Heart Stimulator

• US 5,571,143 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter AB (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter AB (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Hoegnelid, Kurt, Strandberg, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/467,267
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607/18, 607/122, 607/123
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A heart stimulator having a pulse generator and an electrode system, which contain at least one bipolar electrode with one pole arranged in the atrium and another pole in the ventricle, or at least two unipolar electrodes respectively arranged in the atrium and ventricle, for detecting atrial and ventricular activity includes an atrial measurement unit which is connected for measuring a signal between the two poles of the bipolar electrode, or between the two unipolar electrodes, and a ventricular measurement unit arranged to measure the signals between the ventricular pole (or electrode) and the housing of the stimulator.

Claims

1. A heart stimulator comprising:

a housing;

a pulse generator contained in said housing;

electrode means for detecting atrial and ventricular activity including a pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium of a heart and a pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle of said heart;

means for measuring atrial activity connected for measuring a signal between said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium and at least said pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle; and

means for measuring ventricular activity connected for measuring a signal between said pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle and said housing.

2. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises at least one bipolar electrode having one pole thereon comprising said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium and another pole thereon comprising said pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle.

3. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises two unipolar electrodes respectively adapted to be arranged in the atrium and ventricle and respectively carrying said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium and said pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle.

4. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 further comprising logic means connected to said means for measuring atrial activity and said means for measuring ventricular activity for approving signals from said means for measuring atrial activity as genuine atrial events only if no signal is supplied from said means for measuring ventricular activity within a specified period of time around a time at which said means for measuring atrial activity generates an atrial signal.

5. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises a first lead running from said pulse generator into said atrium and carrying said pole arranged in the atrium and a second lead running from said pulse generator to the ventricle and carrying said pole arranged in the ventricle, said second lead having a further pole thereon arranged in the atrium and a resistor connected between said further pole and said second lead, said means for measuring atrial activity being connected between said first and second leads and wherein said means for measuring atrial activity comprises means connected for measuring a signal between said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium and said pole adapted to be arranged in the ventricle and said further pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium carried on said second lead.

6. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium comprises a pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium as a floating pole.

7. A heart stimulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises means adapted for placing said pole adapted to be arranged in the atrium in contact with atrial tissue for electrically stimulating said atrial tissue.