Implantable Medical Device Allowing an Adjustment of a Maximum Sensitivity of a Channel of its Detection Unit

Abstract

An implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, comprising a first processor, a first memory unit, a stimulation unit configured to stimulate a first cardiac region of a human or animal heart, and a detection unit configured to detect an electric signal at the first cardiac region of the same heart, wherein the detection unit comprises i) an electrode lead having an electrode pole and ii) a first channel for measuring electric signals provided by the electrode lead. A maximum sensitivity of the first channel of the detection unit is adjustable in dependence on a stimulation site of the electrode pole, wherein the maximum sensitivity of the first channel lies in a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV if the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at the His bundle of the heart.

Claims

1. Implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, comprising: a first processor, a first memory unit, a stimulation unit configured to stimulate a first cardiac region of a human or animal heart, and a detection unit configured to detect an electric signal at the first cardiac region of the same heart, wherein the detection unit comprises i) an electrode lead having an electrode pole and ii) a first channel for measuring electric signals provided by the electrode lead, wherein a maximum sensitivity of the first channel of the detection unit is adjustable in dependence on a stimulation site of the electrode pole, wherein the maximum sensitivity of the first channel lies in a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV if the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at a first stimulation site, wherein the first stimulation site is the His bundle of the heart.

2. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein a sensitivity range of the first channel of the detection unit lies in a range of from the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a minimum sensitivity of the first channel, wherein the minimum sensitivity of the first channel lies in a range of from 5.0 mV to 10.0 mV.

3. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein a sensitivity of the first channel of the detection unit is adjustable in steps of from 0.05 mV to 0.75 mV.

4. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein a sensitivity of the first channel of the detection unit is adjustable in first steps in a range of from the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a first intermediate sensitivity and in second steps in a range of from the first intermediate sensitivity to a minimum sensitivity of the first channel, wherein the first intermediate sensitivity lies in a range of from 0.5 mV to 3.0 mV and the minimum sensitivity of the first channel lies in a range of from 5.0 mV to 10.0 mV, wherein the first steps are smaller than the second steps and lie in a range of from 0.05 mV to 0.4 mV.

5. Implantable medical device according to claim 4, wherein the second steps lie in a range of from 0.4 mV to 0.75 mV.

6. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum sensitivity of the first channel lies in a range of from 0.5 mV to 4.0 mV if the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at a second stimulation site, wherein the second stimulation site is chosen from a right ventricle and a left ventricle of the heart.

7. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a second electrode lead and a second channel for measuring an electric signal at an atrium of the heart with the second electrode lead, wherein a sensitivity range of the second channel of the detection unit lies in a range of from a maximum sensitivity of the second channel to a minimum sensitivity of the second channel, wherein the maximum sensitivity of the second channel lies in a range of from 0.1 mV to 1.0 mV, wherein the minimum sensitivity of the second channel lies in a range of from 1.5 mV to 5.0 mV.

8. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a third electrode lead and a third channel for measuring an electric signal at a right ventricle or a left ventricle of the heart with the third electrode lead, wherein a sensitivity range of the third channel of the detection unit lies in a range of from a maximum sensitivity of the third channel to a minimum sensitivity of the third channel, wherein the maximum sensitivity of the third channel lies in a range of from 0.5 mV to 4.0 mV, wherein the minimum sensitivity of the third channel lies in a range of from 5.0 mV to 10.0 mV.

9. Implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first memory unit comprises a first computer-readable program that causes the first processor to perform the following steps when executed on the first processor: a) retrieving or receiving a dataset indicating whether the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at the first stimulation site or the second stimulation site; and b) adjusting the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying in a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV if the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at the first stimulation site, or adjusting the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying in a range of from 0.5 mV to 4.0 mV if the electrode pole is intended to detect electric signals at the second stimulation site.

10. Arrangement comprising: an implantable medical device according to claim 1 and a programming device for programming the implantable medical device.

11. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the programming device comprises a second processor and a second memory unit, wherein the second memory unit comprises a second computer-readable program that causes the second processor to perform the following steps when executed on the second processor: allowing to adjust a maximum sensitivity of a first channel of a detection unit of the implantable medical device to a value lying within a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV if an electrode pole of an electrode of the detection unit is intended to detect electric signals at a first stimulation site, wherein the first stimulation site is the His bundle of the heart.

12. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the programming device comprises a second processor and a second memory unit, wherein the second memory unit comprises a second computer-readable program that causes the second processor to perform the following steps when executed on the second processor: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations of the implantable medical device, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise a first electrode lead configuration in which a detection unit of the implantable medical device comprises a His bundle electrode lead, wherein a first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by the His bundle electrode lead, and a second electrode lead configuration in which the detection unit of the implantable medical device does not comprise a His bundle electrode lead, wherein the first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by an electrode lead that is not a His bundle electrode lead; and b) if the first electrode lead configuration is selected, setting a maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying within a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV; if the second electrode lead configuration is selected, setting the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying within in a range of from 0.5 mV to 4.0 mV.

13. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the programming device comprises a second processor and a second memory unit, wherein the second memory unit comprises a second computer-readable program that causes the second processor to perform the following steps when executed on the second processor: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations of the implantable medical device, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise a first electrode lead configuration in which a detection unit of the implantable medical device comprises a His bundle electrode lead, wherein a first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by the His bundle electrode lead, and a second electrode lead configuration in which the detection unit of the implantable medical device does not comprise a His bundle electrode lead, wherein the first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by an electrode lead that is not a His bundle electrode lead; and b) transmitting a dataset to the implantable medical device, the dataset indicating whether the first electrode lead configuration or the second electrode lead configuration is selected.

14. Method for programming an implantable medical device according to claim 1 with a programming device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a first data communication unit, wherein the programming device comprises a second data communication unit, the method comprising the following steps: a) selecting, with the programming device, one of at least two electrode lead configurations of the implantable medical device, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise a first electrode lead configuration in which a detection unit of the implantable medical device comprises a His bundle electrode lead, wherein a first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by the His bundle electrode lead, and a second electrode lead configuration in which the detection unit of the implantable medical device does not comprise a His bundle electrode lead, wherein the first channel of the detection unit serves for measuring electric signals provided by the electrode lead that is not a His bundle electrode lead; b) generating, with the programming device, a dataset comprising i) instructions for setting a maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying within a range of from 0.1 mV to 0.4 mV, if the first electrode lead configuration has been selected; or ii) instructions for setting the maximum sensitivity of the first channel to a value lying

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further details of aspects of the present invention will be described in the following making reference to exemplary embodiments and an accompanying FIGURE.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a pacemaker and a programming device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a pacemaker 1 serving as implantable medical device and a programming device 2. The pacemaker 1 comprises a port 3 serving as electrode lead port into which a His bundle electrode lead 4 is inserted. The His bundle electrode lead 4 comprises an electrode pole 5 at its distal end which is implanted at the His bundle 6 of a human heart 7.

[0051] The programming device 2 comprises a display 8 for enabling an interaction with a user of the programming device 2. The programming device 2 and the pacemaker 1 are operatively coupled to each other by a wireless radio communication 9. This wireless radio communication 9 is established by a first data communication unit in the programming device 2 and a second data communication unit in the pacemaker 1. Due to this wireless radio communication 9, it is possible to program the pacemaker 1 with the help of the programming device 2.

[0052] For carrying out such programming, the programming device 2 first requests a selection between two electrode lead configurations. The first electrode lead configuration is an electrode lead configuration in which a His bundle electrode lead is present. The second electrode lead configuration is a standard electrode lead configuration with an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead. In the present embodiment, the His bundle electrode 4 is connected to the electrode port 3 of the pacemaker 1 so that the first electrode lead configuration is selected. This automatically results in setting a maximum sensitivity of an input channel of a detection unit of the pacemaker 1 to a value of 0.1 mV. Then, signals to be detected with the His bundle electrode lead 4 at the His bundle 6 can reliably be detected.

[0053] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points.