Programmable multi-mode cardiac pacemaker
First Claim
1. An implantable, programmable cardiac pacemaker system comprising:
- (a) external programmer means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency encoded signals, said encoded signals defining at least one of a plurality of selectable pacing modes and a plurality of selectable pacing parameters associated with the selected pacing mode;
(b) implantable pulse generator means responsive to ones of said encoded signals for cyclically producing pacing pulses for at least one chamber of the heart, said pulse generator means including;
(1) pulse controller means for performing a plurality of inter-cycle operations associated with the selected pacing mode during the production of pacing pulses for each cardiac cycle and further including;
(i) means for storing ones of said encoded signals,(ii) means for storing a plurality of inter-cycle instructions, each instruction designating at least one of a plurality of the inter-cycle operations,(iii) means for sensing a plurality of analog conditions including electrical activity of the heart,(iiii) means responsive to said stored encoded signals and said inter-cycle instructions for prioritizing the inter-cycle operations of the selected pacing made, and(2) input/output controller means responsive to received ones of said encoded signals for selectively writing the selected pacing mode and its associated pacing parameters into said encoded signal storage means during a write mode and including means for selectively reading ones of said encoded signal storage means and ones of said analog conditions and further including means for transmitting encoded radio frequency signals corresponding thereto to said external programmer means during a read mode; and
(c) means for coupling said pacing pulses to the appropriate chambers of the heart and said sensed analog conditions to said pulse generator means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable cardiac pacemaker that is selectively programmable via a radio frequency communications link into one of a plurality of a single and dual chamber pacing modes. Depending upon the mode selected, an associated plurality of pacing parameters may be programmed, each within a predetermined range of possible magnitudes.
The pacemaker includes a rate smoothing function for preventing the rate interval from changing by more than a predetermined percentage on a cycle-to-cycle basis; and a graceful degradation function for causing the ventricular pacing rate to decay when the atrial rate exceeds a programmed upper rate limit for a predetermined length of time. A graceful degration onset time and rate of decay are also programmable. Additionally, the pacemaker contains a set of pre-programmed alternative pacing parameters for at least one mode and which can be independently reverted to.
The pacemaker control circuitry is organized about a central bus into an I/O controller and a pacing controller. Pacing control is continuous and its I/O communications operate on a prioritized basis. I/O control permits the programming of any register and the interrogation of a variety of analog parameters associated therewith.
566 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An implantable, programmable cardiac pacemaker system comprising:
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(a) external programmer means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency encoded signals, said encoded signals defining at least one of a plurality of selectable pacing modes and a plurality of selectable pacing parameters associated with the selected pacing mode; (b) implantable pulse generator means responsive to ones of said encoded signals for cyclically producing pacing pulses for at least one chamber of the heart, said pulse generator means including; (1) pulse controller means for performing a plurality of inter-cycle operations associated with the selected pacing mode during the production of pacing pulses for each cardiac cycle and further including; (i) means for storing ones of said encoded signals, (ii) means for storing a plurality of inter-cycle instructions, each instruction designating at least one of a plurality of the inter-cycle operations, (iii) means for sensing a plurality of analog conditions including electrical activity of the heart, (iiii) means responsive to said stored encoded signals and said inter-cycle instructions for prioritizing the inter-cycle operations of the selected pacing made, and (2) input/output controller means responsive to received ones of said encoded signals for selectively writing the selected pacing mode and its associated pacing parameters into said encoded signal storage means during a write mode and including means for selectively reading ones of said encoded signal storage means and ones of said analog conditions and further including means for transmitting encoded radio frequency signals corresponding thereto to said external programmer means during a read mode; and (c) means for coupling said pacing pulses to the appropriate chambers of the heart and said sensed analog conditions to said pulse generator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Improved implantable pulse generator apparatus operable to cyclically produce and couple pacing pulses to at least one chamber of the heart in relation to a selected one of a plurality of pacing modes, a plurality of pacing parameters associated with the selected mode and sensed electrical activity of the heart, the improvement comprising:
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(1) means for storing a plurality of operating instructions defining a plurality of operations to be performed between each cycle of the selected pacing mode and wherein ones of said instructions define a plurality of operations; and (2) means for prioritizing the inter-cycle operations of said pulse generator during the production of pacing pulses for the selected pacing mode. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification