US5154387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for esophageal pacing
Assignee: SYNCHROMED Corp
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Filing: 1990-05-31
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Granted: 1992-10-13
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Expires: 2010-05-31
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus for emergency pacing of a surgical patient's heart through an esophageal catheter. Pacing electrodes are connected to the external wall of the catheter having sufficient surface area to reduce the current density to a level which does not burn or injure the patient's esophagus. Pacing pulses are applied to the electrodes by a pacing generator and the pulses are transmitted through the esophagus wall to the patient's heart.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis R. Trailer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0517
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An emergency pacemaker for continuously pacing the heart of a patient comprising: a flexible catheter for insertion into the esophagus of said patient, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and an exterior wall; first and second pacing electrodes coupled to said catheter, said first pacing electrode being closer to the distal end of said catheter than said second pacing electrode; a pacing generator for generating electrical pulses used to pace the patient's heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing; and a pair of electrical conductors located in the interior portion of said catheter, one of which is connected between said first pacing electrode and said pacing generator for conducting said pulses to said first pacing electrode and the other of which is connected between said second pacing electrode and said pacing generator for conducting said electrical energy between said second pacing electrode and said pacing generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
An emergency pacemaker for continuously pacing the heart of a patient comprising: a flexible catheter for insertion into the esophagus of said patient, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and an exterior wall; first and second pacing electrodes coupled to said catheter, said first pacing electrode being closer to the distal end of said catheter than said second pacing electrode; a pacing generator for generating electrical pulses used to pace the patient's heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing; and a pair of electrical conductors located in the interior portion of said catheter, one of which is connected between said first pacing electrode and said pacing generator for conducting said pulses to said first pacing electrode and the other of which is connected between said second pacing electrode and said pacing generator for conducting said electrical energy between said second pacing electrode and said pacing generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The emergency pacemaker of claim 1, wherein each of said pacing electrodes is a hollow metal cylinder which is coupled to the exterior wall of said catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The emergency pacemaker of claim 2, wherein each of said pacing electrodes has a length along its longitudinal axis exceeding 2.0 centimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The emergency pacemaker of claim 1, wherein each of said pacing electrodes conducts electrical current at a current density of less than 25 milliamperes per square centimeter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The emergency pacemaker of claim 1, wherein each of said pacing electrodes has a surface area of at least 1.5 square centimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A catheter used with a surgical patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising: a hollow elongated flexible tube for insertion into the esophagus of said patient; and a pair of spaced electrodes coupled to said tube for continuously transmitting electrical energy through the wall of said esophagus to said patient's heart for pacing said heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A catheter used with a surgical patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising: a hollow elongated flexible tube for insertion into the esophagus of said patient; and a pair of spaced electrodes coupled to said tube for continuously transmitting electrical energy through the wall of said esophagus to said patient's heart for pacing said heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein said electrodes transmit said energy at a current density of less than 25 milliamperes per square centimeter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 6, further comprising means positioned in the interior of said flexible tube for monitoring the patient's internal body temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 6, further comprising means for transmitting sounds generated by the patient's heart from said distal end of said catheter to said proximal end of said catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein each of said electrodes has a surface area of at least 1.5 square centimeters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 6, wherein each of said electrodes comprises a cylindrical hollow body having a length along its longitudinal axis exceeding 2.0 centimeters.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of continuously pacing a patient's heart during surgery comprising: inserting a flexible catheter into the esophagus of said patient, said catheter including a pair of spaced electrodes electrically coupled to a pacing generator; generating pacing pulses in said pacing generator; transmitting said pacing pulses from said generator to one of said electrodes; and transmitting said pacing pulses from said electrode through the wall of said esophagus to the patient's heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of continuously pacing a patient's heart during surgery comprising: inserting a flexible catheter into the esophagus of said patient, said catheter including a pair of spaced electrodes electrically coupled to a pacing generator; generating pacing pulses in said pacing generator; transmitting said pacing pulses from said generator to one of said electrodes; and transmitting said pacing pulses from said electrode through the wall of said esophagus to the patient's heart, wherein each of said electrodes is of sufficient surface area to prevent injuring said patient's esophagus during continuous emergency pacing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the current density of said pacing pulses transmitted from said electrodes is less than 25 milliamperes per square centimeter.
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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) | 1995-10-13 | 1996-04-13 | 1996-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-04-13 | 2000-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-13 | 2004-04-13 | 2004-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |