Prioritized rule based method and apparatus for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An implantable antiarrhythmia device which detects and classifies arrhythmias of the human heart, and delivers appropriate therapy. The device employs a method of arrhythmia classification based on a set of prioritized rules, each of the rules defining a plurality of criteria based upon characteristics of sensed depolarizations of heart tissue each , rule being met when the criteria associated with the rule are met. Some rules when met, trigger delivery of antiarrhythmia therapy. Other rules when met, inhibit delivery of antiarrhythmia therapy. The rules may be met simultaneously, and if so the highest priority rule governs , the behavior of the device.