Patent US4373531A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4373531A
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Apparatus for physiological stimulation and detection of evoked response
Assignee: Vitatron Medical BV
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Filing: 1981-02-05
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Granted: 1983-02-15
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Expires: 2001-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A physiological stimulating system includes improved means for minimizing the polarization that results at the stimulus site, thereby enabling enhanced detection of evoked responses. In the pacemaker embodiment, the stimulus signal comprises positive recharge pulses immediately before and immediately after the negative stimulus signal, the recharge pulses being adapted in a time duration and amplitude such that the total current delivered to the stimulus site, (e.g., a patient's heart) by the stimulus signal is substantially zero.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederik H. M. Wittkampf
- 👤 Kornelis A. Mensink
- 👤 Hendrik L. Brouwer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/37; A61N1/371; A61N1/3712; A61N1/3716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A pacemaker of the type for delivering pacing stimulus signals to a patient, having an output to which generated stimulus signals are connected, a timing generator for timing the generation of pacing stimulus signals, output means for generating said pacing stimulus signals and delivering same to said output, sensing means for sensing heartbeat signals from said patient, and logic means connected to said sensing means and said timing generator for controlling generation of said pacing stimulus signals, wherein said output means is characterized by duration means for generating output signals having three separate durations, said output means having first means for generating a first recharge pulse of a positive polarity and a first duration, second means for generating a stimulus pulse of a negative polarity and a second duration following said first duration, and a third means for generating a second recharge pulse of a positive polarity and a third duration following said second duration, said three pulses together comprising one of said stimulus signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pacemaker of the type for delivering pacing stimulus signals to a patient, having an output to which generated stimulus signals are connected, a timing generator for timing the generation of pacing stimulus signals, output means for generating said pacing stimulus signals and delivering same to said output, sensing means for sensing heartbeat signals from said patient, and logic means connected to said sensing means and said timing generator for controlling generation of said pacing stimulus signals, wherein said output means is characterized by duration means for generating output signals having three separate durations, said output means having first means for generating a first recharge pulse of a positive polarity and a first duration, second means for generating a stimulus pulse of a negative polarity and a second duration following said first duration, and a third means for generating a second recharge pulse of a positive polarity and a third duration following said second duration, said three pulses together comprising one of said stimulus signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pacemaker as described in claim 1, comprising timing means for controlling the time and sequence of the said three durations, said timing means controlling said three durations such that each successive duration is contiguous with the preceeding one.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pacemaker as described in claim 1, wherein said output means comprises means to control the ratio of said third duration to said first duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pacemaker as described in claim 1, wherein said output means comprises means to control the total charge of said first and third pulses to be substantially equal to that of said stimulus pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A pacing system for delivering pacing signals to a patient's heart, comprising: a. lead means for delivering output signals to said heart and for sensing heart signals representative of said patient's heart activities; b. a pacemaker for generating pacing signals, having an output connected to said lead means for connecting said pacing signals thereto; and c. said pacemaker having output signal means for generating both positive and negative output pulses, said signal means including timing means for timing at least two of said positive pulses with one of said negative pulses in a given time relationship to form each of said pacing signals at said output, and signal initiation means for periodically initiating generation of said pacing signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
A pacing system for delivering pacing signals to a patient's heart, comprising: a. lead means for delivering output signals to said heart and for sensing heart signals representative of said patient's heart activities; b. a pacemaker for generating pacing signals, having an output connected to said lead means for connecting said pacing signals thereto; and c. said pacemaker having output signal means for generating both positive and negative output pulses, said signal means including timing means for timing at least two of said positive pulses with one of said negative pulses in a given time relationship to form each of said pacing signals at said output, and signal initiation means for periodically initiating generation of said pacing signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pacing system as described in claim 5, wherein said output signal means generates pacing signals comprising a first positive recharge pulse followed in time by a negative stimulus pulse and then a second positive recharge pulse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pacing system as described in claim 6, wherein said output signal means generates said pulses contiguous in time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The pacing system as described in claim 6, wherein said output signal means comprises means for controlling the charge in said two positive pulses to be substantially equal to the charge in said negative pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pacing system as described in claim 5, comprising means to vary the relative time duration of said at least two positive signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pacing system as described in claim 5, comprising means to vary the energy contained in each of said positive and one negative output pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pacing system as described in claim 5, said pacemaker having an input means for receiving sensed heart signals, said input means comprising a current amplifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A stimulating system for delivering stimulating signals to a selected organ of a patient, said system having generator means for generating stimulating signals and lead means for connecting said stimulating signals from said generator means to said organ, said generator means being characterized by having output signal means for generating a prior positive pulse, a following negative pulse and a following positive pulse in a predetermined time sequence for each of said stimulating signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A stimulating system for delivering stimulating signals to a selected organ of a patient, said system having generator means for generating stimulating signals and lead means for connecting said stimulating signals from said generator means to said organ, said generator means being characterized by having output signal means for generating a prior positive pulse, a following negative pulse and a following positive pulse in a predetermined time sequence for each of said stimulating signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as described in claim 12, wherein said prior positive pulse is less than about 10 ms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 11, comprising means for sensing the evoked response of said organ following connecting of each stimulating signal thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a pacing system for delivering pacing signals to a patient's heart and for sensing responses evoked by said pacing signals, the method characterized by; a. periodically generating pacing signals, said generating of each pacing signal comprising generating at least two separate positive pulses and a negative pulse; b. delivering said periodically generated pacing signals to said heart; and c. sensing evoked heartbeat responses following each said delivered signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a pacing system for delivering pacing signals to a patient's heart and for sensing responses evoked by said pacing signals, the method characterized by; a. periodically generating pacing signals, said generating of each pacing signal comprising generating at least two separate positive pulses and a negative pulse; b. delivering said periodically generated pacing signals to said heart; and c. sensing evoked heartbeat responses following each said delivered signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as described in claim 15, comprising generating a first positive pulse of a duration limited to about 10 ms, said negative pulse immediately following said first positive pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as described in claim 15, comprising controlling the charge delivered by each of said pulses so that the total net charge in each said pacing signal is substantially zero.
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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) | 1986-02-14 | 1986-08-16 | 1987-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-14 | 1990-08-16 | 1991-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-14 | 1994-08-16 | 1995-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |