US5370664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pulse forming circuits
Assignee: CREDITANSTALT BANKVEREIN
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Filing: 1993-08-10
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2013-08-10
Abstract
Abstract Circuits for controlling the current flow of an energy pulse as a function of the temperature of a resistive element in the circuit so that the current flow varies over time in accordance with a predetermined waveform. The circuits include at least one negative temperature coefficient thermistor connected between an energy storage device and connectors for delivering energy stored in the storage source to an external load. In one embodiment of the invention the circuit includes a second thermistor for shunting a residual portion of the current delivered by an energy pulse away from the external load. In another embodiment of the circuit, a small inductive device is used for adjusting the shape of the predetermined waveform. In yet another embodiment of the device, a plurality of thermistors arranged in a bridge-like configuration are used to control the current of the energy pulse so that its waveform is biphasic. Heat sinks may be attached to the thermistors for cooling the latter so as to increase the rate at which energy pulses may be delivered by the circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 Carlton B. Morgan
- 👤 Daniel Yerkovich
- 👤 Donald C. Maier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3906; A61N1/3912; A61N1/3904; G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/16; G01K1/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
In a medical instrument for delivering an electrical energy pulse to a patient, wherein the medical instrument includes a source of energy, an energy storage means, a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient, and connecting means for connecting energy stored in the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes, the improvement comprising a current control means connected in series with the connecting means for varying over time a current waveform that can flow from the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes to produce a current waveform having a magnitude that varies as a function of a temperature of said current control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a medical instrument for delivering an electrical energy pulse to a patient, wherein the medical instrument includes a source of energy, an energy storage means, a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient, and connecting means for connecting energy stored in the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes, the improvement comprising a current control means connected in series with the connecting means for varying over time a current waveform that can flow from the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes to produce a current waveform having a magnitude that varies as a function of a temperature of said current control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said current control means comprises a self-heating resistive device, having a resistance which decreases in proportion to increases in temperature of the device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A medical instrument according to claim 2, further comprising: (a) first switching means, connected between the source of energy and the energy storage means, for selectively coupling the source of energy with, and decoupling the source of energy from, the energy storage means; and (b) second switching means, connected between the energy storage means and the connecting means, for selectively coupling the energy storage means with, and decoupling the energy storage means from, the pair of electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A medical instrument according to claim 2, wherein said current control means further comprises cooling means coupled to said resistive device for dissipating heat from said resistive device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A medical instrument according to claim 4, wherein said cooling means comprises a plurality of fins made from aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A medical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said current control means comprises a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A medical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising shunt means, connected to said connecting means, for shunting a residual portion of the energy delivered from said energy storage means away from the patient when the energy storage means is connected to the pair of electrodes, wherein said residual portion has a magnitude that is a function of a temperature of said shunt means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A medical instrument according to claim 7, wherein said shunt means comprises a resistive device, having a resistance which varies as a function of the temperature of the resistive device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A medical instrument according to claim 7, wherein said shunt means comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A medical instrument for generating and providing a pulse of electrical energy to a pair of electrodes that are attachable to a patient, the medical instrument comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupled to the energy source, for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy; a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient; connecting means, connected to said energy storage means and connectable to the pair of electrodes, such that energy stored in said energy storage means is delivered from said energy storage means to the pair of electrodes; and current control means, connected between said energy storage means and said pair of electrodes, for varying over time as a function of a temperature of said current control means a current which flows from said energy storage means to the pair of electrodes upon connection of the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
A medical instrument for generating and providing a pulse of electrical energy to a pair of electrodes that are attachable to a patient, the medical instrument comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupled to the energy source, for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy; a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient; connecting means, connected to said energy storage means and connectable to the pair of electrodes, such that energy stored in said energy storage means is delivered from said energy storage means to the pair of electrodes; and current control means, connected between said energy storage means and said pair of electrodes, for varying over time as a function of a temperature of said current control means a current which flows from said energy storage means to the pair of electrodes upon connection of the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A medical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising shunt means, connected to said connecting means, for shunting a residual portion of the energy delivered from said energy storage means away from the pair of electrodes when said connecting means is connected to the pair of electrodes, wherein said residual portion has a magnitude that is a function of a temperature of the shunt means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A medical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising inductive means connected between said energy storage means and said pair of electrodes, for storing and releasing a predetermined quantity of energy delivered upon the connection of said energy storage means to the pair of electrodes so as to increase the amount of time required for the energy delivered to the pair of electrodes to reach a peak value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A medical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising cooling means coupled with said current control means for dissipating heat from said current control means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A wave-shaping device in combination with a medical instrument that produces an energy pulse and delivers the energy pulse to a patient, the medical instrument including an energy source, energy storage means coupleable to the energy source for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy and a pair of electrodes attachable to the patient, the wave-shaping device comprising: self-heating current control means, connected between the energy storage means and the pair of electrodes, for varying a current waveform delivered from the energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said self-heating current control means; and connecting means for connecting said self-heating current control means to the energy storage means and to the pair of electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A wave-shaping device in combination with a medical instrument that produces an energy pulse and delivers the energy pulse to a patient, the medical instrument including an energy source, energy storage means coupleable to the energy source for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy and a pair of electrodes attachable to the patient, the wave-shaping device comprising: self-heating current control means, connected between the energy storage means and the pair of electrodes, for varying a current waveform delivered from the energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said self-heating current control means; and connecting means for connecting said self-heating current control means to the energy storage means and to the pair of electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
A defibrillator for producing and delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient comprising: energy storage means for storing electrical energy; electrode means, coupled with said energy storage means, for delivering a defibrillation pulse to the patient; and circuit means, coupled with said energy storage means and including a resistive device, for controlling a flow of current delivered from the energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said resistive device so that the flow of said current from the energy storage means will vary over time in accordance with a predetermined waveform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
A defibrillator for producing and delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient comprising: energy storage means for storing electrical energy; electrode means, coupled with said energy storage means, for delivering a defibrillation pulse to the patient; and circuit means, coupled with said energy storage means and including a resistive device, for controlling a flow of current delivered from the energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said resistive device so that the flow of said current from the energy storage means will vary over time in accordance with a predetermined waveform.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A defibrillator according to claim 15, wherein a resistance of said resistive device decreases as the temperature of the resistive device increases.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A defibrillator according to claim 15, further comprising shunt means for shunting a residual portion of the current delivered from the energy storage means away from said electrode means wherein said residual portion has a magnitude that is a function of a temperature of the shunt means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
A medical instrument including a pulse generation circuit for producing and delivering an energy pulse to a patient, comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupled to the energy source, for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy; connecting means, coupled to said energy storage means for connecting the energy storage means to a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient; and shunt means, connected to said connecting means, for shunting a residual portion of the energy discharged by said energy storage means away from the pair of electrodes when the pair of electrodes is connected to said energy storage means, wherein the residual portion has a magnitude that varies as a function of a temperature of the shunt means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
123 words
A medical instrument including a pulse generation circuit for producing and delivering an energy pulse to a patient, comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupled to the energy source, for storing and discharging a predetermined quantity of energy; connecting means, coupled to said energy storage means for connecting the energy storage means to a pair of electrodes that are attachable to the patient; and shunt means, connected to said connecting means, for shunting a residual portion of the energy discharged by said energy storage means away from the pair of electrodes when the pair of electrodes is connected to said energy storage means, wherein the residual portion has a magnitude that varies as a function of a temperature of the shunt means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A medical instrument according to claim 18, wherein said shut means comprises a resistive device, having a resistance which varies as a function of temperature of the resistive device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
164 words
A medical instrument for providing a pulse of energy having a biphasic current waveform to a pair of patient electrodes that are attachable to a patient, the instrument comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupleable to the energy source, for storing and discharging a pulse of energy; a pair of patient electrodes that are attachable to a patient; connecting means, connected to said energy storage means and connectable to the pair of patient electrodes, for carrying a pulse of energy discharged by said energy storage means to the pair of patient electrodes; and current control means, connected between said energy storage means and said pair of patient electrodes, for shaping a pulse of energy discharged by said energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said current control means so that a current delivered by the pulse of energy initially has a magnitude of one polarity and then after a predetermined period of time has a magnitude of an opposite polarity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
164 words
A medical instrument for providing a pulse of energy having a biphasic current waveform to a pair of patient electrodes that are attachable to a patient, the instrument comprising: an energy source; energy storage means, coupleable to the energy source, for storing and discharging a pulse of energy; a pair of patient electrodes that are attachable to a patient; connecting means, connected to said energy storage means and connectable to the pair of patient electrodes, for carrying a pulse of energy discharged by said energy storage means to the pair of patient electrodes; and current control means, connected between said energy storage means and said pair of patient electrodes, for shaping a pulse of energy discharged by said energy storage means as a function of a temperature of said current control means so that a current delivered by the pulse of energy initially has a magnitude of one polarity and then after a predetermined period of time has a magnitude of an opposite polarity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
A medical instrument according to claim 20, wherein said current control means comprises first and second thermistors coupled to the pair of patient electrodes so as to define a first current path, and third and fourth thermistors coupled to the pair of patient electrodes so as to define a second current path, said first and second thermistors having a negative temperature coefficient and said third and fourth thermistors having a positive temperature coefficient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A medical instrument according to claim 20, wherein said current control means comprises a first pair of thermistors having a first set of thermal/resistive characteristics and a second pair of thermistors having a second set of thermal/resistive characteristics.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
124 words
A wave-shaping circuit in combination with a medical instrument that produces and delivers an energy pulse to a patient, the medical instrument including energy storage means, coupleable to an energy source, for storing and discharging a pulse of energy, a pair of electrodes attachable to a patient and means for connecting the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes, the wave-shaping circuit comprising: wave-shaping means, coupled with the energy storage means, for shaping pulses of energy discharged by the energy storage means over time as a function of a temperature of said wave-shaping means so that a current waveform delivered by each pulse varies biphasically; and connecting means coupled with said wave-shaping means for connecting said wave-shaping means to the pair of electrodes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
124 words
A wave-shaping circuit in combination with a medical instrument that produces and delivers an energy pulse to a patient, the medical instrument including energy storage means, coupleable to an energy source, for storing and discharging a pulse of energy, a pair of electrodes attachable to a patient and means for connecting the energy storage means to the pair of electrodes, the wave-shaping circuit comprising: wave-shaping means, coupled with the energy storage means, for shaping pulses of energy discharged by the energy storage means over time as a function of a temperature of said wave-shaping means so that a current waveform delivered by each pulse varies biphasically; and connecting means coupled with said wave-shaping means for connecting said wave-shaping means to the pair of electrodes.
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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) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |