Pacemaker with intra-stimulus capture detection
First Claim
1. A pacemaker for delivering a pacing pulse to a heart via a conductive lead, comprising:
- a battery for producing an output voltage;
a voltage multiplier capable of changing the output voltage of the battery to a voltage defining an amplitude for the pacing pulse;
a storage capacitor coupled to said voltage multiplier for storing the pacing pulse;
a coupling capacitor connected to a conductive lead;
an output switch selectively coupling the coupling capacitor to said storage capacitor;
a control circuit coupled to said output switch for controlling the delivery of the pacing pulse to the heart; and
monitoring circuitry coupled between said storage capacitor and said heart to measure an electrical parameter of the pacing pulse delivered to the heart, said monitoring circuitry providing a signal representing said electrical parameter to said control circuit, and said control circuit opening said output switch in response to a determination that the heart has responded to the pacing pulse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pacemaker is disclosed that includes circuitry for monitoring the current and/or voltage delivered to the heart during a pacing pulse. A microprocessor connects to the monitoring circuitry and analyzes the current (and/or voltage) to determine when capture occurs. When capture occurs, the microprocessor terminates the pacing pulse to save energy. Conversely, if capture does not occur within a predetermined maximum time period, or if the pacing pulse amplitude falls below a predetermined threshold value, the processor immediately causes a safety pulse to fire to insure a regular beating of the heart. By monitoring the current and/or voltage delivered, and by permitting the pacing pulse width to be variable, the pacemaker of the present invention can closely track the pacing threshold of the patient with a minimum expenditure of energy.
70 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A pacemaker for delivering a pacing pulse to a heart via a conductive lead, comprising:
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a battery for producing an output voltage; a voltage multiplier capable of changing the output voltage of the battery to a voltage defining an amplitude for the pacing pulse; a storage capacitor coupled to said voltage multiplier for storing the pacing pulse; a coupling capacitor connected to a conductive lead; an output switch selectively coupling the coupling capacitor to said storage capacitor; a control circuit coupled to said output switch for controlling the delivery of the pacing pulse to the heart; and monitoring circuitry coupled between said storage capacitor and said heart to measure an electrical parameter of the pacing pulse delivered to the heart, said monitoring circuitry providing a signal representing said electrical parameter to said control circuit, and said control circuit opening said output switch in response to a determination that the heart has responded to the pacing pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for stimulating a heart with a pacing pulse, comprising the steps of:
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generating a pacing pulse; determining if the heart has responded to the pacing pulse; terminating the pacing pulse if the heart responds to the pacing pulse. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for stimulating a heart with a pacing pulse, comprising the steps of:
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generating a pacing pulse; monitoring voltage of the pacing pulse; monitoring current delivered by the pacing pulse to determine if the heart has responded to the pacing pulse; generating a safety pulse if the monitored voltage falls below a threshold value before the heart responds. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for stimulating a heart with a pacing pulse, comprising the steps of:
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generating a pacing pulse; monitoring duration of the pacing pulse; monitoring the pacing pulse to determine if the heart has responded to the pacing pulse; generating a safety pulse if the duration of the pacing pulse exceeds a maximum period. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification