Heart stimulation apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for intracardial electrical interaction with cardiac tissue, comprising:
- an electrode lead having an electrode head disposed at a distal end thereof, said electrode head having a plurality of separate electrically conductive electrode surfaces thereon electrically insulated from each other and adapted for in vivo electrical interaction with cardiac tissue, and a like plurality of electrical conductors respectively connected to said electrode surfaces, said electrical conductors being electrically insulated from each other and extending through said electrode lead to a proximal end thereof;
circuit means for performing an energy-consuming cardiac-assist function which is adjustable according to an electrical threshold associated with said cardiac-assist function;
switch means disposed between said proximal end of said electrode lead and said circuit means for connecting a combination of said electrical conductors to said circuit means for activating the respective electrode surfaces connected to said electrical conductors in said combination for use in performing said cardiac-assist function; and
autocapture means for controlling said switch means by selecting said combination of conductors to connect to said circuit means based on said electrical threshold for optimizing said cardiac-assist function and minimizing the energy consumption of said cardiac-assist function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heart stimulation apparatus for intracardial stimulation of heart tissue has an electrode device with an electrode head provided at the distal end thereof, having at least a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface, a stimulation pulse generator and a switch for selectively connecting the conductive surface(s) to the stimulation pulse generator in any combination. In order to reduce the energy consumption, an autocapture unit is provided which automatically tests a number of possible combinations of conductive surfaces for stimulation and selects the combination providing the lowest stimulation threshold for connection to the pulse generator. A heart signal detector can also be provided to which the electrode surfaces are also connectable in any combination, with the autocapture unit selecting an optimal combination for sensing as well.
88 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for intracardial electrical interaction with cardiac tissue, comprising:
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an electrode lead having an electrode head disposed at a distal end thereof, said electrode head having a plurality of separate electrically conductive electrode surfaces thereon electrically insulated from each other and adapted for in vivo electrical interaction with cardiac tissue, and a like plurality of electrical conductors respectively connected to said electrode surfaces, said electrical conductors being electrically insulated from each other and extending through said electrode lead to a proximal end thereof; circuit means for performing an energy-consuming cardiac-assist function which is adjustable according to an electrical threshold associated with said cardiac-assist function; switch means disposed between said proximal end of said electrode lead and said circuit means for connecting a combination of said electrical conductors to said circuit means for activating the respective electrode surfaces connected to said electrical conductors in said combination for use in performing said cardiac-assist function; and autocapture means for controlling said switch means by selecting said combination of conductors to connect to said circuit means based on said electrical threshold for optimizing said cardiac-assist function and minimizing the energy consumption of said cardiac-assist function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification