Automatic capture detection during non-invasive programmed stimulation of a patient's heart

摘要

A non-invasive programming stimulation system for performing electrophysiological testing on a cardiac patient is performed using a programmer coupled to an implantable device by a communication channel. The system generates stimulating pulses for the heart and analyzes the responses to determine the pathological condition of the heart. Advantageously, before analysis, the system automatically tests for capture by the stimulating pulses to insure that the pulses do not fall into an absolute refractory period.