MUSCLE STIMULATION AND/OR CONTRACTION DETECTION DEVICE

• US 3,815,611 A
• Filed: 11/26/1971
• Issued: 06/11/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rollin H. Denniston III
• Original Assignee: Rollin H. Denniston III
• Inventors: Denniston, Rollin H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/202,238
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2R,2S,2.5D,2.5E,2.5P,2.5R,419D,419P,404,418 73/141A 338/5.41,99,100,223
• US Class Current: 607/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

The apparatus detects contraction of muscles of living animals, the contraction causing an elastomer body whose impedance changes when flexed, positioned adjacent muscle to flex when the contraction occurs. When a bias voltage is applied to the elastomer body, any change in impedance is readily detectable. The change in impedance may produce a rhythmically repeated elecrical signal, as, for example, when the elastomer body is used to monitor heart activity. This electrical signal can be used for triggering or controlling purposes. For example, this signal can be used to control a pulse generator so that a cardioverting or pacing pulse is generated only after a specified period of time has elapsed since the latest heart activity was sensed by the elastomer body.

Claims

1. Body implantable transducer apparatus adapted for connection to a source of electrical power for directly transforming a muscle contraction into a measurable electrical parameter comprising:

a. elongated, omnidirectionally flexible, enclosure means substantially inert in living body fluids and tissues, the enclosure means having a predetermined length and a distal end, and being adapted to substantially follow the path defined by a vessel of a living animal into which it is inserted and to be positioned with at least its distal end adjacent a muscle of the living animal so that a contraction of the muscle causes at least the distal end of the enclosure means to flex therewith, the enclosure means further being adapted for enclosing at least some of the following elements, thereby sealing them from living body fluids and tissues;

b. elastomer body means having conductive particles imbedded therein for exhibiting a change in electrical impedance upon flexing, the body means being enclosed by and generally longitudinally positioned within the enclosure means adjacent its distal end for flexure therewith;

c. terminal means attached to and extending to a point external to the enclosure means for connection to a source of electrical power; and

d. connective means electrically connected to the terminal means and enclosed by and positioned along the length of the enclosure means, the connective means being electrically connected to the body means for registering a change in impedance of the body means caused by its flexure may be registered at the terminal means.

2. elastomer body means having conductive particles imbedded therein or exhibiting a change in electrical impedance upon omnidirectional flexing, the body means being enclosed by and generally longitudinally positioned within the enclosure means adjacent its distal end for flexure therewith;

3. Body implantable transducer and impulse conducting apparatus adapted for connection to a source of electrical power including impulse generating means for directly transforming a muscle contraction into a measurable electrical parameter and for electrically stimulating a muscle to effect muscular action, comprising:

a. elongated, omnidirectionally flexible, enclosure means substantially inert in living body fluids and tissues, the enclosure means having a predetermined length and a distal end, and being adapted to substantially follow the path defined by a vessel of a living animal into which it is inserted and to be positioned with at least its distal end adjacent a muscle of the living animal so that a contraction of the muscle causes at least the distal end of the enclosure means to flex therewith, the enclosure meAns further being adapted for enclosing at least some of the following elements, thereby sealing them from living body fluids and tissues;

b. elastomer body means having conductive particles impedded therein for exhibiting a change in electrical impedance upon omnidirectional flexing, the body means being enclosed by and generally longitudinally positioned within the enclosure means adjacent its distal end for flexure therewith;

c. terminal means extending to a point external to the enclosure means for connection to a source of electrical power including impulse generating means;

d. connective means electrically connected to the terminal means and enclosed by and positioned along the length of the enclosure means, the connective means being electrically connected to the body means for registering a change in impedance of the body means caused by its flexure at the terminal means; and

e. electrode means for applying an electrical impulse to a muscle to effect muscular action, the electrode means being positioned along the length of the enclosure means adjacent the muscle and being electrically connected to the connective means.

4. connective means electrically connectEd to the terminal means and enclosed by and positioned along the length of the enclosure means, the connective means being electrically connected to the body means for registering a change in impedance of the body means caused by flexure at the terminal means;

and

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vessel of the living animal comprises the heart, and:

a. the electrode means comprises at least two electrodes spaced from one another to be inside and outside the heart, respectively, the apparatus being adapted for use in cardioverting and/or pacing a malfunctioning heart; and

b. the connective means comprising first and second conductors attaching the electrodes to the terminal means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each electrode includes at least two metallic conductive surfaces spaced from one another.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each electrode is constructed of a flexible conductive non-metallic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the non-metallic material is a silicone rubber material loaded with conductive particles.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first electrical conductor attaches the first electrode and the body means in electrical series relation with the first and second terminals.

10. Muscle contraction stimulation and detection apparatus comprising:

a. body implantable transducer and impulse conducting means for directly transforming a muscle contraction into a measurable electrical parameter and for electrically stimulating a muscle further comprising;

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the impulse generating means is a cardiac pacer and the flexible enclosure means is an intravenous catheter adapted for insertion into the heart of the living animal.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the flexible enclosure means is an intravenous catheter adapted for insertion into the heart of the living animal, and the impulse generating means is adapted to provide impulses having sufficient energy for defibrillating the heart.