Autocontrollable pacemaker with alarm
First Claim
1. In an implantable apparatus for administering electrotherapy pulses to the heart, said apparatus having a power source and circuitry powered by said power source, said circuitry including a pulse forming circuit for providing said pulses and an alarm means for providing an output indicative of selected, predetermined changes in one of the manner in which said apparatus provides electrotherapy, the condition of said apparatus, and electrical activity of the heart, said apparatus having a case with a first portion formed of a conductive material and a second portion formed of an insulating material, the improvement comprising:
- an alarm electrode mounted externally of said second portion, said alarm electrode being substantially smaller in dimensions than said case; and
switch means responsive to said output from said alarm means for electrically connecting the pulse output of said pulse forming circuit to said alarm electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for administering electrotherapy, such as a pacemaker, having an alarm system including a relatively small alarm electrode affixed to the external surface of a non-conductive portion of the case of the apparatus, such as the neck. The apparatus, is implanted with the alarm electrode in contact with a muscle. A switch permits the alarm electrode to be used as the indifferent electrode for providing a patient alarm. The amplitude of the output may be varied to provide different alarm levels; i.e. different twitching intensity of the muscle, to permit the patient and physician to distinguish between alarms of diagnostic interest and those indicating a hazardous or emergency condition.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. In an implantable apparatus for administering electrotherapy pulses to the heart, said apparatus having a power source and circuitry powered by said power source, said circuitry including a pulse forming circuit for providing said pulses and an alarm means for providing an output indicative of selected, predetermined changes in one of the manner in which said apparatus provides electrotherapy, the condition of said apparatus, and electrical activity of the heart, said apparatus having a case with a first portion formed of a conductive material and a second portion formed of an insulating material, the improvement comprising:
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an alarm electrode mounted externally of said second portion, said alarm electrode being substantially smaller in dimensions than said case; and switch means responsive to said output from said alarm means for electrically connecting the pulse output of said pulse forming circuit to said alarm electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In an implantable apparatus for administering electrotherapy pulses to the heart, said apparatus having a power source and circuitry powered by said power source, said circuitry including a pulse forming circuit for providing said pulses and an alarm means for providing an output indicative of a selected, predetermined change in the manner in which said apparatus provides electrotherapy, said apparatus having a case for housing components thereof, the improvement comprising:
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muscle stimulation means for stimulating a muscle in contact therewith, said muscle stimulation means being electrically connected to an output of said pulse circuit; detector means for detecting when said change in said manner in which said apparatus provides said electrotherapy constitutes a severe insufficiency and for providing an insufficiency signal; and energy control means responsive to said insufficiency signal, said energy control means being for controlling said pulse circuit to increase energy of said electrotherapy pulses. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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- 31. In an apparatus for administering electrotherapy pulses to the heart, the apparatus comprising an alarm signal generator, a conductive case and a non-conductive neck, said conductive case constituting an electrode for producing a low current density field, the improvement comprising an alarm electrode connected to said alarm signal generator for producing a high current density field, said alarm electrode being mounted on an external surface of said neck and being positioned to contact a muscle adjacent thereto so as to provide an alarm signal to a user when activated.
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34. An apparatus for administering electrotherapy pulses to the heart, comprising:
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pulsing means for delivering said pulses to the heart; low level alarm means for providing an alarm indicative of a minor malfunction in the providing of said electrotherapy pulses, said low level alarm means providing electrical pulses to a user'"'"'s muscle at an energy level which causes twitching but not severe contractions of the muscle so that the user is informed that a minor malfunction has occurred; and emergency alarm means for providing an alarm indicative of a major malfunction in the providing of said electrotherapy pulses, said emergency alarm means providing electrical pulses to the user'"'"'s muscle at an energy level which causes severe contractions of the muscle so that both the user and any other observer present are informed that a major malfunction has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification