Cardiac pacemaker having a device for the automatic threshold value determination

摘要

There is disclosed a system for determining a pacing energy stimulation threshold of a heart chamber for use in a cardiac pacemaker for applying to the chamber of the heart pacing electrical pulses of sufficient energy so as to exceed a pacing energy stimulation threshold. The system includes a pulse generator which repeatedly applies pacing electrical pulse pairs to the chamber. Each electrical pulse pair includes a first pulse and a second pulse. The first pulse precedes the second pulse and is of lesser energy than the second pulse. The first and second pulses evoke a first and second response respectively of the chamber. A subtractor subtracts the second response from the first response for each pulse pair to provide a series of capture values. The stimulation threshold is selected when the capture values change sign. Also disclosed is a method carried out by the disclosed system.