US5163428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Implantable cardiac defibrillator with current leakage detecting means
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-11
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Granted: 1992-11-17
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Expires: 2010-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An implantable cardiac defibrillator is provided having a battery, capacitive means, means coupled to the battery for charging the capacitive means, and means for coupling the capacitive means to a patient's heart, for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart. Current leakage from the capacitive means is detected. If the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount, charging of the capacitive means is terminated. In one embodiment, voltage at the patient is directly sensed. In another embodiment, the voltage across a resistance located in series with the patient is sensed. In another embodiment, a test charge is provided for a short interval. The capacitive means is sensed to determine excessive loss of energy after the test charge. If excessive loss of energy is determined, charging is terminated. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin D. Pless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3925; A61N1/3931; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/37; A61N1/3937; A61N1/3975; A61N1/3981; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: an energy source; energy storage means; means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means; means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; and means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: an energy source; energy storage means; means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means; means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; and means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, in which said altering means comprises means for terminating the charging.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, said detecting means comprising means for directly sensing voltage at the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, further including a resistance located in series with the patient, said detecting means comprising means for sensing the voltage across said resistance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, including means for providing a test charge to said energy storage means for a short interval, said detecting means comprising means for sensing said energy storage means to determine excessive loss of energy after said test charge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 5, said test charge providing means comprising means for providing an external command to perform the test charge for a period shorter than the natural refractory period of the heart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, including means for synchronizing charging of said energy storage means to a sensed cardiac event.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 7, in which said sensed cardiac event is a sensed R-wave.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, said altering means comprising means for comparing a representation of the output from said detecting means to a reference voltage and for altering the charging of said energy storage means if the comparison indicates a fault.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, in which said energy source is a battery and said energy storage means comprises capacitive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator as defined by claim 1, including data storage means and means responsive to said detecting means for storing current leakage information in said data storage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: an energy source; energy storage means; means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means; means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount; means for providing a test charge for a short interval, said detecting means comprising means for sensing said energy storage means to determine excessive loss of energy after said test charge; said test charge providing means comprising means for providing the test charge for a period shorter than the natural refractory period of the heart; means for synchronizing charging of said energy storage means to a sensed cardiac event; and means for reporting status.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: an energy source; energy storage means; means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means; means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount; means for providing a test charge for a short interval, said detecting means comprising means for sensing said energy storage means to determine excessive loss of energy after said test charge; said test charge providing means comprising means for providing the test charge for a period shorter than the natural refractory period of the heart; means for synchronizing charging of said energy storage means to a sensed cardiac event; and means for reporting status.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: a battery; capacitive means; means coupled to said battery for charging said capacitive means; means for coupling said capacitive means to a patient's heart for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for synchronizing charging of said capacitive means to a sensed R-wave; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said capacitive means; means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said capacitive means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount; said altering means comprising means for comparing a representation of the output from said detecting means to a reference voltage and for altering the charging of said capacitive means if the comparison indicates a fault.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
An implantable cardiac defibrillator which comprises: a battery; capacitive means; means coupled to said battery for charging said capacitive means; means for coupling said capacitive means to a patient's heart for delivering a high voltage shock to the heart; means for synchronizing charging of said capacitive means to a sensed R-wave; means for detecting current leakage to the patient from said capacitive means; means responsive to said detecting means for altering the charging of said capacitive means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount; said altering means comprising means for comparing a representation of the output from said detecting means to a reference voltage and for altering the charging of said capacitive means if the comparison indicates a fault.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for operating an implantable cardiac defibrillator having an energy source, energy storage means, means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means, and means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, including the steps of: detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; and altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for operating an implantable cardiac defibrillator having an energy source, energy storage means, means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means, and means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, including the steps of: detecting current leakage to the patient from said energy storage means; and altering the charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined by claim 14, said altering steps comprising the step of terminating charging of said energy storage means if the current leakage exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for operating an implantable cardiac defibrillator having an energy source, energy storage means, means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means, means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, including the steps of: providing an external command to provide a test charge to said energy storage means for a short interval; performing a first measurement of the voltage on the energy storage means; at a predetermined time thereafter, performing a second measurement of the voltage on the energy storage means; if the first voltage measurement exceeds the second voltage measurement by a predetermined amount, then altering the operation of said charging means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for operating an implantable cardiac defibrillator having an energy source, energy storage means, means coupled to said energy source for charging said energy storage means, means for coupling said energy storage means to a patient's heart, including the steps of: providing an external command to provide a test charge to said energy storage means for a short interval; performing a first measurement of the voltage on the energy storage means; at a predetermined time thereafter, performing a second measurement of the voltage on the energy storage means; if the first voltage measurement exceeds the second voltage measurement by a predetermined amount, then altering the operation of said charging means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined by claim 16, said altering step comprising the step of terminating the operation of said charging means.
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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) | 1995-11-17 | 1996-05-18 | 1996-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-17 | 2000-05-18 | 2000-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-17 | 2004-05-18 | 2004-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |