US Patent 7970465 Decision paradigms for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

New decision paradigms for ICDs are described. In one implementation, an implantable system senses cardiac output and arterial pressure parameters and shocks the heart in inverse relation to the arterial pressure, if the cardiac output is insufficient. In another implementation, the implantable system applies atrial anti-tachycardia pacing before applying ventricular anti-tachycardia pacing, if the heart rate is tachycardic.