Long life cardiac pacer with switching power delivery means and method of alternately delivering power to respective circuit portions of a stimulus delivery system
First Claim
1. Self contained pacer apparatus for delivering stimulus pulses, comprising:
- a. a battery source which provides an output which varies with the loading thereof and having characteristics which vary as a function of its energy depletion;
b. a source sensitive stimulus pulse generating circuit;
c. a stimulus output circuit, driven by the output of said source sensitive circuit, for delivering said stimulus pulses; and
d. connecting means for connecting said source output respectively to said source sensitive circuit and to said stimulus output circuit so that the loading of each of said circuits has no effect upon said source output when connected to the other of said circuits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pacer having a DC to DC converter for use with a relatively low voltage power source, and for providing a raised voltage supply to a load characterized by having a first circuit portion which is voltage sensitive and draws a low current, and a second circuit portion which draws a high current and is relatively insensitive to supply deviations, comprising a switching circuit alternately connecting said respective circuit portions through respective converters to the supply so that the voltage sensitive circuit is not affected by the loading of the high current circuit. A method is provided for alternately delivering power from a battery source to respective circuit portions of a stimulus delivery system.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. Self contained pacer apparatus for delivering stimulus pulses, comprising:
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a. a battery source which provides an output which varies with the loading thereof and having characteristics which vary as a function of its energy depletion; b. a source sensitive stimulus pulse generating circuit; c. a stimulus output circuit, driven by the output of said source sensitive circuit, for delivering said stimulus pulses; and d. connecting means for connecting said source output respectively to said source sensitive circuit and to said stimulus output circuit so that the loading of each of said circuits has no effect upon said source output when connected to the other of said circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Self contained pacer apparatus for producing stimulus pulses, comprising:
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a. a source having characteristics which vary as a function of its energy depletion; b. first temporary power storage means for storing power transferred to it from said source; c. second temporary power storage means for storing power transferred to it from said source; d. transfer means for controlling the transfer of power from said source to said first and second storage means respectively so that such transfer is to only one of said storage means at a time; and e. pacer circuitry for producing said stimulus pulses, having a first circuit portion connected to said first storage means and a second circuit portion connected to said second storage means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A cardiac pacer for operation in combination with an electrode for delivery of stimulus pulses to a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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a. a power source having characteristics which vary as a function of its energy depletion; b. A voltage sensitive circuit, including a stimulus signal generator; c. a high current circuit, including a stimulus signal output circuit driven by said stimulus signal generator; d. a first converter switchably connected to said power source; e. a second converter switchably connected to said power source; f. a switching oscillator; g. switch connecting means connected to receive inputs from said oscillator, for switchably connecting said power source to said converters so that (i) when said first converter receives power from said source said second converter is inhibited from receiving power from said source and so that (ii) when said second converter receives power from said source said first converter is inhibited from receiving power from said source; and h. second connecting means for connecting said first converter to said voltage sensitive circuit and said second converter to said high current circuit, whereby the relatively high current drain of said high current circuit does not load said source while power is being transferred from said source to said first converting circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An implantable cardiac pacer for providing stimulus pulses for stimulating the heart of a patient, said pacer being adapted to produce said stimulus pulses at a rate which is variable as a function of the condition of its power source, comprising:
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a. a DC power source having characteristics subject to variation as a function of its energy depletion; b. programmable converting means for converting the DC output of said source to a higher DC level, said converting means being powered by said source and providing a conversion which is a programmed function of said source characteristics; c. pulse generation means having at least a portion connected to said converting means, for generating stimulus pulses at a rate which is a predetermined programmed function of the DC level delivered by said converting means; and d. said pulse generation means and converting means being programmed so that said pulse generation rate is a predetermined function of said source characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electromedical system comprising a stimulus generator for use in combination with an electrode, for generation of stimulus pulses, wherein said stimulus generator comprises:
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a. a DC power source which provides an output which is a variable as a function of the load it supplies; b. a plurality of circuits each powered from said power source, including a source sensitive circuit which normally draws a first predetermined current and a second circuit which produces said stimulus pulses and which normally draws a second predetermined current; and c. means for delivering power from said source to each of said circuits in a manner so that the source output is not affected by the loading of said second circuit when said source is delivering power to said source sensitive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method carried out in a biomedical stimulus delivery system, said system having a DC power source, a relatively low current circuit and a relatively high current circuit for generating and delivering stimulus signals, said method comprising:
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a. transferring energy alternately from said DC source and storing said transferred energies in respective first and second storage circuits of said system; b. transferring said stored energies alternately to said low current and high current circuits respectively, whereby the energy being transferred to said relatively low current circuit is independent of the energy being transferred to said high current circuit; c. generating stimulus signals; and d. delivering said generated signals from said high current circuit. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. Self-contained pacer apparatus for delivering stimulus pulses, comprising:
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a. a battery; b. a first circuit portion for delivery of stimulus pulses, and a second circuit portion for providing signals to said first circuit portion; and c. means driven by said battery for switchably delivering power from said battery to said first and second circuit portions, whereby each of said circuit portions receives delivered power periodically for alternate different time periods. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Self-contained pacer apparatus for delivering stimulus pulses, comprising:
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a. a battery; b. a first circuit portion for delivery of stimulus pulses, and a second circuit portion for providing beat rate signals to said first circuit portion; and c. a switching circuit having two switching paths, the first of said paths having a first path input connected to said battery, a first path output connected to said first portion and a first switching element, the second of said paths having a second path input connected to said battery, a second path output connected to said second portion and a second switching element, said switching circuit having an oscillator producing periodic switching signals of opposite polarities, and a connecting circuit connecting a first of said switching signals to said first switching element whereby it is driven alternately closed and open and the second of said switching signals to said second switching element whereby it is driven alternately open and closed, whereby power from said battery is delivered alternately to said first and second circuit portions. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification