US4817606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Body activity controlled heart pacer
Assignee: Pacesetter AB
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Filing: 1987-11-24
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2007-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A body activity sensor in a rate adaptive pacer responds to myoelectrical signals in the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG). These myoelectrical signals are a measure of body activity and thus control the pulse generation rate of the pacer. Preferably, the myoelectrical signals are obtained by filtering out high frequency portions from the ECG and processing these filtered frequency portions.
Inventors
- 👤 Anders Lekholm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/36514
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A body activity-controlled device for pacing the heart of a patient, comprising: pulse generating means for generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic rate; means for sensing body activity which includes means for sensing myoelectrical signals from said patient; means connected to said means for sensing body activity for identifying said myoelectrical signals and generating a body activity signal based thereon; and control means for controlling said pulse generating means to vary said basic rate as a function of said body activity signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A body activity-controlled device for pacing the heart of a patient, comprising: pulse generating means for generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic rate; means for sensing body activity which includes means for sensing myoelectrical signals from said patient; means connected to said means for sensing body activity for identifying said myoelectrical signals and generating a body activity signal based thereon; and control means for controlling said pulse generating means to vary said basic rate as a function of said body activity signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for identifying said myoelectrical signals comprises: means for rectifying said myoelectrical signals; and means for forming an average signal from the rectified myoelectrical signals, and wherein said controlling means is a means for varying said basic rate as a function of said average signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for forming an average signal is an integrator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for sensing body activity is a means for sensing electrocardiographic signals of the patient's heart, said electrocardiographic signals having highest frequencies, and said electrocardiographic signals also including said myoelectrical signals, and wherein said means for identifying said myoelectrical signals includes filter means for filtering signal portions from said electrocardiographic signals having frequencies which are higher than said highest frequencies, the signal portions filtered from said electrocardiographic signals being said myoelectric signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a QRS detector to which said electrocardiographic signals is supplied; and means for controlling operation of said pulse generating means based on the output of said QRS detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A body activity-controlled device for pacing the heart of a patient, comprising: pulse generating means for generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic rate; means for sensing electrocardiographic signals of the patient's heart, said electrocardiographic signals including myoelectrical signals, said myoelectrical signals changing with changing body activity; means for separating said myoelectrical signals from said electrocardiographic signals; and control means for controlling said pulse generating means to vary said basic rate as a function of said myoelectrical signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A body activity-controlled device for pacing the heart of a patient, comprising: pulse generating means for generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic rate; means for sensing electrocardiographic signals of the patient's heart, said electrocardiographic signals including myoelectrical signals, said myoelectrical signals changing with changing body activity; means for separating said myoelectrical signals from said electrocardiographic signals; and control means for controlling said pulse generating means to vary said basic rate as a function of said myoelectrical signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for separating said myoelectrical signals is a high pass filter, and wherein said myoelectrical signals are passed by said high pass filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: means for rectifying said myoelectrical signals passed by said high pass filter; and means for integrating the rectified myoelectrical signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a QRS detector to which said electrocardiographic signals from said means for sensing electrocardiographic signals is supplied; and means for controlling operation of said pulse generator based on the output of said QRS detector.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for operating a pacemaker for pacing the heart of a patient comprising the steps of: generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic pacing rate; sensing electrocardiographic signals of the patient's heart which includes myoelectrical signals; separating the myoelectrical signals from the electrocardiographic signals; and varying the basic pacing rate of the heart stimulation pulses as a function of said myoelectrical signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for operating a pacemaker for pacing the heart of a patient comprising the steps of: generating heart stimulation pulses at a basic pacing rate; sensing electrocardiographic signals of the patient's heart which includes myoelectrical signals; separating the myoelectrical signals from the electrocardiographic signals; and varying the basic pacing rate of the heart stimulation pulses as a function of said myoelectrical signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of separating said myoelectrical signals is further defined by high pass filtering said electrocardiographic signals with the myoelectrical signals being passed by said high pass filtering.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, comprising the additional steps of: rectifying the myoelectrical signals after said high pass filtering thereof; and integrating the rectified myoelectrical signals with respect to time.
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) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |