US3870050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Demand pacer
Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd
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Filing: 1973-11-07
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-11-07
Abstract
Abstract An artificial cardiac pacer which in the absence of natural cardiac electrical activity provides stimulating electrical pulses to the heart at a fixed rate. The stimulating pulses preferably are obtained from a digital clock integrated circuit including a stable frequency source such as a quartz crystal and a binary frequency divider to yield the desired pulse rate. In response to a natural heart signal, a circuit in the pacer inhibits any stimulating pulse that occurs at that instant of time, and for a predetermined interval of time thereafter to provide an adequate safety margin.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilson Greatbatch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source providing an output train of electrical pulses having a constant frequency and comprising oscillator means providing output pulses at a relatively high frequency and means for converting said high frequency pulses to pulses having a relatively lower frequency suitable for heart stimulation; and c. means for coupling said train of pulses from said source to said electrode means in a manner such that stimulating pulses are fixed in timing relationship to said source, said coupling means including means for preventing application to the heart those pulses in said train which occur at a time during a predetermined interval in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source providing an output train of electrical pulses having a constant frequency and comprising oscillator means providing output pulses at a relatively high frequency and means for converting said high frequency pulses to pulses having a relatively lower frequency suitable for heart stimulation; and c. means for coupling said train of pulses from said source to said electrode means in a manner such that stimulating pulses are fixed in timing relationship to said source, said coupling means including means for preventing application to the heart those pulses in said train which occur at a time during a predetermined interval in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 1, wherein said oscillator means comprises a quartz crystal oscillator and said converting means comprises a binary frequency divider connected to the output of said oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 1, wherein said means for preventing application of pulses to the heart during a predetermined interval in response to a natural heartbeat includes means for connecting said converting means to said electrode means in the absence of a natural heart signal and for temporarily disconnecting said converting means from said electrode means in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises: a. AND gate means having a pair of inputs and an output; b. means for coupling the output of said AND gate means to said electrode means; c. means for connecting said converting means to one input of said AND gate means; and d. means coupled to said electrode means and connected to the other input of said AND gate means for applying a logical one signal to said AND gate input in the absence of a natural heart signal and for applying a logical zero signal to said AND gate input for a predetermined time in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 4, wherein said means coupled to said electrode means and connected to the other input of said AND gate means includes means responsive to both positive-going and negative-going heart signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 4, wherein said means coupled to said electrode means and connected to the other input of said AND gate means includes time delay means for maintaining the logical zero signal for said predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source of electrical pulses having a constant frequency; and c. control means connected to said electrode means and to said source for connecting said source to said electrode means in the absence of a natural heart signal and for temporarily disconnecting said source from said electrode means in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal and thereafter reconnecting said source to said electrode means, said control means maintaining the periodicity of said source such that the pulse interval of stimulating pulses provided by said pacer is fixed to the constant frequency of said source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source of electrical pulses having a constant frequency; and c. control means connected to said electrode means and to said source for connecting said source to said electrode means in the absence of a natural heart signal and for temporarily disconnecting said source from said electrode means in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal and thereafter reconnecting said source to said electrode means, said control means maintaining the periodicity of said source such that the pulse interval of stimulating pulses provided by said pacer is fixed to the constant frequency of said source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source of electrical pulses having a constant frequency; and c. control means connected to said electrode means and to said source for connecting said source to said electrode means in the absence of a natural heart signal and for temporarily disconnecting said source from said electrode means in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal and thereafter reconnecting said source to said electrode means, said control means maintaining the periodicity of said source such that the pulse interval of stimulating pulses provided by said pacer is fixed to the constant frequency of said source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A cardiac pacer comprising: a. electrode means adapted to be operatively connected to a patient''s heart; b. a source of electrical pulses having a constant frequency; and c. control means connected to said electrode means and to said source for connecting said source to said electrode means in the absence of a natural heart signal and for temporarily disconnecting said source from said electrode means in response to the occurrence of a natural heart signal and thereafter reconnecting said source to said electrode means, said control means maintaining the periodicity of said source such that the pulse interval of stimulating pulses provided by said pacer is fixed to the constant frequency of said source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 7 wherein said control means includes timing means for maintaining said source disconnected from said electrode means a predetermined time after the occurrence of said natural heart signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cardiac pacer according to claim 7, wherein said source of electrical pulses comprises oscillator means providing output pulses at a fixed and relatively high frequency and means for converting said high frequency pulses to pulses having a relatively lower rate suitable for heat stimulation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |