Selection of cardiac capture verification modes

1. A method for automatically implementing capture verification in a cardiac rhythm management system, comprising:

evaluating a plurality of capture verification modes used to operate the cardiac rhythm management system to verify capture, at least one capture verification mode of the plurality of capture verification modes having a temporal relationship between delivery of a pacing pulse and detection of capture of heart tissue by the pacing pulse that is different from another capture verification mode of the plurality of capture verification modes;

selecting one or more capture verification modes based on the evaluation of the plurality of capture verification modes, including selecting based on a time interval duration of each of the one or more capture verification modes, the time interval duration measured between a given pacing pulse and a cardiac signal feature used for capture detection for such pacing pulse; and

implementing capture verification using the selected one or more capture verification modes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode comprises a single chamber capture verification mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode comprises a multi-chamber capture verification mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode uses a different capture detection algorithm or a different sensing vector than the another capture verification mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode uses a same sensing vector for detecting capture as the another capture verification mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode uses a same capture detection algorithm for detecting capture as the another capture verification mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one capture verification mode uses a sensing vector for detecting capture that is spatially more distal from the pacing vector than a sensing vector used for detecting capture by the another capture verification mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes comprises evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes during a capture threshold test.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes comprises evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes on a beat by beat basis.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes comprises sensing for capture using each of the plurality of capture verification modes based on cardiac signals of one cardiac cycle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes comprises sensing for capture using each of the plurality of capture verification modes based on cardiac signals of multiple cardiac cycles.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more capture verification modes comprises selecting the one or more capture verification modes based at least in part on capture detection reliability of the selected one or more capture verification modes.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more capture verification modes comprises selecting the one or more capture verification modes based at least in part on a hierarchy of capture verification modes.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more capture verification modes comprises selecting the one or more capture verification modes based at least in part on a temporal proximity of capture detection of the one or more capture verification modes to the timing of the pacing pulse.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

selecting the one or more capture verification modes comprises selecting multiple capture verification modes; and

implementing capture verification comprises implementing capture verification using a combination of the multiple capture verification modes.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

selecting the one or more capture verification modes comprises selecting a first capture verification mode and a second capture verification mode; and

implementing capture verification comprises using the second capture verification mode to confirm the first capture verification mode.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically re-evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-evaluating the plurality of capture verification modes responsive to an event that may alter capture verification effectiveness.