Patent US4969461A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4969461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pacemaker with improved automatic output regulation
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1989-08-07
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Granted: 1990-11-13
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Expires: 2009-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A pacemaker which is provided with an improved automatic regulation circuit which is capable of distinguishing between a fusion beat and loss of capture. The failure to sense an evoked potential following a stimulus may be due to either. The cause is determined by generating a high-energy back-up pulse shortly after the stimulus. Failure to capture by the back-up pulse is an indication that there was just a fusion beat; the sensing of an evoked potential is an indication that the stimulus failed to capture.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. Callaghan
- 👤 William Vollmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/37; A61N1/371; A61N1/3712; A61N1/365; A61N1/36507; A61N1/3706
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following generation of said back-up pacing pulse for determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following generation of said back-up pacing pulse for determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1 wherein said determining means is further operative, responsive to the sensing of an evoked potential following generation of a back-up pulse, for determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a heart capture failure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1 further including means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for increasing the pacing rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pacemaker in accordance with claim 3 wherein said sensing means an evoked potential by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse; determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of said back-up pacing pulse; and determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a heart capture failure responsive to the sensing of an evoked potential following the generation of a back-up pulse.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse; determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of said back-up pacing pulse; and determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a heart capture failure responsive to the sensing of an evoked potential following the generation of a back-up pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of operation a pacemaker in accordance with claim 5 further including the step of increasing the pacing rate responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of back-up pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following generation of said back-up pacing pulse, determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of back-up pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following generation of said back-up pacing pulse, determining that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a fusion beat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of operating a pacemaker in accordance with claim 7 wherein, responsive to the sensing of an evoked potential following generation of a back-up pulse, it is determined that the preceding pacing pulse resulted in a heart capture failure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of operating a pacemaker in accordance with claim 7 wherein, responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, the pacing rate is increased.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of operating a pacemaker in accordance with claim 9 wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of operating a pacemaker in accordance with claim 7 wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for increasing the pacing rate; and wherein said sensing means senses an evoked potential by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for increasing the pacing rate; and wherein said sensing means senses an evoked potential by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and wherein said sensing means senses an evoked potential by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A pacemaker comprising means for generating pacing pulses; means for sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; means responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse for controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and wherein said sensing means senses an evoked potential by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, increasing the pacing rate; and wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, increasing the pacing rate; and wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of operating a pacemaker comprising the steps of generating pacing pulses; sensing an evoked potential in response to the generation of a pacing pulse; and responsive to the failure to sense an evoked potential following the generation of a pacing pulse, controlling the generation of a back-up pacing pulse; and wherein an evoked potential is sensed by integrating the evoked potential and verifying that the integral represents heart capture.
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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) | 1993-11-12 | 1994-05-14 | 1994-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-12 | 1998-05-14 | 1998-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-12 | 2002-05-14 | 2002-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |