Monitoring system for cardiac pacers
First Claim
1. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and controlling the functioning of a cardiac pacer implanted in a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- telemetering means in said implanted pacer for telemetering a modulated electrical signal simultaneously indicative of multiple pacer parameters related to the functioning thereof and comprising;
first inductance means for electrically transmitting said modulated signal out of said pacer patient;
control circuitry means for controlling the output of said pacer to the heart of the patient in response to R-waves received from said heart and comprising;
time variable circuitry means for interrupting said R-waves to, and thus producing a test mode in, said control circuitry means;
means for producing signals indicative of the functioning of said control circuitry means when said control circuitry means is in the test mode; and
junction means for receiving said functioning indicative signals;
monitoring circuitry means, connected between said junction means and said first inductance means, for producing said modulated signal with a simultaneous multiparameter indicative modulation thereon and feeding it to said first inductance means, said modulation including a parameter indicative component in response to the receipt of, and related to, said functioning indicative signals from said junction means; and
switching means responsive to an externally produced command signal for actuating said time variable circuitry means whereby said signals indicative of the functioning of said control circuitry means are communicated to said monitoring circuitry means and produce a related parameter indicative modulation on said modulated signal which is fed to said first inductance means for transmission thereby as said telemetered signal; and
means external to said patient for monitoring said telemetered signal comprising;
second inductance means for receiving said telemetered signal from said first inductance means;
means operatively connected to said second inductance means for analyzing the modulation on said telemetered signal received by said second inductance means; and
means for producing a command signal to actuate said switching means to put said control circuitry means in said pacer in the test mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A complete system for telemetering and monitoring the functioning of an implanted pacemaker as well as controlling the testing of the functions from a remotely located central facility is disclosed specifically comprising the provision of capabilities for directly and simultaneously transmitting from the pacer, electrical signals indicative of multiple pacer functions, such as, pacer rate, cell voltage, refractory period, heart rate with pacer inhibited, R-wave level and sensing margin, sensing circuit and other component failure, cardiac electrode lead break, and hermetic integrity. The indicative signals are picked up at the patient'"'"'s location for local analysis and/or telephonically communicated to a remote central monitoring station. The central station may control testing of the pacemaker functions by transmitting command signals back telephonically for coupling through cooperating external and implanted inductances or magnetically controlled switches to the implanted pacer circuitry.
190 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and controlling the functioning of a cardiac pacer implanted in a patient, said apparatus comprising:
telemetering means in said implanted pacer for telemetering a modulated electrical signal simultaneously indicative of multiple pacer parameters related to the functioning thereof and comprising; first inductance means for electrically transmitting said modulated signal out of said pacer patient; control circuitry means for controlling the output of said pacer to the heart of the patient in response to R-waves received from said heart and comprising; time variable circuitry means for interrupting said R-waves to, and thus producing a test mode in, said control circuitry means; means for producing signals indicative of the functioning of said control circuitry means when said control circuitry means is in the test mode; and junction means for receiving said functioning indicative signals; monitoring circuitry means, connected between said junction means and said first inductance means, for producing said modulated signal with a simultaneous multiparameter indicative modulation thereon and feeding it to said first inductance means, said modulation including a parameter indicative component in response to the receipt of, and related to, said functioning indicative signals from said junction means; and switching means responsive to an externally produced command signal for actuating said time variable circuitry means whereby said signals indicative of the functioning of said control circuitry means are communicated to said monitoring circuitry means and produce a related parameter indicative modulation on said modulated signal which is fed to said first inductance means for transmission thereby as said telemetered signal; and means external to said patient for monitoring said telemetered signal comprising; second inductance means for receiving said telemetered signal from said first inductance means; means operatively connected to said second inductance means for analyzing the modulation on said telemetered signal received by said second inductance means; and means for producing a command signal to actuate said switching means to put said control circuitry means in said pacer in the test mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification