Rate responsive pacing using the magnitude of the repolarization gradient of the ventricular gradient

摘要

A rate responsive cardiac pacing system is provided. In the illustrative embodiment, electrical stimulus pulses are applied to the heart ventricle and the evoked potential of the applied electrical stimulus pulses is detected. The detected potential is integrated over time to obtain a repolarization gradient magnitude. The repolarization gradient magnitude is compared with a corresponding repolarization gradient magnitude of at least one previous cardiac cycle. The rate of the electrical stimulus pulses is controlled in response to this comparison.