three electrodes may be carried
by sensing extension 16.
[0036] Extension body 18 includes one or more lumens through which
electrical conductors extend from a respective electrode 82, 84 or
86 to a respective electrical feedthrough extending across housing
15 and providing electrical connection to sensing module 86. In the
example shown, a housing based electrode 80 is shown at the
proximal end of housing 15. In other examples, one or more
electrodes 82, 84 and 86 may be coupled to housing 15 when formed
of an electrically conductive material and serve as a return anode
or ground in the electrical sensing vector without requiring an
electrical feedthrough at distal housing end 15.
[0037] Sensing module 62 may include switching circuitry for
selecting a sensing electrode vector from among the available
electrodes 80, 82, 84, and 86. Switching circuitry may include a
switch array, switch matrix, multiplexer, or any other type of
switching device suitable to selectively couple the selected
electrodes to a sense amplifier or other cardiac event detection
circuitry included in sensing module 62. Sensing module 62 may
include one or more sensing channels to enable monitoring of one or
more cardiac electrical signals simultaneously. Each sensing
channel may include an input filter and preamplifier for receiving
a cardiac electrical signal via the selected sensing electrode
vector, a sense amplifier or other cardiac event detector for
sensing cardiac events such as P-waves or R-waves, e.g., based on
an auto-adjusting threshold crossing of the cardiac electrical
signal.
[0038] Sensing extension body 18 is shown having a preformed shape
including multiple bends or curves so that electrodes 82, 84 and 86
are positioned along different sensing vectors. For example,
sensing module 62 may be selectively coupled to electrodes 82 and
86 for sensing a cardiac electrical signal along vector 83.
Alternatively, sensing module 62 may be selectively coupled to
electrodes 82 and 84 for sensing a cardiac electrical signal along
vector 85. In yet another example, electrodes 84 and 86 may be
selected for sensing along vector 87. Sensing extension body 18 may
curve in approximately a sine wave or "C" shape and may curve or
bend in two or three dimensions in order to position electrodes 82,
84 and 86 along at least two different sensing vectors, which may
be three orthogonal sensing vectors. The resulting sensing vectors
used when housing-based electrode 80 is selected with sensing
extension-based electrode 84 is along a different vector than
vectors 83, 85 or 87 providing a fourth possible sensing vector.
Different electrode spacing and different sensing vectors allow for
an optimal sensing electrode combination to be selected for sensing
a cardiac electrical signal and identifying cardiac events, e.g.,
P-waves and R-waves.
[0039] Sensing module 62 may pass a cardiac sensed event signal to
control module 60 upon sensing a cardiac event, such as a P-wave
sensed event signal or an R-wave sensed event signal. Sensing
module 62 may additionally include an analog-to-digital converter
for providing a digitized ECG signal to control module 60 for
performing morphology analysis or other event detection algorithms
for detecting and identifying P-waves and R-waves from the cardiac
electrical signal.
[0040] Sensing module 62 may further be configured to detect pulses
delivered by pulse delivery device 100. Detection of pulses
delivered by pulse delivery device 100 may be used for feedback in
controlling the power transmitted by sensing device 14 and the
timing of the power transmission. In some examples, sensing module
62 may be configured to detect an evoked response for confirming
cardiac capture by delivered pulses such that power being
transmitted may be adjusted up or down as needed.
[0041] In some cases, sensing module 62 is configured to detect
pulses delivered by pulse delivery device 100 when power
transmitter 72 is transmitting a power transmission signal, e.g.,
an ultrasound signal, in a series of multiple, different
directions. Power transmitter 72 may be controlled by control
module 60 to transmit an ultrasound signal in multiple directions.
The ultrasound signal may intentionally be transmitted at a low
amplitude so that the power received by pulse delivery device 100
is too low to produce a pulse having an amplitude greater than the
cardiac capture threshold, also referred to as a sub-threshold
pacing pulse. The pulse delivery device 100 harvests power from the
received ultrasound signal and delivers a sub-threshold pacing
pulse for each power transmission in the series. Sensing module 62
senses the delivered pulses and may provide control module 62 with
a peak amplitude of the pulse produced for each directional
ultrasound signal so that control module 62 may determine which
direction is optimal for transmitting power to pulse delivery
device 100.
[0042] For example, if a series of ultrasound signals is
transmitted in three to five different directions through control
of an ultrasound transducer array included in power transmitter 70,
the transmitted signal resulting in the highest pulse delivered by
pulse delivery device 100 is identified as being the optimal
direction for power transmission. In this way, sensing device 14 is
enabled to target the location of pulse delivery device 100 for
power transmission. When multiple pulse delivery devices 100 and
102 are present, the targeted directionality for optimal power
transmission can be determined for each pulse delivery device. By
sending out several "targeting" signals in various directions and
sensing the resulting voltage produced by the pulse delivery device
100, sensing device 14 can discern the direction of the pulse
delivery device 100 from the sensing device 14, and thus the
desired directionality of the power transmission signal. The same
electrodes 80, 82, 84 and 86 and circuitry of sensing module 82
used for sensing cardiac electrical signals may be used for
detecting delivered pulses to enable determination of the delivered
pulse amplitudes and selecting directionality of the power
transmission signal.
[0043] Control module 60 may include a microprocessor and
computer-readable memory or other storage media for implementing
and executing software and firmware programs for performing the
functions attributed to sensing device 14 herein. As used herein,
the term "module" refers to an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared,
dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software
or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, state machine,
switching circuitry, or other suitable components that provide the
described functionality. The particular form of software, hardware
and/or firmware employed to implement the functionality disclosed
herein will be determined primarily by the particular system
architecture employed in sensing device 14. Providing software,
hardware, and/or firmware to accomplish the described functionality
in the context of any modern implantable medical device system,
given the disclosure herein, is within the abilities of one of
skill in the art.
[0044] Control module 60 may include any volatile, non-volatile,
magnetic, or electrical non-transitory computer readable storage
media, such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory
(ROM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), electrically-erasable programmable
ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or any other memory device.
Furthermore, control module 60 may include non-transitory computer
readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or
more processing circuits, cause control module 60, in combination
with sensing module 62, telemetry module 64 and power transmitter
70 to perform various functions attributed to sensing device 14.
The non-transitory, computer-readable media storing the
instructions may include any of the media listed above.
[0045] The functions attributed to the modules herein may be
embodied as one or more processors, hardware, firmware, software,
or any combination thereof. Depiction of different features as
modules is intended to highlight different functional aspects and
does not necessarily imply that such modules must be realized by
separate hardware or software components. Rather, functionality
associated with one or more modules may be performed by separate
hardware or software components, or integrated within common
hardware or software components.
[0046] Control module 60 is configured to receive cardiac
electrical signals from sensing module 62 for identifying P-waves
and R-waves. Signals received from sensing module 62 may be a logic
signal, referred to herein as P-wave sensed event signal indicating
the timing of a sensed P-wave, e.g., based on a P-wave sensing
threshold crossing of the cardiac electrical signal, or an R-wave
sensed event signal, e.g., based on an R-wave sensing threshold
crossing of the cardiac electrical signal. Signals received from
sensing module 62 may be a digital ECG signal received for
additional signal analysis for identifying P-waves and/or
R-waves.
[0047] Control module 60 is configured to identify cardiac events,
e.g., P-waves and R-waves for determining a pacing interval, set
the pacing interval in response identifying a P-wave or R-wave, and
enable power transmitter 70 to transmit power to pulse delivery
device 100 upon expiration of the pacing interval. As such, control
module 60 may include a pacing interval timer or counter for
determining the expiration of the pacing interval started upon an
identified cardiac event. The power may be transmitted for a time
duration of a desired pacing pulse delivered by pulse delivery
device 100 such that the transmitted power is harvested and
delivered as a pacing pulse by pulse delivery device 100 without
requiring a battery or charge storage device in pulse delivery
device 100. As such, control module 60 may additionally include a
pulse duration timer or counter for controlling the duration of
time that the power transmitter 70 is enabled to transmit power. In
this way, sensing device 14 controls the timing and duration of the
pacing pulse as well as the maximum available power that may be
harvested for delivering the pacing pulse.
[0048] In some examples, power transmitter 70 includes a
transmitting induction coil for RF coupling between sensing device
14 and a receiving coil in pulse delivery device 100. Power
transmitter 70 may include a voltage regulator or limiter,
capacitors, inductors, a rectifier, comparators, amplifiers and
other components as needed for receiving a battery voltage signal
from battery 66 and producing an electrical current in a
transmitting induction coil included in power transmitter 70. Power
transmitter 70 may include an RF oscillator tuned to the resonant
frequency of the transmitted RF frequency when power transmission
is provided as an RF signal. Control module 60, sensing module 62,
and/or power transmitter 70 may include protection circuitry to
prevent damage from defibrillation energy delivered to patient 12
by another device and to block conduction during such events.
[0049] In other examples, power transmitter 70 produces acoustic
power transmission signals by delivering a drive signal to an array
of ultrasound transducers included in power transmitter 70. An
arrangement of system 10 incorporating acoustic power transmission
is described below in conjunction with FIG. 6.
[0050] In some examples, sensing device 14 includes an
accelerometer 66 for sensing patient activity. An accelerometer and
associated method for determining a sensor-indicated pacing rate
for supporting the patient's metabolic demand is generally
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,772 (Condie, et al.), incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. Accelerometer 66 may be a
piezoelectric transducer or a MEMS device bonded to an inner
surface of housing 15 or incorporated on an internal substrate of
an integrated circuit carrying sensing module 62, control module 60
and telemetry module 64. An implantable medical device arrangement
including a piezoelectric accelerometer for detecting patient
motion is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,813
(Anderson, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,388 (Sivula, et al.),
both of which patents are hereby incorporated by reference herein
in their entirety. Examples of three-dimensional accelerometers
used for sensing patient activity and posture are generally
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,431 (Sheldon), and U.S. Pat. No.
6,044,297 (Sheldon), both of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
[0051] Control module 60 may be configured to determine an activity
count from a signal received from accelerometer 66. The activity
count is correlated to the level of patient activity. The activity
count is converted to a sensor-indicated pacing rate using a
transfer function or look-up table stored in memory included in
control module 60 relating activity counts to pacing rate. A pacing
rate interval may then be determined based on the sensor-indicated
pacing rate. As described below, control module 60 may be
configured to identify P-waves and set a pacing interval for
controlling pulse delivery device 100 to deliver a ventricular
pacing pulse synchronized to the P-wave at a desired
atrioventricular (AV) interval. However, when P-waves cannot be
identified, or when control module 60 detects atrial fibrillation
according to an implemented tachyarrhythmia detection algorithm,
sensing device 14 may switch from an atrial synchronous mode of
controlling ventricular pacing to a non-synchronized, single
chamber rate-responsive pacing mode.
[0052] During the non-synchronous, single chamber rate-responsive
pacing mode, control module 60 identifies R-waves from signals
received from sensing module 62 and sets a pacing interval derived
from the activity sensor-indicated pacing rate. Upon expiration of
the activity sensor-indicated pacing rate, control module 60
enables power transmitter 70 to transmit power to pulse delivery
device 100 to cause ventricular pacing pulse delivery at the
desired ventricular pacing rate.
[0053] Telemetry module 64 may include a transceiver and antenna
for transmitting and receiving radio frequency or other
communication frequency signals to and from external device 40 as
described above. The telemetry antenna may be included in housing
15 or external to housing 15. In some examples, coil 72 may have a
dual function as a telemetry communication antenna and a power
receiving coil for recharging battery 66. An example of an
implantable medical device system having switchable inductive
energy transfer and communication telemetry between external and
implanted coils is generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,265,770
(Toy, et al.), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Another example of a system for communicating with and providing
power to an implantable stimulator that includes aspects that may
be implemented in system 10 is generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
8,386,048 (McClure, et al.), also incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety. Control module 60 may be programmable such that
operating parameters, such as sensing electrode vector, sensing
thresholds, sensitivity, pacing intervals, parameters used to
automatically determine pacing intervals, and power transmission
control parameters, are programmable by a user using external
device 40.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of sensing device 14 including
an alternative example of sensing extension 16'. Sensing extension
body 18' includes a single bend 19 for positioning distal tip
electrode 84' offset from the central axis of sensing device
housing 15 and at an angle relative to proximal ring electrode 82'.
Bend 19 may be pre-formed to assume a relaxed position at a ninety
degree angle or less relative to the central axis of the proximal
portion of sensing extension 18 and housing 15. By providing at
least one curve or bend along sensing extension body 18, a sensing
vector extending at a desired angle relative to the cardiac axis
may be selected between two extension-based electrodes 82' and 84'
or between a housing-based electrode 80 and one of the
extension-based electrodes 82' and 84' for optimal sensing and
identification of P-waves and/or R-waves while maintaining a
position of housing 15 relative to pulse delivery device 100 that
enables efficient power transfer from sensing device 14 to pulse
delivery device 100.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of sensing device 14 and
pulse delivery device 100 according to one example. Pulse delivery
device 100 may include a housing 115 enclosing a receiving coil 112
coupled to a power harvesting circuit 110. Power harvesting circuit
110 converts current induced in receiving coil 112 to a pacing
pulse delivered on output line 120 to a pacing cathode electrode
116. Pacing cathode electrode 116 may be a housing-based electrode
or carried by an extension extending away from housing 115. An
exposed electrically conductive portion of housing 115 may serve as
a return anode electrode 118.
[0056] Harvesting circuit 110 may include a DC blocking element, a
voltage regulator or voltage limiter circuit, rectification diodes
to convert the energy to a DC signal, a capacitor for smoothing the
delivered voltage signal, and a current-activated switch for
controlling and coupling current induced in receiving coil 112 to
cathode electrode 116. A limiter circuit may limit the maximum
voltage amplitude applied to the electrodes 116 and 118 and/or may
limit the rate of pulse delivery, i.e., the pacing rate, to avoid a
pacing-induced arrhythmia. In some examples, harvesting circuit 110
may include a capacitor that is charged to a pacing pulse voltage
by current induced in receiving coil 112 and is discharged across
electrodes 116 and 118.
[0057] Power is transferred from sensing device 14 to pulse
delivery device 100 by mutual coupling of a transmitting coil 73
included in power transmitter 70 and the receiving coil 112 through
body tissue 79. A pace timing control module 65, which may be
included in control module 60, may receive a P-wave sensed event
signal 76 or an R-wave sensed event signal 77 from sensing module
62. Upon receipt of a sensed event signal 76 or 77, pace timing and
control module 65 sets a corresponding pacing interval, e.g., an AV
interval or a ventricular pacing rate interval as described in
greater detail below, and controls power transmitter 70 to apply a
voltage signal across transmitting coil 73 upon expiration of the
pacing interval. A new pacing interval may be set in response to
expiration of the pacing interval and if a subsequent P-wave sensed
event signal 76 or subsequent R-wave sensed event signal 77 is not
received by pace timing control 65 during the pacing interval,
power transmitter 70 is again enabled to transmit power via
transmitting coil 73 to pulse delivery device 100 for the next
pacing pulse.
[0058] In the absence of identifiable P-waves, or the detection of
an atrial tachyarrhythmia, pace timing control module 65 may switch
to activity-based pacing by setting a pacing rate interval based on
a sensor-indicated pacing rate determined using an activity count
signal 78 determined from accelerometer 66 (FIG. 3). Operations
performed by pacing timing and control module 65 for establishing
and controlling pacing intervals are described in greater detail in
conjunction with FIG. 7.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an alternative arrangement
of sensing device 14 and pulse delivery device 100. In this
example, power transmitter 70 applies a drive signal to an array of
ultrasound transducers 172 configured to transmit ultrasound
through body tissue directed to a receiving ultrasound transducer
(or array of receiving transducers) 152 included in pulse delivery
device 100. Power transmitter 70 in this example may include an
ultrasound oscillator operating in the range of 500 kHz to 10 MHz
for example, voltage amplifiers to produce a signal on the order of
tens of volts, and phase adjustment circuitry for adjusting the
phase of the signal applied to each element of the transducer
array.
[0060] The array of ultrasound transducers 172 may be controlled to
direct an ultrasound signal to each pulse delivery device 100 and
102 (FIG. 1) when multiple delivery devices 100 and 102 are present
in the patient and arranged with different relative alignments from
sensing device 14. By selectively directing an ultrasound signal to
each pulse delivery device, sensing device 14 may control the
relative timing or synchrony of pulses delivered by the multiple
pulse delivery devices.
[0061] Power harvesting circuit 110 converts the current induced in
the receiving ultrasound transducer 152 to a pacing pulse delivered
to the heart via electrodes 116 and 118. Multiple piezoelectric
elements may be included in receiving ultrasound transducer 152 to
reduce the dependency of power reception on pulse delivery device
orientation. Power harvesting circuit 110 may further include a
rectifying diode connected to each piezoelectric element and one or
more capacitors for smoothing the received signal. Methods for
power transmission and power harvesting for pulse delivery that may
be implemented in sensing device 14 are generally disclosed in
pre-grant U.S. Publication No. 2013/0282073 (Cowan, et al.), U.S.
Pub. No. 2010/0234924 (Willis, et al.), and U.S. Pub. No.
2014/0207210 (Willis, et al.), all of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
[0062] Housing 115 of pulse delivery device 100 may include an
acoustic coupling member as generally disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/694,990 (O'Brien, et al.) to promote
efficient coupling of acoustical energy transmitted from sensing
device 14 to pulse delivery device 100. Other aspects of the
methods and apparatus for transmitting and receiving an acoustical
signal as disclosed in the '990 application may be implemented in
system 10 for transmitting an acoustical signal from sensing device
14 to pulse delivery device 100. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/694,990 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0063] FIG. 7 is a flow chart 200 of a method for delivering
cardiac pacing by system 10 according to one example. At block 202,
control module 60 identifies P-waves and R-waves from signals
received from sensing module 62. P-waves and R-waves may be
identified based on P-wave sensed event signals and R-wave sensed
event signals received from sensing module 62, based on
morphological analysis of a digitized ECG signal received from
sensing module 62, or a combination of both. Control module 60
determines the PR interval at block 204 as the interval between an
identified P-wave and the subsequent R-wave immediately following
the P-wave. At block 206, control module 60 establishes an
atrioventricular (AV) pacing interval based on the determined PR
interval. The AV pacing interval may be set as a portion of the PR
interval, e.g., as a percentage of the PR interval or a fixed
interval less than the PR interval.
[0064] Control module 60 waits for the next sensed P-wave at block
208 and in response to the next sensed P-waves, starts the AV
pacing interval at block 210. Upon expiration of the AV pacing
interval, "yes" branch of block 212, control module 60 controls
power transmitter 70 to transmit a power signal to pulse delivery
device 100 at block 214. The pulse delivery device 100 receives the
transmitted power signal, harvests power from the received signal
and delivers at least a portion of the harvested power as a pacing
pulse at block 214. As described above, the power signal starts
upon the expiration of the AV interval to control delivery of the
pacing pulse at the desired AV interval. Power transmitter 70
transmits the power signal is a time duration that is equal to the
desired pacing pulse width in some examples. Upon termination of
the power signal, the pacing pulse is also terminated. Control
module 60 returns to block 208 to wait for the next sensed
P-wave.
[0065] Sensing device 14 may be configured to distinguish between
intrinsic P-waves and R-waves and atrial and ventricular pacing
pulses that are delivered by another device implanted in patient
12, e.g., a dual chamber pacemaker, or evoked depolarizations
caused by pacing pulses delivered by another device. A different PR
interval may be determined for intrinsic PR intervals than for
paced PR intervals (atrial and/or ventricular paced PR intervals).
One PR interval may be determined and a corresponding AV pacing
interval established when both the P and the R are intrinsic, and a
different PR interval may be determined and corresponding AV pacing
interval established when the P or the R are paced events, for
example when a dual chamber device is delivering RA and RV pacing
pulses. In both cases, the AV pacing interval is set to cause pulse
delivery device 100 to deliver an LV pacing pulse to increase the
likelihood of fusion between RV and LV activations.
[0066] In one example, if sensing module 62 is sensing intrinsic
R-waves control module 60 is setting a first AV interval to control
power transmission for timing of the LV pacing pulse delivered by
pulse delivery device 100. If RV pacing begins, by another
implanted device, sensing module 62 and control module 60 may
identify the RV pacing pulses adjust the AV pacing interval to a
second AV interval to maintain pacing pulse delivery in the LV by
pulse delivery device 100 at a time relative to the RV pacing pulse
delivered by another device to promote fusion of the RV and LV
activations. Likewise, if the RV is being paced by another device
and pacing stops such that intrinsic R-waves are again sensed by
sensing module 62, control module 60 may adjust the AV pacing
interval back to the first AV interval for proper timing of the LV
pacing pulse to maintain fusion.
[0067] If a P-wave is not sensed, "no" branch of block 208, control
module 60 may determine whether P-wave sensing is available at
block 218. For example, if P-waves have not been identified for a
predetermined interval of time or for a predetermined number of
successive R-waves, P-wave sensing may be lost. If an atrial
tachyarrhythmia detection algorithm is implemented in sensing
device 14 and an atrial tachyarrhythmia is being detected, e.g.,
atrial fibrillation, P-wave sensing is unavailable for
synchronizing ventricular pacing. In another example, if sensed
P-waves exceed a maximum atrial-tracking ventricular pacing rate,
control module 60 may determine that P-wave sensing is unavailable
for the purposes of controlling ventricular pacing pulses
synchronized to identified P-waves. If control module 60 determines
that P-wave sensing is unavailable at block 218, the pace timing
control module 65 switches from controlling power transmission in
an atrial-synchronized ventricular pacing mode that uses the
established AV pacing interval to an activity-based ventricular
pacing mode that uses a ventricular pacing rate interval without
tracking of the atrial rate.
[0068] At block 220, control module 60 determines a
sensor-indicated pacing rate based on a signal from accelerometer
66. It is recognized that other patient activity signals could be
used for determining a sensor-indicated pacing rate in addition to
or in place of an activity count determined from a signal from
accelerometer 66. For example, impedance-based respiration rate,
patient posture or other signals indicative of patient activity and
metabolic demand may be used for determining a sensor indicated
pacing rate at block 220.
[0069] Control module 60 establishes a pacing rate interval at
block 222 based on the sensor indicated pacing rate. The pacing
rate interval may be determined based on a transfer function
relating pacing rate to activity counts determined from the
accelerometer signal and other control parameters which may be used
to control how rapidly (e.g., over how many cardiac cycles) the
pacing rate interval is shortened (rate acceleration) or how
rapidly the pacing rate interval is increased (rate deceleration)
in response to a change in the sensor-indicated pacing rate.
[0070] At block 224, control module 60 starts the established
pacing rate interval on the next sensed R-wave. Upon expiration of
the pacing rate interval ("yes" branch of block 226), control
module 60 controls the power transmitter 70 to transmit a power
signal to pulse delivery device 100 at block 228. Pulse delivery
device 100 receives the power signal at block 230 and harvests the
signal for delivering the ventricular pacing pulse. As described
above, the power signal is transmitted for the desired pacing pulse
duration in some examples.
[0071] After delivering the pacing pulse, control module 60
restarts the next pacing rate interval to maintain the left
ventricular pacing rate at the desired sensor-indicated pacing
rate, asynchronous with atrial activity. However, control module 60
may monitor the cardiac electrical signals to determine when P-wave
sensing becomes available again at block 218. If P-wave sensing is
still unavailable, the sensor-indicated rate is updated at block
220 so that the pacing rate interval may be adjusted as needed on
the next pacing cycle. If a pacing rate interval was started upon
transmission of the last power signal, the pacing rate interval
continues running until it expires at block 226. If an R-wave is
sensed during the pacing rate interval, the pacing rate interval
may be restarted at block 224.
[0072] If P-wave sensing returns, "no" branch of block 218, sensing
device 14 returns to the atrial-synchronized ventricular pacing
mode by starting the AV interval at block 210 in response to a
P-wave sensed at block 208. For example, if a P-wave is sensed
during a pacing rate interval, control module 60 may disable
setting the pacing rate interval and re-enable setting the AV
interval. It is to be understood that the PR interval may be
re-determined periodically to update the established AV interval.
In some examples, a sensor-indicated rate is not determined when
atrial-synchronized ventricular pacing is enabled to conserve
battery power. The sensor-indicated rate may be determined only
when P-wave sensing is determined to be unavailable for the
purposes of delivering atrial-synchronous ventricular pacing. In
other examples, the sensor-indicated rate may be determined
throughout atrial-synchronized ventricular pacing using the
established AV interval such that when P-wave sensing becomes
unavailable or atrial-tracking of the ventricular pacing rate is
undesirable, the control module 60 can immediately switch to using
a pacing rate interval set based on the currently determined
sensor-indicated pacing rate without waiting for a sensor-indicated
pacing rate to be determined.
[0073] If system 10 includes both pulse delivery devices 100 and
102 deployed for delivering pacing pulses in both the LV and the
RV, respectively, sensing device 14 may establish a VV delay for
controlling the relative timing of pulse delivery to the RV and LV.
If only pulse delivery device 100 is present, R-waves sensed when
P-wave sensing is unavailable may be used to start a VV pacing
interval for controlling power transmission to pulse delivery
device 100. For example, the activity-based ventricular pacing rate
interval may be set for controlling when power is transmitted to
pulse delivery device 100 for causing a pacing pulse to be
delivered to the LV. If an R-wave is sensed earlier than the
expiration of the pacing rate interval, however, the sensing device
14 may immediately transmit a power signal in response to the
sensed R-wave, or transmit a power signal at a desired W delay
after the sensed R-wave, to attempt to achieve fusion between the
RV and LV. If R-waves (or RV pacing pulses delivered by another
device) are sensed prior to expiration of the pacing rate interval
for a predetermined number of pacing rate intervals, the pacing
rate interval may be adjusted to a shortened pacing rate interval
in an attempt to establish fusion between the RV and LV by
overtaking or matching an intrinsic rate in the case of sensed
R-waves or match a paced rate in the case of sensed RV pacing
pulses.
[0074] Thus, an apparatus and method have been presented in the
foregoing description for delivering cardiac pacing with reference
to specific examples. It is appreciated that various modifications
to the referenced examples may be made, including modifying the
order of steps performed and/or modifying the combinations of
operations shown in the drawings presented herein, without
departing from the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *