Implantable cardiovascular treatment device container for sensing a physiological parameter
First Claim
1. A cardiac pacemaker for variably controlling a stimulation rate of a heart according to a measure of a physiological parameter, comprising:
- a sensor unit responsive to said physiological parameter and capable of producing a first signal indicative of the measure of said physiological parameter;
a stimulator unit responsive to a rate control signal and capable of stimulating said heart;
a control unit responsive to said first signal and capable of generating said rate control signal according to a predetermined algorithm relating the stimulation rate to the measure of said physiological parameter; and
a container housing at least said sensor unit and said control unit, said container having an external wall including a window positioned therein, said sensor unit being positioned about said window for sensing said physiological parameter in cooperation with said window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable container for housing a cardiovascular treatment device is disclosed with a window positioned in an external wall thereof for sensing a physiological parameter for the treatment device. The window is formed of an insulating material such as glass, a semiconductor material, or a membrane for sensing any one of a plurality of various physiological parameters. In one embodiment, the window material is glass on which a pair of electroptic devices are positioned on the interior surface thereof for emitting and receiving optical signals for sensing the physiological parameter. In another embodiment, the window comprises glass with a plurality of electrodes externally positioned thereon for measuring, for example, the electrical properties of the physiological parameter. In yet another embodiment of the window, the window material comprises a semiconductor material having a plurality of layers formed therein to form an ion selective field effect transistor for measuring concentrations of various fluids coming in contact therewith. In another embodiment, the semiconductor material forms a thermistor for sensing thermal properties of the physiological parameter. In yet another embodiment, the window comprises a membrane through which mechanical vibrations or pressures of surrounding tissue or fluids are sensed.
203 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cardiac pacemaker for variably controlling a stimulation rate of a heart according to a measure of a physiological parameter, comprising:
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a sensor unit responsive to said physiological parameter and capable of producing a first signal indicative of the measure of said physiological parameter; a stimulator unit responsive to a rate control signal and capable of stimulating said heart; a control unit responsive to said first signal and capable of generating said rate control signal according to a predetermined algorithm relating the stimulation rate to the measure of said physiological parameter; and a container housing at least said sensor unit and said control unit, said container having an external wall including a window positioned therein, said sensor unit being positioned about said window for sensing said physiological parameter in cooperation with said window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cardiac pacemaker for variably controlling the stimulation rate of a heart according to a level of a physiological parameter, comprising:
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sensor means for sensing a physiological parameter, said parameter being related by an algorithm to the heart rate in a normally functioning heart, said sensor means including output means for producing an output signal indicative of the level of said sensed physiological parameter; control means responsive to said output signal for implementing said algorithm; stimulator means connected to said control means and responsive thereto for variably controlling the stimulation rate of said heart; container means for housing at least said sensor means and said control means in a sealed environment, said container means having an external wall including window means positioned therein for sensing said physiological parameter in cooperation with said sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An implantable cardiovascular treatment device container for sensing a physiological parameter, comprising
an external enclosure having an external wall and capable of housing a cardiovascular treatment device circuit, and said external wall including a window positioned therein, said window being capable of sensing said physiological parameter.
Specification