US4404972A
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Implantable device with microprocessor control
Assignee: Intermedics Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-18
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Granted: 1983-09-20
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Expires: 2001-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved body function assistance device is provided wherein a microprocessor controls the response of the device to various external physiological events and internal timer events. The microprocessor is adapted for use with the limited energy supply available from a battery by activating internal logic components of the processor only in response to selected events and to perform an operating routine corresponding to the "wakeup" event. At the end of the operating routine, a new set of wakeup events is selected and the internal logic components are deactivated. A further reduction in the average operating current is obtained by providing a plurality of counting rates to minimize the number of state changes during counting cycles. The microprocessor may be provided with a fixed operating routine or may be provided with the capability of actually introducing program changes in the implanted device.
Inventors
- 👤 Pat L. Gordon
- 👤 Richard V. Calfee
- 👤 Jay Miner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211; A61N1/37252; A61N1/37276; A61N1/362; A61N1/37; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of reducing the power consumption of a microprocessor controlled system comprising the steps of: (a) storing a wakeup parameter; (b) operating the microprocessor in a sleep state wherein no processing activity or a predetermined sleep processing activity occurs; (c) generating event signals upon the occurrence of corresponding predetermined events; and (d) operating the microprocessor with a processing activity increased with respect to the activity occurring during said sleep state, in response to a generated event signal which corresponds to the stored wakeup parameter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of reducing the power consumption of a microprocessor controlled system comprising the steps of: (a) storing a wakeup parameter; (b) operating the microprocessor in a sleep state wherein no processing activity or a predetermined sleep processing activity occurs; (c) generating event signals upon the occurrence of corresponding predetermined events; and (d) operating the microprocessor with a processing activity increased with respect to the activity occurring during said sleep state, in response to a generated event signal which corresponds to the stored wakeup parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) includes the step of selecting at least one wakeup parameter from a predetermined set of wakeup parameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) includes the step of receiving a time-out signal from at least one counter and generating the event signal therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (c) further includes the step of receiving a plurality of time-out signals from counters which count at different rates functionally related to a heart refractory period, a normal heartbeat rate, and a tachycardiac heartbeat rate and generating event signals corresponding thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 4, further including the steps of: correlating said occurrence of an external event signal with the occurrence of said at least one timeout signal, and deriving from said correlation signal an output signal indicative of a physiological condition associated with said external event signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) includes the step of sensing cardiac activity and generating the event signal in response thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of selecting the wakeup parameter as a function of the generated event signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 7, including the steps of: timing a selectable refractory interval functionally related to the refractory interval of a heart, thereafter timing a selectable quiet interval while detecting the occurrence of external events, resetting said quiet interval whenever an external event has occurred within said quiet interval, said quiet interval being selected to correlate with "T" wave generation following a cardiac contraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 8, including the steps of: timing a tachycardia interval following said refractory interval while detecting the occurrence of sensed events, deriving a tachycardiac signal indicative of a sensed event occurring after timeout of said quiet interval and during said tachycardia interval; and generating a tachycardia arrest routine after a selectable number of sequential tachycardiac signals are obtained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 8 or 9, including the steps of: timing a noise interval following said refractory interval while detecting the occurrence of sensed events, generating an output pulse control routine when said noise interval times out and a selectable number of sensed events has been detected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 10, including the steps of: disabling wakeup events other than noise interval timeout during said noise interval once said selectable number of sensed events has been detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed repeatedly in a sequence effective to maintain an average current consumption of less than 50 microamperes for the microprocessor controlled system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said average current consumption is about 10 microamperes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: step (a) includes the step of storing the wakeup parameter in a wakeup mask register; and step (d) includes the step of applying the generated event signal to the wakeup mask register.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A microprocessor controlled system comprising: a microprocessor with means for operating to perform logic functions; means for storing a mask signal representing a wakeup parameter; means for suspending the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor; means for detecting at least one predefined wakeup condition; and means for enabling the microprocessor to execute logic functions in response to the detection of a wakeup condition which corresponds to said stored mask signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A microprocessor controlled system comprising: a microprocessor with means for operating to perform logic functions; means for storing a mask signal representing a wakeup parameter; means for suspending the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor; means for detecting at least one predefined wakeup condition; and means for enabling the microprocessor to execute logic functions in response to the detection of a wakeup condition which corresponds to said stored mask signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The microprocessor control system of claim 15 wherein said means for detecting comprises: circuit means for generating an event signal indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event; and timer means for generating a time-out signal indicating the occurrence of a timed interval event.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The microprocessor control system of claim 16 wherein the timer means includes means for generating timing pulses at a plurality of frequencies in order to produce time-out signals with selected degrees of accuracy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The microprocessor control system of claim 15 including means for deriving the mask signal as a function of the wakeup signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
133 words
A body function assistance device having a control system, including a microprocessor with internal logic components, for generating control signals to control a bodily function and for receiving and responding to signals generated by the body, the improvement comprising: sleep state inducing means for deactivating the internal logic components of the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to enter a sleep state; wakeup condition indicating means for holding information indicative of conditions under which the microprocessor's internal logic components are to be activated; event signal generating means for generating an event signal indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event; and sleep state terminating means for activating the internal logic components of the microprocessor when the signal generated by the event signal generating means corresponds to the condition held in the wakeup condition indicating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
133 words
A body function assistance device having a control system, including a microprocessor with internal logic components, for generating control signals to control a bodily function and for receiving and responding to signals generated by the body, the improvement comprising: sleep state inducing means for deactivating the internal logic components of the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to enter a sleep state; wakeup condition indicating means for holding information indicative of conditions under which the microprocessor's internal logic components are to be activated; event signal generating means for generating an event signal indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event; and sleep state terminating means for activating the internal logic components of the microprocessor when the signal generated by the event signal generating means corresponds to the condition held in the wakeup condition indicating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the body function assistance device comprises an implantable heart pacer including: heart stimulating means for pacing the heart; heart sensing means for detecting electrical signals of the heart; means for generating a wakeup condition signal as a function of the event signal; and means for storing the wakeup condition signal in the wakeup condition indicating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 20 including timing means for generating a time-out signal after a predetermined time interval; said event signal generating means having means for generating an event signal in response to the time-out signal and in response to signals detected by the heart sensing means; and said wakeup condition signal generating means having means for selecting at least one wakeup condition from among a predetermined set of wakeup conditions, each condition in the set corresponding to one signal produced by the event signal generating means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of reducing the power consumption of a microprocessor control system comprising the steps of: (a) storing a wakeup parameter; (b) putting the microprocessor in a sleep state wherein no processing activity occurs; (c) generating an event signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event; and (d) resuming processing activity when the generated event signal corresponds to the stored wakeup parameter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of reducing the power consumption of a microprocessor control system comprising the steps of: (a) storing a wakeup parameter; (b) putting the microprocessor in a sleep state wherein no processing activity occurs; (c) generating an event signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event; and (d) resuming processing activity when the generated event signal corresponds to the stored wakeup parameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the microprocessor control system controls the operation of a heart pacer and includes the steps of: sensing cardiac activity; receiving a time-out signal from a counter; generating an event signal in response to the sensed cardiac activity and the time-out signal; executing a predetermined sequence of steps in response to an event signal which corresponds to the stored wakeup parameter; generating stimulating signals to stimulate the heart; and selecting at least one wakeup parameter from a predetermined set of wakeup parameters as a function of the generated event signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A microprocessor controlled system comprising: a microprocessor with means for operating to perform logic functions; means for selectively suspending the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor; means for detecting at least one predefined activation condition; and means for starting the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor in response to the detection of said predefined activation condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A microprocessor controlled system comprising: a microprocessor with means for operating to perform logic functions; means for selectively suspending the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor; means for detecting at least one predefined activation condition; and means for starting the execution of logic functions by the microprocessor in response to the detection of said predefined activation condition.
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) | 1986-09-19 | 1987-03-21 | 1987-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-19 | 1991-03-21 | 1991-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-19 | 1995-03-21 | 1995-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |