US4869251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable heart pacemaker with a sensor for inertial and/or rotational movements of the user
Assignee: Pacesetter AB
•
Filing: 1988-05-11
•
Granted: 1989-09-26
•
Expires: 2008-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A pacemaker has a sensor for deteching inertial and/or rotational movements of a patient in whom the pacemaker is implanted. The sensor has a hollow member with at least one freely moveable member therein, the freely moveable member generating a mechanical vibration upon movement thereof within the hollow member caused by movement or rotation of the patient. A transducer generates an electrical signal corresponding to the mechanical vibrations, the electrical signal being proportional to the movement. This electrical signal is used to vary the rate at which stimulation pulses are supplied to the patient by the pacemaker.
Inventors
- 👤 Anders Lekholm
- 👤 Gosta Sall
- 👤 Liliane Wecke
- 👤 Kurt Hognelid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1126; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/36514; A61N1/36542; G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; A61B5/1116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: sensing means for detecting physical activity of said patient including a hollow element, freely moveable means enclosed in said hollow element, and means connected to said hollow element for detecting relative movement between said freely moveable means and said hollow element and generating an electrical signal proportional to said movement; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: sensing means for detecting physical activity of said patient including a hollow element, freely moveable means enclosed in said hollow element, and means connected to said hollow element for detecting relative movement between said freely moveable means and said hollow element and generating an electrical signal proportional to said movement; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing, and wherein said sensing means is disposed within said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow element has an interior surface with at least one cavity therein for receiving said freely moveable means in a rest position, said sensor being adapted to be disposed within said patient such that said freely moveable means is received in said cavity when said patient is in a prone position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said said freely moveable means is a means for generating an acoustic signal when moving relative to said hollow element, and wherein said means for detecting comprises a transducer for receiving said acoustic signal and converting said acoustic signal into said electrical signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said freely moveable means constitutes a magnetic dipole, and wherein said means for detecting constitutes a coil disposed such that said relative movement between said freely moveable means and said hollow element induces a voltage in said coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 5, wherein said magnetic dipole is formed by solid permanent magnetic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 5, wherein said magnetic dipole is formed by powder magnetic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 7, wherein said magnetic dipole has an outer layer covering said powder magnetic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said freely moveable means constitutes a plurality of electrically conductive particles, and wherein said means for detecting constitutes a pair of spaced electrodes disposed in said hollow element and adapted for connection to a voltage source such that relative movement between said particles and said hollow element changes the resistance between said electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow element has an interior surface and wherein said interior surface and said freely moveable means consist of respective materials such that said relative movement generates an acoustic signal, and wherein said means for generating an electric signal is a microphone disposed for receiving said acoustic signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 10, wherein said interior surface consists of a plurality of different materials having respectively different hardnesses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 10, wherein said interior structured surface has at least a portion thereof with a structured surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 10, wherein said interior surface is smooth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow element has an interior surface, and wherein at least one of said interior surface or said freely moveable means is spherical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow element has an interior surface, and wherein at least one of said interior surface or said freely moveable means is a regular polyhedron.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow element is an ellipsoid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said hollow element has a composition selected such that said relative movement causes interaction with said freely moveable means which is different for different directions of movement of said hollow element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said hollow element has a selectively structured surface such that said relative movement causes interaction with said freely moveable means which is different for different directions of movement of said hollow element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fluid filling said hollow element of selected density and viscosity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said freely moveable means comprises a plurality of particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 20, wherein said particles are electrically conductive, and wherein said means for generating an electrical signal includes two spaced electrodes disposed inside said hollow element with said particles at least partially therebetween, said electrodes adapted for connection to a voltage source, such that movement of said hollow element causes said particles to re-orient within said hollow element thereby changing the resistance between said electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 21, wherein said hollow element is a cube, and wherein said electrodes are disposed on one pair of opposite faces of said cube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 21, wherein said hollow element is a sphere, and wherein aid electrodes are C-shaped electrodes disposed within said sphere.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element having an interior surface; a freely moveable element enclosed in said hollow element for generating an acoustic signal by mechanically interacting with said interior surface of said hollow element due to movement of said patient and said hollow element; a microphone for receiving said acoustic signal and generating an electrical signal therefrom at least partially proportional to the mechanical interaction of said hollow element and said freely moveable element; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element having an interior surface; a freely moveable element enclosed in said hollow element for generating an acoustic signal by mechanically interacting with said interior surface of said hollow element due to movement of said patient and said hollow element; a microphone for receiving said acoustic signal and generating an electrical signal therefrom at least partially proportional to the mechanical interaction of said hollow element and said freely moveable element; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least one of said interior surface or said freely moveable element is facetted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least one of said interior surface or said hollow element is spherical.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least one of said interior surface or said hollow element is a regular polyhedron.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: a threshold circuit connected to said microphone to which said electrical signal is supplied; and a pulse shaper means connected to an output of said threshold circuit, for generating pulses of uniform duration and amplitude from the output of said threshold circuit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element; a freely moveable magnetic dipole enclosed in said hollow element, said magnetic dipole changing position within said hollow element upon movement of said patient and said hollow element; at least one coil at least partially surrounding said hollow element in which voltage is induced by movement of said magnetic dipole within said hollow element; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element; a freely moveable magnetic dipole enclosed in said hollow element, said magnetic dipole changing position within said hollow element upon movement of said patient and said hollow element; at least one coil at least partially surrounding said hollow element in which voltage is induced by movement of said magnetic dipole within said hollow element; and means for generating stimulation pulses for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
134 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element; a plurality of electrical conducting particles enclosed in said hollow element and freely moveable therein such that said particles re-orient within said hollow element upon a change in position of said hollow element due to movement of said patient; a pair of spaced electrodes within said hollow element adapted for connection to a voltage source, said particles being at least partially disposed between said electrodes and changing the resistance between said electrodes upon re-orientation of said particles due to movement of said patient; and means for generating stimulation pulsed for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
134 words
A pacemaker implantable in a patient for stimulating the heart of said patient comprising: a hollow element; a plurality of electrical conducting particles enclosed in said hollow element and freely moveable therein such that said particles re-orient within said hollow element upon a change in position of said hollow element due to movement of said patient; a pair of spaced electrodes within said hollow element adapted for connection to a voltage source, said particles being at least partially disposed between said electrodes and changing the resistance between said electrodes upon re-orientation of said particles due to movement of said patient; and means for generating stimulation pulsed for stimulating said heart at a stimulation frequency including means responsive to said electrical signal for varying said stimulation frequency dependent on said physical activity of said patient.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 30, wherein said hollow element is a sphere, and wherein said electrodes are C-shaped electrodes disposed within said sphere.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 31, wherein said electrodes are respectively disposed in perpendicular planes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pacemaker as claimed in claim 30, wherein said hollow element is a cube, and wherein said electrodes are disposed on a pair of opposite faces of said cube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-25 | 1993-03-27 | 1993-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-25 | 1997-03-27 | 1997-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-25 | 2001-03-27 | 2001-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |