US4399818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direct-coupled output stage for rapid-signal biological stimulator
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1981-04-06
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Granted: 1983-08-23
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Expires: 2001-04-06
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a direct-coupled output stage which is especially advantageous for use in an implantable heart pacer. In order to provide for charge balancing at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces, the electrodes are shorted to each other after a pacing pulse is generated. Not only is the use of a bulky coupling capacitor avoided, but the stored charge dissipates in a much shorter time, thereby minimizing the "blind" interval in the sensing cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Money
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/37; A61N1/371; A61N1/3716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A heart pacer comprising a battery supply, a pair of electrodes for applying a stimulating pulse to the heart of a patient, means connected to at least one of said electrodes for sensing heart activity, storage capacitor means, means responsive to said sensing means for determining the need for a stimulating pulse and in response thereto for connecting said storage capacitor means across said electrodes to apply a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart, means for charging said storage capacitor means from said battery supply following the application of a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart, and means operative following the application of a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart for coupling said electrodes directly to each other and independent of said battery supply to allow charge stored in the interfaces between said electrodes and said patient's tissue as a result of said stimulating pulse to be largely recovered, through said electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A heart pacer comprising a battery supply, a pair of electrodes for applying a stimulating pulse to the heart of a patient, means connected to at least one of said electrodes for sensing heart activity, storage capacitor means, means responsive to said sensing means for determining the need for a stimulating pulse and in response thereto for connecting said storage capacitor means across said electrodes to apply a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart, means for charging said storage capacitor means from said battery supply following the application of a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart, and means operative following the application of a stimulating pulse to said patient's heart for coupling said electrodes directly to each other and independent of said battery supply to allow charge stored in the interfaces between said electrodes and said patient's tissue as a result of said stimulating pulse to be largely recovered, through said electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connecting means disconnects said storage capacitor means from said electrodes simultaneously with the operation of said coupling means so that said storage capacitor means can be charged from said battery supply while the charge stored in said patient's heart is recovered through said electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coupling means shorts said electrodes to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A heart pacer comprising electrode means for supplying a stimulating current to the heart of a patient, means for sensing heart activity, control means responsive to said sensing means for determining the need for a stimulating current and in response thereto for causing a stimulating current to flow through said electrode means, and means operative following operation of said control means for enabling a passive discharge of the distributed capacitance in said patient's heart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A heart pacer comprising electrode means for supplying a stimulating current to the heart of a patient, means for sensing heart activity, control means responsive to said sensing means for determining the need for a stimulating current and in response thereto for causing a stimulating current to flow through said electrode means, and means operative following operation of said control means for enabling a passive discharge of the distributed capacitance in said patient's heart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said enabling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said electrode means consists of two electrodes, and said enabling means is operative to short said two electrodes to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 5 wherein the pacer is powered from a single source of potential, and said control means is operative to cause current flow through said electrode means in only one direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said sensing means is connected to said electrode means and is disabled from sensing heart activity while said enabling means is operated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 9 wherein said enabling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 10 wherein said electrode means consists of two electrodes, and said enabling means is operative to short said two electrodes to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heart pacer in accordance with claim 11 wherein the pacer is powered from a single source of potential, and said control means is operative to cause current flow through said electrode means in only one direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A biological tissue stimulator for applying a rapidly varying signal to a site which is to have minimal net charge transfer comprising electrode means for applying a stimulating current to said site, control means for causing a rapidly varying direct-coupled stimulating current to flow through said electrode means, and means operative following operation of said control means for enabling a passive discharge of the distributed capacitance at said site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A biological tissue stimulator for applying a rapidly varying signal to a site which is to have minimal net charge transfer comprising electrode means for applying a stimulating current to said site, control means for causing a rapidly varying direct-coupled stimulating current to flow through said electrode means, and means operative following operation of said control means for enabling a passive discharge of the distributed capacitance at said site.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 13 wherein said enabling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrode means consists of two electrodes, and said enabling means is operative to short said two electrodes to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 13 wherein the stimulator is powered from a single source of potential, and said control means is operative to cause current flow through said electrode means in only one direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 13 wherein said control means is disabled from operating while said enabling means is operated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 17 wherein said enabling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 18 wherein said electrode means consists of two electrodes, and said enabling means is operative to short said two electrodes to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A biological tissue stimulator in accordance with claim 19 wherein the stimulator is powered from a single source or potential, and said control means is operative to cause current flow through said electrode means in only one direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
An output circuit for a biological tissue stimulator to stimulate a site for which low net charge transfer is desired comprising a pair of electrodes for causing current flow through said site, charge storing means, means for connecting said charge storing means in series with said pair of electrodes when a stimulating current is to be delivered, and means for coupling said pair of electrodes to each other following operation of said connecting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
An output circuit for a biological tissue stimulator to stimulate a site for which low net charge transfer is desired comprising a pair of electrodes for causing current flow through said site, charge storing means, means for connecting said charge storing means in series with said pair of electrodes when a stimulating current is to be delivered, and means for coupling said pair of electrodes to each other following operation of said connecting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 21 wherein said connecting means is connected between said charge storing means and one of said electrodes, and said coupling means couples the other of said electrodes to the junction of said connecting means and said one electrode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 22 wherein said coupling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 23 wherein the stimulator is powered from a single source of potential, and said charge storing means is connected to said electrodes only when current flows through said electrodes in one direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 22 wherein the stimulator is powered from a single source of potential, and said charge storing means is connected to said electrodes only when current flows through said electrodes in one direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 21 wherein said coupling means is operated for a time duration in the range 0.01-400 milliseconds.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
An output circuit in accordance with claim 21 wherein the stimulator is powered from a single source of potential, and said charge storing means is connected to said electrodes only when current flows through said electrodes in one direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-22 | 1987-02-21 | 1987-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-22 | 1991-02-21 | 1991-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-22 | 1995-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |