US3983880A — Apparatus for generating heart stimulation pulses…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 230 words

Apparatus for generating electrical heart stimulation pulses adapted to be connected to pulse delivery electrodes, at least one of which being connectable to a heart, comprising: a free running multivibrator for generating electrical pulses at a rate desired for heart stimulation in the absence of natural heart pulses, said free running multivibrator including plural identical timing circuits, each comprising a resistor and a capacitor in series, each timing circuit capable of triggering said free running multivibrator to initiate a pulse, a high impedance voltage doubler output stage connected to said pulse delivery electrodes to which the generated pulses are applied to produce corresponding output pulses upon said delivery electrodes, a frequency filtering amplifier for amplifying signals detected upon said delivery electrodes within a selected frequency spectrum, means for generating a signal connected to said amplifier for producing a control signal in response to signals amplified by said amplifier, and for blocking additional signals amplified by said amplifier for a predetermined refractory period, means connected across each of said capacitors of said plural timing circuits activated by said control signals for selectively discharging each of said capacitors to cancel a free running multivibrator generated pulse, and delay means interconnected between said control signal generating means and said capacitor discharging means to prevent a stimulation pulse from prematurely discharging said capacitors of said timing circuits before the termination of the stimulation pulse.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 230 words

Apparatus for generating electrical heart stimulation pulses adapted to be connected to pulse delivery electrodes, at least one of which being connectable to a heart, comprising: a free running multivibrator for generating electrical pulses at a rate desired for heart stimulation in the absence of natural heart pulses, said free running multivibrator including plural identical timing circuits, each comprising a resistor and a capacitor in series, each timing circuit capable of triggering said free running multivibrator to initiate a pulse, a high impedance voltage doubler output stage connected to said pulse delivery electrodes to which the generated pulses are applied to produce corresponding output pulses upon said delivery electrodes, a frequency filtering amplifier for amplifying signals detected upon said delivery electrodes within a selected frequency spectrum, means for generating a signal connected to said amplifier for producing a control signal in response to signals amplified by said amplifier, and for blocking additional signals amplified by said amplifier for a predetermined refractory period, means connected across each of said capacitors of said plural timing circuits activated by said control signals for selectively discharging each of said capacitors to cancel a free running multivibrator generated pulse, and delay means interconnected between said control signal generating means and said capacitor discharging means to prevent a stimulation pulse from prematurely discharging said capacitors of said timing circuits before the termination of the stimulation pulse.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said free running multivibrator is normally nonconducting and wherein said plural timing circuits each comprises a pair of resistor-capacitor timing circuits, the voltage on each of the capacitors controlling the initiation of conduction of the free running multivibrator to generate an electrical pulse and discharge the capacitors.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for generating a control signal and for blocking additional signals in response to amplified signals upon said electrodes comprises: a normally nonconducting monostable multivibrator for generating a voltage pulse when triggered by an amplified signal from said frequency filtering amplifier, applied to said monostable multivibrator.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frequency filtering amplifier amplifies electrical signals having primarily the same frequency spectra as a naturally occurring "R" wave.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for discharging said capacitors of said timing circuits comprises a transistor for each of said capacitors, the collector and emitter of which shunts the capacitor, and the base of which is connected to said delay means to receive the pulse from said monostable multivibrator to bias said transistor into conduction to discharge said capacitor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 150 words

A demand pacer for supplying a heart stimulation pulse in the absence of a naturally generated "R" wave, comprising: a. pair of electrodes, at least one of which is adapted to be connected to the heart; b. a free running multivibrator for generating electrical pulses, including a pair of identical timing circuits each comprising a resistor and a capacitor in series, each timing circuit for independently controlling the pulse repetition rate of the free running multivibrator; c. an amplifier connected to said free running multivibrator to receive the pulses generated thereby for amplifying the generated pulses; d. a voltage doubler circuit connected to said amplifier and to said electrodes to develop an electrical current upon said electrodes for application to the heart; e. An amplifier connected to said electrodes for detecting and selectively amplifying electrical signals upon said electrodes of frequency within the frequency spectrum of the "R" wave, including:

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 150 words

A demand pacer for supplying a heart stimulation pulse in the absence of a naturally generated "R" wave, comprising: a. pair of electrodes, at least one of which is adapted to be connected to the heart; b. a free running multivibrator for generating electrical pulses, including a pair of identical timing circuits each comprising a resistor and a capacitor in series, each timing circuit for independently controlling the pulse repetition rate of the free running multivibrator; c. an amplifier connected to said free running multivibrator to receive the pulses generated thereby for amplifying the generated pulses; d. a voltage doubler circuit connected to said amplifier and to said electrodes to develop an electrical current upon said electrodes for application to the heart; e. An amplifier connected to said electrodes for detecting and selectively amplifying electrical signals upon said electrodes of frequency within the frequency spectrum of the "R" wave, including:

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 81 words

a capacitor in series with one of said electrodes for differentiating the electrical signals applied thereto from the heart, 2. two Class A amplifier stages for amplifying the differentiated signal, one stage having a low frequency roll off characteristic below the "R" wave frequency spectrum, and the other stage having a high frequency roll off characteristic above the "R" wave frequency spectrum, 3. a high gain third amplifier stage a-c coupled to said two amplifier stages for further signal amplification, and

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 81 words

a capacitor in series with one of said electrodes for differentiating the electrical signals applied thereto from the heart, 2. two Class A amplifier stages for amplifying the differentiated signal, one stage having a low frequency roll off characteristic below the "R" wave frequency spectrum, and the other stage having a high frequency roll off characteristic above the "R" wave frequency spectrum, 3. a high gain third amplifier stage a-c coupled to said two amplifier stages for further signal amplification, and

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 165 words

a pulse shaping circuit for enhancing the pulse shape of the differentiated and amplified signal, said capacitor, two Class A amplifiers, third amplifier, and pulse shaping circuit being serially connected to sequentially operate upon a detected signal on said electrodes; f. a monostable multivibrator connected to said pulse shaping circuit, triggered by the differentiated, amplified, and shaped signal for generating an output pulse to block additional signals on said electrodes when said monostable multivibrator is in a conducting state to define a refractory period; g. transistor switch means for shorting the capacitors of the free running multivibrator to discharge the capacitors, said transistor switch means being controlled by the output pulses from said monostable multivibrator, and h. delay means interconnecting an output of said monostable multivibrator and said transistor switch means to delay the output pulse of said monostable multivibrator, whereby a pulse generated by said free running multivibrator is allowed to terminate prior to the capacitors thereof being discharged by said transistor switch means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 165 words

a pulse shaping circuit for enhancing the pulse shape of the differentiated and amplified signal, said capacitor, two Class A amplifiers, third amplifier, and pulse shaping circuit being serially connected to sequentially operate upon a detected signal on said electrodes; f. a monostable multivibrator connected to said pulse shaping circuit, triggered by the differentiated, amplified, and shaped signal for generating an output pulse to block additional signals on said electrodes when said monostable multivibrator is in a conducting state to define a refractory period; g. transistor switch means for shorting the capacitors of the free running multivibrator to discharge the capacitors, said transistor switch means being controlled by the output pulses from said monostable multivibrator, and h. delay means interconnecting an output of said monostable multivibrator and said transistor switch means to delay the output pulse of said monostable multivibrator, whereby a pulse generated by said free running multivibrator is allowed to terminate prior to the capacitors thereof being discharged by said transistor switch means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 84 words

The demand pacer of claim 6 wherein said free running multivibrator comprises: two transistors, each having an emitter, base, and collector, of opposite conductivity type, said two transistors being normally nonconducting in the absence of an output pulse, first and second resistor means interconnected between the collector and base of a respective one of said two transistors, and wherein said pair of timing circuits are each connected between the base of a respective one of said two transistors and the collector of the other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The demand pacer of claim 7 further comprising a nuclear powered source of electrical potential connected to the demand pacer to supply electrical power thereto.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-10-05	1980-04-05	1980-10-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-10-05	1984-04-05	1984-10-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-10-05	1988-04-05	1988-10-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for generating heart stimulation pulses upon demand

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