Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of the type which includes storage means for storing electrical energy, electrode means for electrically coupling the storage means to the heart, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by the storage means across the electrode means upon change in the current level of the parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of the type which includes storage means for storing electrical energy, electrode means for electrically coupling the storage means to the heart, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by the storage means across the electrode means upon change in the current level of the parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the means providing a signal representative of baseline level for the parameter is constituted by means providing a signal representative of a fixed baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining pulse pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 3, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular pulse pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining systolic pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 5, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining right ventricular systolic pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining diastolic pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular diastolic pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter is constituted by means for developing a variable first signal representative of baseline for the parameter over a period of predetermined duration which is greater than the period of given duration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining pulse pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 11, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular pulse pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining systolic pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 13, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining right ventricular systolic pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein said determining means comprises means for determining diastolic pressure at a site within the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular diastolic pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said determining means comprise means for determining right ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system according to claim 1, including means responsive to the first signal and to the second signal for providing a control signal indicative of the current parameter differing by at least a predetermined amount from the baseline level for the parameter, and wherein the means for charging and enabling discharge is responsive to the control signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the means responsive comprises a microprocessor for developing a control signal to control the means for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by the storage means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
The system according to claim 1, including electrical means for sensing heart rate and producing a distinctive control signal upon the heart rate exceeding a predetermined rate, controllable antitachycardia pacemaking means for supplying pacing signals to the heart, controllable cardioverting/defibrillating means, including the storage means for storing electrical energy, control circuit means responsive to the distinctive control signal and to an output from the means for charging and enabling discharge to enable the antitachycardia pacemaking means in response to presence of the distinctive control signal and contemporaneous absence of the output and for enabling said cardioverting/defibrillating means in response to contemporaneous presence of both the distinctive control signal and the output.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system according to claim 20, including means responsive to output from said electrical means for sensing heart rate for developing a discharge-synchronizing signal synchronized to an R-wave, and the means for discharging electrical energy across the electrode means and into the heart includes means for synchronizing the discharge with the discharge-synchronizing signal to effect cardioversion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 21, wherein the means for discharging electrical energy across the electrode means and into the heart effects discharge on a nonsynchronized basis, in the absence of the synchronization signal, to effect defibrillation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1, including means for discharging electrical energy across said electrode means and into the heart effects discharge on a nonsynchronized basis to effect defibrillation.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of treating a malfunctioning heart comprising providing a representation of baseline for a hemodynamic parameter, determining current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and delivering cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy to the heart in response to change of at least a predetermined magnitude in the current parameter from the baseline for the parameter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of treating a malfunctioning heart comprising providing a representation of baseline for a hemodynamic parameter, determining current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and delivering cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy to the heart in response to change of at least a predetermined magnitude in the current parameter from the baseline for the parameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of providing a representation of baseline for the parameter comprises providing a fixed representation of baseline for the parameter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining pulse pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 26, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular pulse pressure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining systolic pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular systolic pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining diastolic pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular diastolic pressure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of providing a representative of baseline for the parameter comprises providing a varying representation of baseline for the parameter over a period of predetermined duration which is greater than the period of given duration.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining pulse pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 34, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular pulse pressure.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining systolic pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular systolic pressure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining diastolic pressure at a site in the circulatory system of an individual.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 38, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular diastolic pressure.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 38, wherein the step of determining is constituted by determining right ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of delivering cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy is taken upon current level of the parameter differing from baseline for the parameter by at least the predetermined magnitude.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 24, including sensing heart rate, the step of delivering cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy being taken upon the heart rate exceeding a given rate and the current level of the parameter differing from baseline for the parameter by at least a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of the type which includes means using electrical energy, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for providing malfunction-correcting electrical energy to the heart upon change in the current level of the parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of the type which includes means using electrical energy, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for providing malfunction-correcting electrical energy to the heart upon change in the current level of the parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 43, wherein the means providing a signal representative of baseline level for the parameter is constituted by means providing a signal representative of a fixed baseline level for the parameter.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system according to claim 43, wherein the means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the parameter is constituted by means for developing a variable first signal representative of baseline for the parameter over a period of predetermined duration which is greater than the period of given duration.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart undergoing tachycardia/fibrillation, the system being of the type which includes means using electrical energy, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the at least one parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the at least one parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for providing malfunction-correcting electrical energy to the heart undergoing tachycardia/fibrillation upon change in the current level of the at least one parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter in an effort to overcome the tachycardia/fibrillation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart undergoing tachycardia/fibrillation, the system being of the type which includes means using electrical energy, determining means for determining at least one hemodynamic parameter, means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the at least one parameter, means responsive to output from the determining means for developing a second signal representing current level of the at least one parameter over a period of given duration, and means responsive to output from the means for providing the first signal and output from the means for developing the second signal for providing malfunction-correcting electrical energy to the heart undergoing tachycardia/fibrillation upon change in the current level of the at least one parameter of at least a predetermined amount from the representative baseline level for the parameter in an effort to overcome the tachycardia/fibrillation.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 46, wherein the means providing a signal representative of baseline level for the at least one parameter is constituted by means providing a signal representative of a fixed baseline level for the at least one parameter.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system according to claim 46, wherein the means for providing a first signal representative of baseline level for the at least one parameter is constituted by means for developing a variable first signal representative of baseline for the at least one parameter over a period of predetermined duration which is greater than the period of given duration.