×

BIDIRECTIONAL HEART STIMULATOR

  • US 3,563,247 A
  • Filed: 03/14/1968
  • Issued: 02/16/1971
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1968
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An electric heart stimulator comprising:

  • a. a series circuit including a coupling capacitor and a pair of terminals that are adapted for being connected to a heart which is to be stimulated;

    b. a DC power source having opposite polarity terminals;

    c. first and second semiconductor switch means connected serially with each other across the terminals of the power source, and each of said switch means being adapted to conduct current in opposite direction, respectively;

    d. the said series circuit having one of its ends connected at a point intermediate the semiconductor switches and its other end connected to one terminal of the power source;

    e. a bistable multivibrator having an output terminal on which alternate potential changes occur repetitively at a rate that corresponds with the stimulation rate of the heart, said semiconductor switches being connected to said output terminal and each of said switches being rendered alternately conductive in response to the alternately occurring potential changes on said output terminal;

    f. whereby one of the semiconductor switches may conduct to charge said coupling capacitor from the source and impart current in one direction through the heart to stimulate a heartbeat and then the other semiconductor switch may conduct to discharge the coupling capacitor and impart current in the opposite direction through the heart to stimulate the next consecutive heartbeat;

    g. a generator of single polarity pulses which occur at a constant repetition rate corresponding with the desired heart stimulation rate, said generator having aN output terminal on which the pulses occur; and

    h. said bistable multivibrator having an input trigger terminal receiving pulses from said pulse generator output terminal and responding to each such pulse by producing alternate potential changes on the multivibrator output terminal as aforesaid.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×