Medical-electronic stimulator, particularly a carotid sinus nerve stimulator with controlled turn-on amplitude rate

Claim 2

In electronic circuitry for providing output electronic stimulating signals to a selected portion of the body the signals providing a plurality of pulses, the circuitry adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, the improvement comprising: means for gradually increasing the amplitude of the initial pulses of the output stimulating signals to a predetermined value; energy terminal means adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy; and further means for connecting said means for gradually increasing the amplitude between said energy terminal means and a selected portion of the electronic circuitry.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 in which said means for gradually increasing the amplitude includes: input and output terminals for connection, respectively, to said energy terminal means and the selected portion of the electronic circuitry; amplifier means connected between said input and output terminals and having a control terminal; electrical time constant means; and means connecting said time constant means to said control terminal and across said energy terminal means.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 2 in which said electrical time constant means comprises: resistance means and capacitance means; means for connecting said resistance means between said control terminal and one polarity of said energy terminal means; and means for connecting said capacitance means between said control terminal and another polarity of said energy terminal means.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 3 in which said amplifier means comprises: a transistor having input and output electrodes connected to said input and output terminals, and having a control electrode connected to said control terminal.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 4 in which said transistor is connected in emitter-follower configuration.

Claim 7

In electronic pulse stimulator apparatus for providing an output train of pulses, the stimulator adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and including pulse generator means and output amplitude control means, the improvement comprising: energy terminal means adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy; means for automatically gradually increasing the amplitude of the initial pulses of the output train of pulses to a predetermined value; and means for connecting said means for gradually increasing the amplitude between said energy terminal means and the output amplitude control means.

Claim 8

In electronic pulse stimulator apparatus for providing an output train of pulses, the stimulator adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and including pulse generator means and output amplitude control means, the improvement comprising: energy terminal means adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy; means for automatically gradually increasing the amplitude of the initial pulses of the output train of pulses to a predetermined value; and means for connecting said means for gradually increasing the amplitude between said energy terminal means and the output amplitude control means.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 6 in which said means for gradually increasing the amplitude includes: amplifier means connected between said energy terminal means and the output amplitude control means; electrical time constant means; means for connecting said time constant means across said energy terminal means; and means connecting said time constant means to said amplifier means for the control thereof.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 7 in which said electrical time constant means comprises: resistance means and capacitance means connected in series across said energy terminal means; and said capacitance means connected to said amplifier means for controlling the output thereof dependent on the electrical charge in said capacitance means.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 8 in which said amplifier means comprises: a transistor having input, output and control electrodes; said input and output electrodes connected to, respectively, said energy terminal means and said output amplitude control means; and said control electrode connected to said capacitance means.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 9 in which said transistor is connected in emitter-follower configuration.

Claim 13

In a carotid sinus nerve stimulator for providing stimulating signals to a selected nerve fiber between being turned on and turned off, the improvement comprising: means automatically responsive to the stimulator being turned on for gradually increasing the amplitude of the initial stimulating signals to a predetermined level maintained until the stimulator is turned off; said means comprising time constant means connected to control the initial current flow through at least a position of the nerve stimulator; and including energy terminal means adapted to be connected to a source of energy; and said time constant means comprising an RC circuit connected between at least a position of the nerve stimulator and said terminal means.

Claim 14

In a carotid sinus nerve stimulator for providing stimulating signals to a selected nerve fiber between being turned on and turned off, the improvement comprising: means automatically responsive to the stimulator being turned on for gradually increasing the amplitude of the initial stimulating signals to a predetermined level maintained until the stimulator is turned off; said means comprising time constant means connected to control the initial current flow through at least a position of the nerve stimulator; and including energy terminal means adapted to be connected to a source of energy; and said time constant means comprising an RC circuit connected between at least a position of the nerve stimulator and said terminal means.