System and Method for Synchronizing Energy to the Cardiac Rhythm

Abstract

A system for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm is provided. The system includes a memory that receives and stores a synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase such as R-wave of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started. A synchronization module analyzes whether the stored synchronization signal is erroneous and if so, prevents a medical treatment device from applying a treatment energy signal such as an IRE pulse to a patient to take into account an irregular heart beat and noise in the synchronization signal in order to maximize safety of the patient.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm, comprising:
 a memory that receives and stores a synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started; and   a synchronization module coupled to the memory and operable to prevent a medical treatment device from applying a treatment signal to a patient when the stored synchronization signal is determined to be erroneous.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module dynamically adjusts a blanking period during which an application of the treatment signal to the patient by the medical treatment device is prevented. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to dynamically extend the blanking period when a new synchronization signal is received before the blanking period expires. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 start a blanking period after receiving the synchronization signal;   control the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal; and   once the first treatment signal has been applied, prevent the medical treatment device from applying a subsequent treatment signal within the blanking period.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to start a new blanking period when a subsequent synchronization signal is received by the memory after the blanking period. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 start a new blanking period when a subsequent synchronization signal is received after the blanking period;   control the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal; and   prevent the medical treatment device from applying a subsequent treatment signal within the new blanking period.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module, after receiving the synchronization signal, controls the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal after waiting a predetermined time period from the receipt of the synchronization signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization module controls the medical treatment device to apply at least one IRE pulse as the first treatment signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 determine a synchronization error based on the received synchronization signal; and   upon re-establishing the synchronization, waits for a subsequent synchronization signal to start a new blanking period.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory receives the synchronization signal for each occurrence of an R-wave from a cardiac device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 start a blanking period after receiving the synchronization signal;   control the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal;   once the first treatment signal has been applied, prevent the medical treatment device from applying a subsequent treatment signal within the blanking period;   dynamically extend the blanking period when a new synchronization signal is received within the blanking period.   
     
     
         12 . A system for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm, comprising:
 a memory that receives and stores a synchronization signal from a cardiac device that continuously generates the synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started; and   a synchronization module coupled to the memory and operable to use a blanking period to prevent a medical treatment device from applying a treatment signal when the stored synchronization signal is determined to be erroneous.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the memory receive the synchronization signal which indicates that a T-wave phase of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started; and   the synchronization module prevents the medical treatment device from applying a treatment signal during the blanking period.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein, based on the received synchronization signal, the synchronization module dynamically adjusts the blanking period during which an application of the treatment signal to the patient by the medical treatment device is prevented. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 start the blanking period after receiving the synchronization signal;   control the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal after receiving the synchronization signal; and   once the first treatment signal has been applied, prevent the medical treatment device from applying a subsequent treatment signal within the blanking period.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the synchronization module, after receiving the synchronization signal, controls the medical treatment device to apply at least one IRE pulse as the first treatment signal after waiting a predetermined time period from the receipt of the synchronization signal.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the synchronization module is operable to:
 start a blanking period after receiving the synchronization signal;   control the medical treatment device to apply a first treatment signal;   once the first treatment signal has been applied, prevent the medical treatment device from applying a subsequent treatment signal within the blanking period;   dynamically extend the blanking period when a new synchronization signal is received within the blanking period.   
     
     
         18 . A system for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm, comprising:
 a memory that stores a synchronization signal from a cardiac device that continuously generates the synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started; and   a synchronization module coupled to the memory and operable to dynamically adjust a blanking period during which an application of treatment signals to the patient by a medical treatment device is prevented based on an analysis of the stored synchronization signal.