METHOD FOR ADAPTING THE STIMULATION FREQUENCY OF A HEART PACEMAKER TO THE BURDEN OF THE PATIENT

PCT No. PCT/EP89/00108 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 6, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 6, 1990 PCT Filed Feb. 6, 1989 PCT Pub. No. WO89/06990 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 10, 1989.During optimization intervals prescribed by the heart pacemaker, the stimulation frequency is periodically changed and an acquisition of a measured value that is dependent on the cardiac minute output is respectively phase-synchronized with the change in stimulation frequency. An identification is thereby made whether the measured value that is dependent on the cardiac minute output changes given the change of the stimulation frequency. A number of curves are stored representing different relationships between a regulating variable, derived from the measured value, and the stimulation frequency. The stimulation frequency of the pacemaker is set based on one of these curves, as selected by an optimization controller to which the regulating variable is supplied. If the change in the measured valued as acquired during the optimization intervals indicates that the currently-selected curve is no longer accurate, the optimization controller selects another curve from among the stored curves which best represents the current relationship between the regulating variable and the stimulation frequency.