Battery failure compensation for a power supply used in an implantable defibrillator
First Claim
1. A fully implantable power supply for use in a fully implantable defibrillator having an implantable housing, a fibrillation detector for detecting fibrillation of the heart of a recipient, an energy storage and discharge device for storing and releasing defibrillation energy into the heart of the recipient and an inverter for charging the energy storage and discharge device in response to detection of fibrillation by the fibrillation detector, the inverter requiring a first level of power to be operational and the fibrillation detector requiring a second level of power different from said first level of power to be operational, said power supply comprising:
- implantable battery means positioned within said implantable housing, said battery means including a plurality of batteries arranged in series, each of said batteries having a pair of output terminals, each of said batteries producing a distinctly multilevel voltage across its pair of output terminals, said voltage being at a first level when the battery is fully charged and dropping to a second level at some point during the discharge of the battery; and
implantable circuit means positioned within said implantable housing, said circuit means for creating a first conductive path betwen said serially-connected batteries and said fibrillation detector to provide said fibrillation detector with said second level of power, and for creating a second conductive path between said inverter and said battery means by placing only the batteries operating at said first level voltage in said second conductive path, and excluding the remaining batteries from said second conductive path to provide said inverter with said first level of power.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fully implantable power supply for use with or in a fully implantable defibrillator, which has a fibrillation detector in circuit with the power supply and a power inverter switchably in circuit with the power supply. The power supply comprises an energy source which includes a plurality of batteries arranged in series, each of the batteries having a pair of output terminals, each of the batteries producing a multilevel voltage across its pair of output terminals, the voltage being at a first level when the battery is fully charged and dropping to a second level at some point during the discharge of the battery. Circuitry in the form of a plurality of unidirectional conducting devices is provided for creating a first conductive path between the serially-connected batteries and the fibrillation detector, and a second conductive path between the inverter and the batteries that are producing the first level of voltage.
65 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A fully implantable power supply for use in a fully implantable defibrillator having an implantable housing, a fibrillation detector for detecting fibrillation of the heart of a recipient, an energy storage and discharge device for storing and releasing defibrillation energy into the heart of the recipient and an inverter for charging the energy storage and discharge device in response to detection of fibrillation by the fibrillation detector, the inverter requiring a first level of power to be operational and the fibrillation detector requiring a second level of power different from said first level of power to be operational, said power supply comprising:
-
implantable battery means positioned within said implantable housing, said battery means including a plurality of batteries arranged in series, each of said batteries having a pair of output terminals, each of said batteries producing a distinctly multilevel voltage across its pair of output terminals, said voltage being at a first level when the battery is fully charged and dropping to a second level at some point during the discharge of the battery; and implantable circuit means positioned within said implantable housing, said circuit means for creating a first conductive path betwen said serially-connected batteries and said fibrillation detector to provide said fibrillation detector with said second level of power, and for creating a second conductive path between said inverter and said battery means by placing only the batteries operating at said first level voltage in said second conductive path, and excluding the remaining batteries from said second conductive path to provide said inverter with said first level of power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A fully implantable defibrillator comprising:
-
an implantable housing; fibrillation detecting means within said housing for detecting fibrillation of the heart of a recipient, said detecting means requiring a first level of power to be made operational; energy storage and discharge means within said housing for storing and releasing defibrillating energy into the heart of a recipient; inverter means within said housing for charging the storage and discharge means in response to detection of fibrillation by said detecting means, said inverter requiring a second level of power different from said first level of power to be operational; battery means within said housing including a plurality of batteries arranged in series, each of said batteries having a pair of output terminals, each of said batteries producing a distinctly multilevel voltage across its pair of output terminals, said voltage being at a first level when the battery is fully charged and dropping to a second level at some point during the discharge of the battery; and circuit means within said housing for creating a first conductive path between said serially-connected batteries and said detecting means to provide said detecting means with said first level of power, and for creating a second conductive path between said inverter means and said battery means by placing only the batteries operating at said first level voltage in said second conductive path, and excluding the remaining batteries from said second conductive path to provide said inverter means with said second level of power. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A fully implantable defibrillator comprising:
-
an implantable housing; battery means within said housing including a pair of batteries arranged in series, each of said batteries having a pair of output terminals, each of said batteries producing a distinctly multilevel voltage across its pair of output terminals, said voltage being at a first level when the battery is fully charged and dropping to a second level at some point during the discharge of the battery; fibrillation detecting means within said housing for detecting fibrillation of the heart of a recipient, said detecting means having a current drain capable of being supplied by said batteries even when said batteries are operating at said second level voltage; energy storage and discharge means within said housing for storing and discharging defibrillating energy into the heart of the recipient; inverter means within said housing for charging said storage and discharge means in response to detection of fibrillation by said detecting means, said inverter means having a current drain capable of being supplied only by said batteries operating at said first level voltage; and circuit means within said housing for creating a first conductive path between said serially-connected batteries and said detecting means for powering said detecting means, and for creating a second conductive path between said inverter means and said battery means, by placing only the batteries operating at said first level voltage in said second conductive path, and excluding the remaining batteries from said second conductive path. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification