Method and apparatus for assuring pacer programming is compatible with the lead
First Claim
1. A circuit for recognizing a functional bipolar lead attached to an implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation, the pacemaker comprising a pulse generator, an indifferent electrode, an anode lead connector and a cathode lead connector, the circuit comprising:
- means for generating a test signal;
impedance means connecting said signal generating means and said anode lead connector;
means for providing a low impedance path connecting the anode lead connector to the ground potential through said functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, the path passing through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body;
means for sensing a level of the test signal at the anode lead connector; and
means for disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the test signal at the anode lead connector exceeds a predetermined value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A series of test signals are generated by a microprocessor of a pacemaker to determine whether a bipolar or unipolar lead is attached to an implanted cardiac pacemaker restricting programming of said pacemaker to only an unipolar pacing mode unless the presence of an operational bipolar lead is detected. Detection is accomplished by generating a series of low frequency high impedance pulses, applying them to lead contacts and sensing a return signal. If a return signal is detected, then that indicates either a unipolar lead is connected to the pacemaker or that the ring conductor of a bipolar lead is open and bipolar pacing must be inhibited.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A circuit for recognizing a functional bipolar lead attached to an implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation, the pacemaker comprising a pulse generator, an indifferent electrode, an anode lead connector and a cathode lead connector, the circuit comprising:
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means for generating a test signal; impedance means connecting said signal generating means and said anode lead connector; means for providing a low impedance path connecting the anode lead connector to the ground potential through said functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, the path passing through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body; means for sensing a level of the test signal at the anode lead connector; and means for disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the test signal at the anode lead connector exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A circuit for recognizing a functional bipolar lead attached to an implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation, the pacemaker comprising a pulse generator and at least one lead connection comprising an anode and a cathode connector, said circuit comprising:
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means for generating a test signal; impedance means connecting said signal generating means and said cathode connector; a low impedance path connecting said anode connector to the ground potential; means for providing a low impedance path connecting the cathode connector to the anode connector through said functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, the path adapted for passing through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body; means for disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the test signal at the cathode connector exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 10)
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9. The circuit according to claim wherein the impedance means comprise a capacitor.
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11. A method for recognizing a functional bipolar lead attached to an implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation, the method comprising:
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generating a test signal; passing the test signal through an impedance to an anode connector in the pacemaker; providing a low impedance path between the anode connector and the ground potential through portion of a patient'"'"'s body and through a functional anode of a bipolar lead if said bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, sensing a level of the test signal at the anode lead connector; and disabling bipolar pacing of the pacing if the level of the test signal at the anode lead connector exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for recognizing a functional bipolar lead attached to an implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation comprising:
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generating a test signal; conducting the test signal through an impedance to a cathode connector in electrical communication with a cathode of a lead; connecting an anode connector through a low impedance path to the ground potential; providing a low impedance path connecting the cathode connector to the anode connector through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body and through a functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker; sensing a level of the test signal at the cathode connector; and disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the level of the test signal at the cathode connector exceeds a predetermined value; wherein the step of disabling bipolar pacing further comprises communicating a status of the sensed test signal to an external pacemaker programming device and programming the pacemaker for unipolar operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation, comprising
a pulse generator; -
an indifferent electrode connected to the pulse generator; an anode lead connector connected to the pulse generator; a cathode lead connector connected to the pulse generator; means for generating a test signal for recognition of a functional bipolar lead; impedance means connecting said signal generating means and said anode lead connector; means for providing a low impedance path connecting the anode lead connector to the ground potential through said functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, the path adapted for passing through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body; means for sensing a level of the test signal at the anode lead connector; and means for disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the test signal at the anode lead connector exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable cardiac pacemaker capable of bipolar and unipolar operation comprising
a pulse generator; -
at least one lead connection in electrical communication with the pulse generator, said lead connection comprising an anode connector and a cathode connector; means for generating a lead test signal; impedance means connecting said signal generating means and said cathode connector; a low impedance path connecting said anode connector to the ground potential; means for providing a low impedance path connecting the cathode connector to the anode connector through a functional bipolar lead if said functional bipolar lead is connected to said cardiac pacemaker, the path adapted for passing through a portion of a patient'"'"'s body; means for sensing a level of the test signal at the cathode connector; and means for disabling bipolar pacing of the pacemaker if the test signal at the cathode connector exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification