Biomedical subjects

Z Leung

Publications and source records attributed to Z Leung.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Is automatic mode switching effective for atrial arrhythmias occurring at different rates? A study of the efficacy of automatic mode and rate switching to simulated atrial arrhythmias by chest wall stimulation.

Automatic mode switching (AMS) is a useful means to avoid rapid ventricular response during atrial fibrillation (AF), but AMS cannot occur if the detected atrial rate during AF is below the mode switching criteria. This may be the result of antiarrhythmic medications, or when the atrial events fall within the atrial blanking period, or if the atrial amplitudes during AF are too small to be sensed. We hypothesize that the addition of an automatic rate switching (ARS) algorithm may complement AMS response during AF with different detected atrial rates. We studied the Marathon DDDR pacemaker (Model 294-09, Intermedics Inc.) with the AMS and ARS algorithms that are independently programmable but can also operate in combination. AF sensed above the AMS rate (160 beats/min) will lead to VDIR pacing, whereas AF below AMS rate will be tracked at an interim rate as dictate by the ARS, at a ventricular response that is 20 beats/min above the sensor indicated rate. Atrial tachyarrhythmias were simulated by chest wall stimulation (CWS). CWS was applied to 33 patients (16 men, 17 women, mean age 69 +/- 11 years) with a Marathon DDDR pacemaker using an external pacer to simulate AF occurring at two rate levels: above the AMS rate (programmed at 160 beats/min) at 180 beats/min and below the AMS rate at 120 beats/min. The maximum, minimum, and mean ventricular rates during CWS in DDDR mode with AMS alone, ARS alone, and their combination were compared. During CWS at 120 beats/min, the AMS plus ARS setting showed a mean ventricular rate of 79 +/- 3 beats/min and 124 +/- 14 beats/min in the AMS setting alone (P < 0.01). With CWS at 180 beats/min, the mean ventricular rate in the AMS plus ARS setting compared to the AMS setting alone was not significantly different. However, the variation in ventricular pacing rate was 7 +/- 14 beats/min in the AMS plus ARS setting and 40 +/- 42 beats/min in the AMS setting (P < 0.05). In conclusion, AMS is effective for simulated atrial tachyarrhythmias sensed above the AMS rate. Combined AMS with ARS is useful to handle simulated atrial tachyarrhythmia at a slower rate and to avoid rate fluctuation during AMS. There is also a possibility that this can be applied to the naturally occurring atrial tachyarrhythmias.

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PubMed1998

An integrated dual sensor system automatically optimized by target rate histogram.

The use of combined sensors and advanced algorithms using different principles can improve rate performance over a single sensor system. Combinations of sensors and more sophisticated algorithms, however, invariably increase the complexity of pacemaker programming. An automatically optimized combined minute ventilation and activity DDDR pacemaker was developed to minimize repeated sensor adjustment. The device used subthreshold (below cardiac stimulation threshold) lead impedance to detect lead configuration at implantation automatically, followed by "implant management," including setting of lead polarity and initiation of DDDR pacing. Automatic sensor adaptation was achieved by programming a "target rate histogram" based on the patient's activity level and frequency of exertion, and the rate profile optimization process matched the recorded integrated sensor response to the target rate histogram profile. In nine patients implanted with the DX2 pacemakers, the implant management gave 100% accuracy in the detection of lead polarity. Rate profile optimization automatically increased the pacing rate during exercise between discharge and 3-month follow-up (hall walk: 78 +/- 3 vs 98 +/- 3 beats/min, and maximal treadmill exercise: 89 +/- 6 vs 115 +/- 5 beats/min, P < 0.001) with a significant increase in exercise duration during maximal exercise (7.18 +/- 1 min vs 9.56 +/- 2 min, P = 0.05). The accuracy of rate profile optimization versus manual programming was assessed at 1 month, and there was no significant difference between pacing rate kinetics and maximal pacing rate between the two methods of programming. In conclusion, pacemaker automaticity can be initiated at implantation and the self-optimized rate adaptive response appeared to be comparable to that derived from a manual programming procedure, which may reduce the need to perform time consuming sensor programming.

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PubMed1996

New integrated sensor pacemaker: comparison of rate responses between an integrated minute ventilation and activity sensor and single sensor modes during exercise and daily activities and nonphysiological interference.

A dual sensor DDDR pacemaker (DX2 Model 7970, Medtronic Inc.) has integrated the rate response of minute ventilation (MV) and activity (ACT) sensors. False rate acceleration by the ACT (constrained upper rate) and MV (cross-checked by ACT) is reduced. We examined the rate response profile and rate kinetics of the automatically optimized integrated sensor by comparing with the projected rate response of ACT and MV sensors alone in nine patients. After 1 month of sensor optimization using rate profile optimization (RPO), patients underwent maximal and submaximal treadmill exercises and performed activities of daily living (ADL). The integrated sensor mode gave a faster speed of rate response with a shorter delay time, time to 50% rate response and time to 90% of rate response compared to the MV sensor during hall walk (0.37 +/- 0.08, 0.7 +/- 0.09, 1.43 +/- 0.19 vs 1.11 +/- 0.1, 1.75 +/- 0.14, 2.91 +/- 0.17 min; P < 0.05). The average maximal sensor rates were significantly more proportional for the integrated sensor mode compared with either the ACT or MV mode. There was no significant difference in both the maximal pacing rate among the three sensor modes during maximal exercise and the rate decay during recovery. During interference studies by arm swinging (30-40 swings/min) and external tapping of the pacemakers (2 taps/s), there was only a moderate increase in pacing rate by 13 +/- 9, 16 +/- 5 beats/min. Hence, the new integrated sensor with the automatic rate profile optimization algorithm resulted in improved rate response profiles during submaximal exercise and ADL compared to the individual sensor response, and the sensor blending and cross-checking algorithm made the pacemaker relatively immune to false triggering of both the ACT and MV sensors.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1996

Single lead DDD system: a comparative evaluation of unipolar, bipolar, and overlapping biphasic stimulation and the effects of right atrial floating electrode location on atrial pacing and sensing thresholds.

Single lead DDD pacing using unipolar or bipolar stimulation is limited by high atrial threshold. Overlapping biphasic (OLBI) waveform stimulation via atrial floating ring electrodes may preferentially enhance atrial pacing and avoid diaphragmatic pacing. Single lead DDD pacing with OLBI atrial pacing was studied in 12 patients (6 men and 6 women; mean age 74 +/- 7 years) with complete heart block. At implantation, atrial bipolar rings (area 27 mm2, separation 10 mm) were positioned at radiological defined high, mid, and low right atrial (RA) levels, and P wave amplitude and atrial and diaphragmatic pacing thresholds were determined in each position using unipolar, bipolar, and OLBI stimulation in random order. Although statistically insignificant, both the maximum and minimum sensed P wave amplitudes tended to be lower in the low RA position. Independent of the stimulation modes, minimum atrial pacing threshold occurred in the mid-RA. At mid-RA, the atrial pacing threshold was significantly lower with OLBI pacing compared with either unipolar or bipolar mode (3.9 +/- 2.2 V vs 6.7 +/- 3.5 V and 6.9 +/- 3.5 V, P < 0.05). Although the diaphragmatic thresholds were similar, OLBI pacing modes in the mid-RA and final location significantly improved the safety margin for avoidance of diaphragmatic pacing compared with unipolar mode. There was no correlation between atrial pacing and sensing threshold. At predischarge testing, all but one patient who developed atrial fibrillation had satisfactory atrial capture and a stable atrial pacing threshold (day 0: 2.6 +/- 1.1V vs day 2:3.2 +/- 1.3V, P = NS). However, diaphragmatic pacing occurred in four of 11 (36%) patients, especially in the upright position (sitting and standing). Our preliminary clinical results suggest that OLBI pacing via atrial floating ring electrodes can reduce the atrial pacing threshold. To optimize atrial pacing and sensing, the bipolar electrodes should be located at the mid-RA level first, although the high RA is an alternative. Despite significant improvements in the safety margin for diaphragmatic pacing with OLBI pacing, diaphragmatic stimulation remains a clinical problem.

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