Implantable position and motion sensor
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device for regulating a bodily function, comprising:
- means responsive to gravity and acceleration for detecting both position and motion of the patient in whom the medical device is implanted, andmeans responsive to said means for detecting controlling the regulation of said bodily function by the medical device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device for controlling a physiological function includes functional apparatus for controllably duplicating the selected normal physiological function of the patient'"'"'s body. A sensor detects the physical orientation of the implanted medical device within the body, which is indicative of whether the patient is standing, sitting or reclining. The sensor is also responsive to forces of acceleration on the medical device within the body, indicative of the state of rest or activity movement of the patient. Apparatus in the device is responsive to the physical position and the physical state of the patient, as detected by the sensor, to control the duplication of the normal physiological function according to that position and state. In one embodiment, the medical device is a cardiac pacemaker and the physiological function is heart rate. The sensor of that embodiment includes a chamber, a mercury ball confined within the chamber, and a multiplicity of electrodes within the chamber for making or not making electrical contact with the ball to signify the physical orientation of the medical device. The electrodes are disposed about a surface of the chamber against which the ball normally resides, such that movement of the patient causes movement of the ball and interrupted makings of contact between electrodes.
255 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device for regulating a bodily function, comprising:
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means responsive to gravity and acceleration for detecting both position and motion of the patient in whom the medical device is implanted, and means responsive to said means for detecting controlling the regulation of said bodily function by the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An implantable medical device for controlling a physiological function of the body of the patient in whom the device is implanted, the device comprising
functional means for controllably duplicating a selected normal physiological function of the body, sensor means for detecting the physical position of the implanted medical device within the patient'"'"'s body, and thereby, whether the patient is standing or reclining, said sensor means including acceleration means for detecting acceleration of the body, and thereby, whether the patient is in a physical state of rest or in a physical state of movement, and control means coupled to said functional means and responsive to the physical position and physical state of the patient as detected by said sensor means, for controlling the duplication of said normal physiological function by said functional means according to that position and state.
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9. An implantable detector for use in medical applications, comprising:
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gravity sensing means for detecting both the physical attitude and the acceleration of the detector, means responsive to the detected attitude and acceleration for producing a signal indicative thereof, and means responsive to the signal for controlling a physiological function.
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10. In combination with a medical device for regulating a selected bodily function, an implantable controller for said medical device, the controller comprising means adapted to be implanted in a patient'"'"'s body for sensing both the body'"'"'s attitude relative to a predetermined axis and the body'"'"'s movement along and about said axis, and means responsive to the sensed attitude and movement for controlling the regulation of the selected bodily function by the medical device.
- 11. In combination with a cardiac pacemaker for regulating heart rate, an implantable controller for said pacemaker, the controller comprising means adapted to be implanted in a patient'"'"'s body for sensing both the body'"'"'s orientation relative to the direction of gravitational pull and the body'"'"'s movement in that and other directions, and means responsive to the sensed orientation and movement for controlling the regulation of heart rate by the pacemaker whereby the heart rate is adapted to the physical position and state of rest or exercise of the patient.
Specification