US3898994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixed-rate pacer circuit with self-starting capability
Assignee: Intermedics Inc
•
Filing: 1973-01-24
•
Granted: 1975-08-12
•
Expires: 1993-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An electrical circuit operable from a low voltage source or nuclear battery for generating electrical pacing and stimulation pulses for application to a human heart includes a multivibrator having transistors of opposite conductivity type. Both transistors are simultaneously switched between conductive and nonconductive states, and each includes a resistor between its base and collector to prevent the transistors from remaining in saturation after pulse generation to assure that the multivibrator is self-starting. Interconnected between the base of each transistor and the collector of the other is a resistor and capacitor in series to control the duration of each pulse, and in cooperation with the base-collector resistor of each transistor to control the period between each pulse. The multivibrator pulse is amplified by a transistor amplifier and applied to a voltage doubler output circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Steve A Kolenik
- 👤 William L Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/025; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0587; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/37; A61N1/372; A61N1/375; A61N1/37512; H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/26; H03K3/28; H03K3/281; H03K3/282; H03K3/2826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A heartpacer apparatus for generating electrical pulses from a constant voltage source for delivery to a pair of electrodes at least one of which is adapted to be connected to a heart to stimulate the heartbeat thereof, comprising: a pair of transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter of one transistor and the collector of the other transistor being connected to one terminal of said constant voltage source, and the collector of said one transistor and the emitter of said other transistor being connected to another terminal of said constant voltage source. a pair of first resistance means, each having the same value, each connected between the base and collector of a respective one of said transistors, the value of each of said first resistance means being selected to normally bias the respective transistor to which said first resistance means is connected to a state out of saturation, and a pair of second resistance means, each having the same value, and a pair of capacitance means, each having the same value, one of said second resistance means and one of said capacitance means being connected in series between the base of one of said transistors and the collector of the other transistor, and another of said second resistance means and another of said capacitance means being connected in series between the base of said other transistor and the collector of said one transistor, whereby said first and second resistor means and said capacitance means define a multivibrator with said transistors for generating electrical pulses, said first resistance means assuring that the transistors are quiescently unsaturated and that the multivibrator is self-starting, and said second resistor means and said capacitance means controlling the duration of each pulse generated, and, in cooperation with said first resistance means, controlling the period between pulses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
A heartpacer apparatus for generating electrical pulses from a constant voltage source for delivery to a pair of electrodes at least one of which is adapted to be connected to a heart to stimulate the heartbeat thereof, comprising: a pair of transistors of opposite conductivity type, each having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter of one transistor and the collector of the other transistor being connected to one terminal of said constant voltage source, and the collector of said one transistor and the emitter of said other transistor being connected to another terminal of said constant voltage source. a pair of first resistance means, each having the same value, each connected between the base and collector of a respective one of said transistors, the value of each of said first resistance means being selected to normally bias the respective transistor to which said first resistance means is connected to a state out of saturation, and a pair of second resistance means, each having the same value, and a pair of capacitance means, each having the same value, one of said second resistance means and one of said capacitance means being connected in series between the base of one of said transistors and the collector of the other transistor, and another of said second resistance means and another of said capacitance means being connected in series between the base of said other transistor and the collector of said one transistor, whereby said first and second resistor means and said capacitance means define a multivibrator with said transistors for generating electrical pulses, said first resistance means assuring that the transistors are quiescently unsaturated and that the multivibrator is self-starting, and said second resistor means and said capacitance means controlling the duration of each pulse generated, and, in cooperation with said first resistance means, controlling the period between pulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier connected to a collector of one of said transistors to receive the pulses generated by said multivibrator for delivery to said electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said voltage source is of low voltage less than about 2.70 volts, and further comprising a capacitor in parallel with said low voltage source, and a voltage doubling means comprising a load resistor, a transistor having a base, emitter and collector, the collector-emitter circuit being connected in series with said load resistor, the series being connected across the constant input voltage, and the pulses being applied to the base, and a capacitor connected between the output of said amplifier and the emitter of said transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
245 words
Apparatus for generating and applying cardiac stimulation pulses, comprising; a nuclear battery having first and second terminals, a capacitor connected between said terminals of said nuclear battery to receive electrical charge from said battery, a PNP transistor, having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter being connected across said first terminal and the collector being connected across said second terminal of said battery, an NPN transistor, having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter being connected across said second terminal and the collector being connected across said first terminal of said battery, two circuits, each comprising a resistor and capacitor in series, the resistors of each said circuits being of equal value and the capacitors of each said circuits being of equal value, each circuit connected between a base of a respective one of said transistors and the collector of the other to form with said transistors a pulse generating multivibrator, first and second resistor means, each of equal value, and each connected between the base of a respective transistor and its collector, for preventing the transistors from remaining in a saturated state, to assure that the mulTivibrator is self-starting, a voltage doubler circuit to which the pulses of said multivibrator are applied to produce electrical pulses, and an amplifier to which the voltage doubled pulses are applied, and a pair of electrical conductors at least one of which is connectable to a person''s heart to which the amplified pulses are applied for cardiac stimulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
245 words
Apparatus for generating and applying cardiac stimulation pulses, comprising; a nuclear battery having first and second terminals, a capacitor connected between said terminals of said nuclear battery to receive electrical charge from said battery, a PNP transistor, having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter being connected across said first terminal and the collector being connected across said second terminal of said battery, an NPN transistor, having an emitter, base, and collector, the emitter being connected across said second terminal and the collector being connected across said first terminal of said battery, two circuits, each comprising a resistor and capacitor in series, the resistors of each said circuits being of equal value and the capacitors of each said circuits being of equal value, each circuit connected between a base of a respective one of said transistors and the collector of the other to form with said transistors a pulse generating multivibrator, first and second resistor means, each of equal value, and each connected between the base of a respective transistor and its collector, for preventing the transistors from remaining in a saturated state, to assure that the mulTivibrator is self-starting, a voltage doubler circuit to which the pulses of said multivibrator are applied to produce electrical pulses, and an amplifier to which the voltage doubled pulses are applied, and a pair of electrical conductors at least one of which is connectable to a person''s heart to which the amplified pulses are applied for cardiac stimulation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3433228A
Cited
US3649367A
Cited
US3454012A
Cited
US3497829A
Cited
US3547127A
Cited
US3707974A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |