Implantable heart pacer or the like with internal cell electrode

Claim 2

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising at least two electrode means of dissimilar materials spaced from one another to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage insulation means mounting at least one of said electrode means so that its surface is exposed only to said electrolytecontaining space within the outer periphery thereof and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said one electrode with body tissues said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device a sealed electronic pulse unit electrically insulated from said electrodes, said unit having input terminals connected to said electrode means and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode said electrode means providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal.

Claim 3

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned ajdacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating wiTh an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal.

Claim 4

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned ajdacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating wiTh an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal.

Claim 5

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a pair of spaced opposing plate cathode elements of body tissue non-reactive material having outer peripheral edges a generally ''''C'''' shaped plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned between and spaced from said cathode elements to provide a fluid electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to provide a cell voltage electrical insulation means extending between the outer peripheral edges of said elements defining the outer periphery of said electrolyte-containing space said electrolyte containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode elements forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surfaces are exposed only to said electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said C-shaped plate anode element surrounding a major portion of said pulse unit said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output pulse terminal an output pulse having a voltage greater than that of said cell voltage said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal said output pulse voltage when greater than said cell voltage causing reverse current flow in said cathode and anode elements for a substantial portion of an output pulse for cleaning said electrodes.

Claim 6

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a pair of spaced opposing plate cathode elements of body tissue non-reactive material having outer peripheral edges a generally ''''C'''' shaped plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned between and spaced from said cathode elements to provide a fluid electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to provide a cell voltage electrical insulation means extending between the outer peripheral edges of said elements defining the outer periphery of said electrolyte-containing space said electrolyte containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode elements forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surfaces are exposed only to said electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said C-shaped plate anode element surrounding a major portion of said pulse unit said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output pulse terminal an output pulse having a voltage greater than that of said cell voltage said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal said output pulse voltage when greater than said cell voltage causing reverse current flow in said cathode and anode elements for a substantial portion of an output pulse for cleaning said electrodes.

Claim 7

An implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electronic pulse unit circuit means includes a pulse source and a pulse voltage multiplying circuit comprising a plurality of capacitors connected to provide preceding and succeeding capacitors, each connected through resistor means to said electrodes a plurality of switching transistors having their bases connected to said pulse source, their emitters connected to one terminal of a preceding capacitor and their collectors connected to the other terminal of a succeeding capacitor, said transistor switching means being responsive to an input pulse for simultaneously switching said capacitors from parallel to series cOnnection with each other for the duration of said input pulse said capacitors when connected to each other in parallel connection being connected across said electrode means to charge said capacitors and when connected to each other in series connection being connected to said output pulse terminal to discharge said capacitors to provide said output pulse voltage greater than said cell voltage.

Claim 8

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned adjacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue an electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal.

Claim 9

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned adjacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue an electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal.

Claim 10

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned adjacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse having a voltage greater than that of said cell voltage said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal said output pulse voltage when greater than said cell voltage causing reverse current flow in said cathode and anode elements for a substantial portion of an output pulse.

Claim 11

For use in combination with a single remote unipolar implantable heart electrode, an implantable electronic pulse heart pacer device comprising a plate cathode element of body tissue non-reactive material having an outer peripheral edge a plate anode element of reactive material having an outer peripheral edge, said anode element being positioned adjacent said plate cathode element spaced from said cathode element to provide an electrolyte-containing space therebetween for cooperating with an electrolyte therein to produce a cell voltage said electrolyte-containing space being in communication with the exterior of said device said plate cathode element forming a major external wall portion of said device and insulation means mounting said plate anode element so that its surface is exposed only to said fluid electrolyte-containing space and is free from exposure on an external surface of said device to prevent direct contact of said reactive anode material with body tissue a sealed electronic pulse unit mounted within the outer peripheral edges of said electrodes and electrically insulated therefrom, said electronic pulse unit having input terminals connected to said cathode and anode elements and a single output pulse terminal for connection to said heart electrode, said unit having circuit means providing at said output terminal an output pulse having a voltage greater than that of said cell voltage said cathode and anode elements providing a power source for said unit and providing an indifferent electrode for return current flow from said single remote implantable heart electrode connected to said output pulse terminal said output pulse voltage when greater than said cell voltage causing reverse current flow in said cathode and anode elements for a substantial portion of an output pulse.