Electrostimulator
First Claim
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1. An electrostimulator comprising:
- one heart-working electrode adapted to be implanted in tissue adjacent to a heart;
an output connection for connection to the one working electrode;
a test signal generator having an output connected to the output connection for generating one of a pulse-shaped and periodically changeable test signal and feeding the signal to the output connection for stimulating the heart;
a first measuring device having an input connected to the output connection for measuring at least one of an electrical voltage present at the output connection and a current flowing over the output connection; and
an evaluation device having an input connected at least indirectly to the first measuring device for generating an output signal that reflects the working electrode capacity in dependence on at least one of the current and voltage present at the output connection and for determining whether the heart has been stimulated.
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Abstract
Electrostimulator (2), comprising an interface for connecting a working electrode (2), as well as a pulse generator that is connected on the output side to the interface for transmitting electrical pulses to the working electrode (10), with a first measuring instrument (10) that is connected to the interface for measuring the electrical voltage present at the interface and/or the electrical current flowing over the interface, as well as an arithmetic unit, connected on the input side to the first measuring instrument, for computing an output signal reflecting the capacity of the working electrode in dependence on the current and/or voltage at the interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrostimulator comprising:
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one heart-working electrode adapted to be implanted in tissue adjacent to a heart;
an output connection for connection to the one working electrode;
a test signal generator having an output connected to the output connection for generating one of a pulse-shaped and periodically changeable test signal and feeding the signal to the output connection for stimulating the heart;
a first measuring device having an input connected to the output connection for measuring at least one of an electrical voltage present at the output connection and a current flowing over the output connection; and
an evaluation device having an input connected at least indirectly to the first measuring device for generating an output signal that reflects the working electrode capacity in dependence on at least one of the current and voltage present at the output connection and for determining whether the heart has been stimulated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
measuring and storing first, second and third potential values and the length of the constant-current pulse at the working electrode immediately before and after the start of the constant-current pulse and immediately before switching off the constant-current pulse;
determining a series resistance of the measuring electrode by dividing the potential difference from the first and the second potential values by the constant current value, and determining a phase-limit capacity of the working electrode from the third and second potential values by forming a quotient of the product of pulse length and pulse value of the constant current and the potential difference.
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20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the constant-current pulse consists of a double pulse with mutually inverse current direction for the two partial pulses, the method further including:
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determining the potential differences, the pulse lengths, the series resistances and the phase-limit capacities of the measuring electrode separately for each current direction; and
subsequently determining the average values for the series resistance and the phase-limit capacity.
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17. An electrostimulator comprising:
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one heart-working electrode adapted to be implanted in tissue adjacent to a heart;
an output connection for connection to the one working electrode;
a test signal generator having an output connected to the output connection for generating one of a pulse-shaped and periodically changeable test signal and feeding the signal to the output connection for stimulating the heart;
a first measuring device includes a voltage measuring instrument parallel connected to the test signal generator and having an input connected to the output connection for measuring an electrical voltage present at the output connection;
a second measuring device comprising a current measuring instrument, connected in series with the test signal generator and the output connection, for measuring the current flowing over the output connection when the test signal is flowing through the connection; and
an evaluation device having an input coupled to the first and second measuring devices for generating an output signal that reflects the working electrode capacitance in dependence on at least one of the current and voltage present at the output connection to determine whether the heart has been stimulated. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification