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Abstract

A variable rate pacemaker responsive to patient exercise senses physical activity of the patient by motion detection and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The pacemaker circuitry detects maximum and minimum values of the amplitude of the electrical signal in equal intervals of time. These time intervals are selected to be shorter than the shortest possible interval between repetitions or of the cycle representing speed of the physical activity. Only one parameter is calculated, namely the difference in maximum and minimum amplitude within each time interval, to determine both the amplitude of the signal corresponding to intensity of the exercise and, indirectly, the frequency of the signal corresponding to exercise speed and repetition rate, for use in pacemaker rate control. In a specific embodiment, the data of successive time intervals is averaged into data blocks, and a first-in, first-out technique is applied to the averaged data blocks for use in the desired pacing rate control.

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First Claim