BODY ORGAN STIMULATOR FUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH

• US 3,738,369 A
• Filed: 04/22/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David L. Bowers, Theodore P. Adams
• Original Assignee: David L. Bowers, Theodore P. Adams
• Inventors: Bowers, David L., Adams, Theodore P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/136,329
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419C,419E,419P,419R,421,422 335/153,168,170,157
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0006 Permanent magnet actuating reed switches H01H35/147 takes precedence

Abstract

An implantable body organ stimulator such as an electronic cardiac pacer has a magnetic reed switch and a switch operator embedded in its encapsulation. The state of the reed switch may be changed to alter any one of several functional characteristics of the stimulator with a switch operator which controls the operating state. The operator comprises a magnet which is movable between two positions in a guide tube which is adjacent the reed switch. The magnet may be urged from one position to another with a needle that enters the interior of the guide tube through an aperture in a plate that is embedded in the encapsulation. Means are provided in one embodiment for preventing restoration of the magnet to its original position.

Claims

1. An implantable body organ stimulator comprising:

a. stimulus signal generator circuit means for producing selectable signals with different characteristics, b. enclosure means enclosing said circuit means for permitting said circuit means to be implanted in body tissue, said circuit means having output terminals adapted for connecting the same to a body organ, c. switch means in said enclosure means and connected in said circuit, said switch means having stationary contact means and cooperating contact means operable under magnetic influence to select signals having particular characteristics, d. magnetically permeable guide means in said enclosure means and an instrument receiving passageway therein for providing access to the interior of said guide means from the exterior of said enclosure means, said passageway being normally unoccupied by an instrument when said stimulator is implanted, e. a magnetic member movable within said guide means between positions in one of which said element does not influence said cooperating contact substantially and in another of which it does influence said contact substantially said member being mechaNically accessible through said passageway, f. retainer means for releasably retaining said magnetic element in at least the said one position, g. means for retaining said magnetic member permanently in said another position after said member has been moved to said position where it does influence said cooperating contact, h. said cooperating contact means of said switch means being subject to operation by an external magnetic influence and alternatively under the magnetic influence of said magnetic member when the latter is moved mechanically by an instrument introduced through said passageway.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 including:

a. another retainer means retaining said magnetic member in its other position and to prevent return of said member to said one position after said member has been translated.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said guide means is a tubular means and said retainer means is a tab means depressed at a slant from the wall of said tubular means, said tab means resilient to allow said magnetic member to be translated past the tab means and to serve as a retainer means when said tab means returns to its slanted position.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said guide means is a tubular means in which said magnetic member is adapted to translate, b. casing means in said enclosure, said casing means having a recess for receiving said guide means, and c. a deformable ring means having a hole therethrough, said ring means encompassing said tubular guide means and being deformed by insertion in said recess for grippingly engaging said casing means.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 including:

a. an indifferent electrode plate means supported on said enclosure means, b. said tubular guide means being mechanically and electrically connected to said plate means and being electrically connected to said switch means and one of said output terminals, whereby to provide alternate conductive paths to an organ from either said one terminal or said indifferent electrode plate means.

6. The invention set forth in claim 1 including:

a. an electrode plate means supported on said enclosure means and having said instrument receiving passageway therein, and b. a gas permeable elastomeric plug is in said passageway, which plug is adapted for being penetrated by an instrument for translating said magnetic member, c. said electrode plate means being connected to one of said output terminals and to said switch means whereby said switch means provides alternate conductive paths to either said one terminal or said electrode plate means.

7. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said guide means is a tubular means and said magnetic member is in said tubular means b. said retainer means comprising a viscous substance occupying substantially the space in said tubular means that is not occupied by said magnetic member, said viscous substance retaining said member in its initial position and flowing past said magnetic member when it is translated mechanically whereby to retain said member in its translated position.

8. The invention set forth in claim 1 including:

a. a cylindrical magnetic shield surrounding said guide means coextensively with said magnetic member for preventing said member from being moved by magnetic influence and for compelling said member to be mechanically moved when said member is in one position.

9. A body implantable organ stimulator which has optionally selective operating characteristics, comprising:

a. stimulus signal generator circuit means for producing selectable signals with different characteristics, said circuit means having output terminals adapted for connecting to a body organ and enclosure means for permitting said stimulator to be implanted in body tissue, b. a magnetic reed switch connected in said circuit and operable from a first switching state to a second switching state to cauSe the stimulator to have different operating characteristics, c. an electrode plate means associated with said stimulator and connected to one of said output terminals, said plate means having an aperture, d. casing means and a tubular guide means therein mechanically and electrically connected to said plate means and electrically connected to said reed switch, said guide means being aligned with said aperture, e. a magnetic member for operating said reed switch translatable in said guide means from a first position where the magnetic field is not effectively coupled with said reed switch to a second position where it is effectively coupled therewith to transfer said reed switch to its second state, f. means for magnetically shielding said magnetic member when it is in its first position, g. means at opposite ends of said tubular means for retaining said magnetic member in one or the other of its positions, and h. a viscous substance substantially occupying the space within said tubular means that is not occupied by said magnetic member.

10. An implantable body organ stimulator which has optionally selective operating characteristics, comprising:

switching a. stimulus signal generator circuit means for producing selectable signals with different characteristics, said circuit means having output terminals adapted for connecting to a body organ and enclosure means for permitting said stimulator to be implanted in body tissue, b. a magnetic reed switch that is connected in said circuit and operable from a first switching state to a second switching state to cause the stimulator to have different operating characteristics, c. an electrode plate means associated with said stimulator and connected to one of said output terminals, said plate means having an aperture, d. casing means and a tubular guide means therein mechanically and electrically connected to said plate means and electrically connected to said reed switch, said guide means being aligned with said aperture, said tubular guide means having an axially disposed resilient tab means projecting radially inwardly thereof, e. a magnetic member for operation said reed switch translatable in said guide means from a first position where its field is not effectively coupled with said reed switch to a second position where its field is effectively coupled, said tab means retaining said magnetic member in its first position, f. said resilient tab means being deflected by said magnetic member when the member is translated under the influence of an instrument admitted through said aperture and said tab means returning to its undeflected position to retain said magnetic member in its second position.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein:

a. weld means constitute said electrical connection of said tubular guide means at one end to said plate means, b. said casing means being diametrally enlarged in the vicinity of said weld means to provide a recess thereabout, c. a deformable ring member in said recess jointly engaging said guide means and said casing means, and d. conductive sealant means occupying at least a part of said recess and being in contact with said casing means, said guide means and said plate means.