PHYSIOLOGICALLY CONTROLLED CARDIAC PACER

• US 3,593,718 A
• Filed: 07/13/1967
• Issued: 07/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome L. Krasner, Paul Nardella
• Original Assignee: Jerome L. Krasner, Paul Nardella
• Inventors: Krasner, Jerome L., Nardella, Paul
• Application Number:
  US04/653,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• US Class Current: 607/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A cardiac pacer is described which uses a physiological function such as breathing rate, to vary the production of electronic pulses which are fed to a constant current source connected to the ventricle. A constant source compensates for the fibrotic growths that often occur around the electrodes implanted in the heart. In another variation, the pulses are fed to two separate constant current sources, one connected to the atrium and the other, with delay, to the ventricle.

Claims

1. The combination of a first means responsive to a separate but normally heart-related physiological function and a cardiac pacer, said means controlling the output frequency of said pacer and Comprising in series an impedance/voltage converter, a frequency/DC converter, and a DC/pulse rate oscillator.

2. Claim 1 wherein said function is respiration.

3. Claim 1 wherein a constant current source connects said oscillator to said pacer.

4. Claim 1 wherein said pacer includes a first constant current source whose output is adapted for connection to the atrium, a second constant current source whose output is adapted for connection to the ventricle, and a second means for delaying the output of the second source with respect to the output of said first source.

5. Claim 4, wherein said second means provides a delay which is a function of artificially stimulated atrial frequency.

6. Claim 1 wherein said pacer comprises a first output adapted for connection to the atrium, a second output adapted for connection to the ventricle, and a second means for delaying the second output with respect to the first output.

7. Claim 6 wherein said second means provides a delay which is a function of artificially stimulated atrial frequency.

8. Claim 1 wherein said combination comprises an impedance/voltage converter, the output of which is fed to a frequency/DC converter, whose output voltage is fed to a DC/pulse rate oscillator, which branches into two constant current sources;

the output of one said source being adapted for connection to the atrium, the output of the second said source being adapted for connection to the ventricle;

second means being provided for delaying the output of said second source with respect to the output of said first source.

9. Claim 8 wherein said second means provides a delay which is a function of artificially stimulated atrial frequency.

10. A cardiac pacer which includes two constant current sources, one whose output is adapted for connection to the atrium and a second whose output is adapted for connection to the ventricle;

means being provided for delaying the output of said second source with respect to the output of said first source.

11. Claim 10, wherein said means provides a delay which is a function of artificially stimulated atrial frequency.