EP0011950A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Body stimulator pulse generator
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1979-11-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A programmable medical device, e.g. a cardiac pacemaker, utilizes digital circuitry 40 for controlling the provision of cardiac stimulating pulses and analog circuitry42 for providing clocks, an output circuit and heart activity sensing. Digital circuit 40 includes a memory in which may be programmed on a permanent ortemporary basisfrom an external programmer control information relating to rate, pulse width, pulse amplitude, refractory period, sense amplifier sensitivity and the mode of operation desired. In addition the output can be inhibited or a threshold margin test can be performed in which a reduced energy output pulse is provided to check if heart capture is lost. The pacemaker can operate in a hysteresis mode and provides a high rate limit which can however be exceeded by programming. The pacemaker further includes means for signalling the acceptance of a programming signal and means to rest the program acceptance circuit if extraneous signals are detected as programming signals. The acceptance circuit checks for the receipt of the proper number of signals within a given time, for an access code and correct parity. Timing is by means of a crystal oscillator and a voltage controlled oscillator controls pulse width to obtain energy compensation with varying battery voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray S. Mcdonald
- 👤 David L. Thompson
- 👤 Martin A. Rossing
- 👤 Jerome T. Hartlaub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211; A61N1/37252; A61N1/37254; A61N1/362
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A body stimulator pulse generator for providing stimulating pulses at a defined rate to terminal means adapted to being coupled to bodily tissue, comprising oscillator means for providing signals at said defined rate, said oscillator means including first rate limit means to prevent said oscillator signals from exceeding a first upper rate; and output means responsive to said oscillator signals, for providing said stimulating pulses, said output means including second rate limit means to prevent said oscillator signals from exceeding a second upper rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A body stimulator pulse generator for providing stimulating pulses at a defined rate to terminal means adapted to being coupled to bodily tissue, comprising oscillator means for providing signals at said defined rate, said oscillator means including first rate limit means to prevent said oscillator signals from exceeding a first upper rate; and output means responsive to said oscillator signals, for providing said stimulating pulses, said output means including second rate limit means to prevent said oscillator signals from exceeding a second upper rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second rate limit means provides a signal to said first rate limit means; and wherein said first rate limit means responds to said second rate limit means signal by preventing oscillator pulses from being provided at a rate exceeding the lower of said first and second upper rates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said oscillator means includes means to negate prevention effects of said first and second rate limit means whenever.it is desired to provide stimulating pulses at a rate exceeding said first and second upper rates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
197 words
A body stimulator pulse generator for providing stimulating pulses to output terminals adapted to being electrically coupled to body tissue, said pulse generator comprising: clock means for providing a series of clock pulses; counter means for counting said clock pulses; first decoding means responsive to said counter means for providing a signal whenever said counter means reaches a first certain count, said first count reflating to the time between stimulating pulses; first bistable means for being set in response to said first decoding means signal; second decoding means responsive to said counter means for providing a signal whenever said counter means reaches a second certain count, said second certain count relating to the minimum acceptable time between stimulating pulses; second bistable means for being set in response to said second decoding means signal; gate means responsive to said first and second bistable means for providing a signal when both said first and second bistable means are set; output means for providing said stimulating pulse in response to said gate means signal; and reset means for resetting said counter means, said first bistable means and said second bistable means in response to the provision of said stimulating pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
A body stimulator pulse generator for providing stimulating pulses to output terminals adapted to being electrically coupled to body tissue, said pulse generator comprising: clock means for providing a series of clock pulses; counter means for counting said clock pulses; first decoding means responsive to said counter means for providing a signal whenever said counter means reaches a first certain count, said first count reflating to the time between stimulating pulses; first bistable means for being set in response to said first decoding means signal; second decoding means responsive to said counter means for providing a signal whenever said counter means reaches a second certain count, said second certain count relating to the minimum acceptable time between stimulating pulses; second bistable means for being set in response to said second decoding means signal; gate means responsive to said first and second bistable means for providing a signal when both said first and second bistable means are set; output means for providing said stimulating pulse in response to said gate means signal; and reset means for resetting said counter means, said first bistable means and said second bistable means in response to the provision of said stimulating pulse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 4 further including override means for providing a signal to enable said gate means to provide a signal whenever said first bistable means is set regardless of the state of said second bistable means, said override means signal only being provided when it is desired to provide stimulating pulses separated by a time period less than the time for said counter means to reach said second count.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said gate means includes first and second gates, said first gate being responsive to said override means signal and said second bistable means for providing a signal whenever either said override signal is applied thereto or said second bistable means is set, and said second gate being responsive to said first bistable means being set and the signal from said first gate means for providing said gate means signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said output means includes rate limit means and is arranged to provide said stimulating pulse at a rate not exceeding an upper rate, said rate limit means providing a signal after a certain time related to the time period of stimulating pulses provided at said upper rate; and wherein said rate limit means signal is applied to said gate means and said gate means provides said signal only after said rate limit means signal is applied thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claims 5 and 7 wherein said override means is arranged to provide a signal only when it is desired to provide stimulating pulses separated by a time period less than both said time for said counter means to reach said second count and said certain time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said gate means includes first, second and third gates, said first gate being responsive to said rate limit signal and said second bistable means being set for providing a signal when both said second bistable means is set and said rate limit signal is provided, said second gate being responsive to said first gate signal and said override means signal for providing a signal whenever either of the signals applied thereto are provided and said third gate being responsive to said first bistable means being set and to the second gate signal for providing said gate means signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
lO. A stimulator pulse generator as claimed in claim 5, 6, 8 or 9, or claims 5 and 7 wherein said override means includes switch means for closing a short circuit path from the output of said rate limit circuit to a predetermined voltage level to override said rate limit circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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