| abstract |
A pacemaker programmer and diagnostic system retrieves information stored within a pacemaker and analyzes the retrieved data in real time. The stored information can be retrieved by a telemetry communication link. The programmer includes features for allowing the physician to interactively adjust program parameters while viewing the results of parameter changes in real-time. The programmer performs a ventricular sensitivity threshold test by setting the stimulation device to an atrial tracking mode, and by assessing the ventricular sensing of the pacemaker. If ventricular sensing is confirmed, the processor performs a ventricular sensitivity threshold test to determine the pacemaker ventricular sensitivity threshold, and then automatically adjusts the ventricular sensitivity to within a safety margin from the ventricular sensitivity threshold. The programmer also performs an atrial sensitivity threshold test by setting the stimulation device to the atrial tracking mode, and by assessing the atrial sensing of the pacemaker. If atrial sensing is confirmed, the programmer determines whether the base rate is less than the sensed atrial rate by 20 BPM or more; if so, the processor performs an atrial sensitivity threshold test to determine the pacemaker atrial sensitivity threshold, and automatically adjusts the atrial sensitivity to within a safety margin from the atrial sensitivity threshold. |