Prolongation of timing intervals in response to ectopic heart beats in atrial and ventricular pacemakers

Claim 2

A pulse generator for selectively delivering stimulating pulses to the heart in an atrial synchronous mode of operation comprising: atrial sensing means for sensing atrial contractions of the heart and providing an atrial sense signal; ventricular sense amplifier means for sensing ventricular contractions of the heart and providing a ventricular sense signal; ventricular pulse providing means for providing ventricular stimulating pulses in response to an atrial sense signal; timing means responsive to a ventricular sense signal for providing a disabling signal for disabling said ventricular sense amplifier means for a first interval following the ventricular sense signal and for providing a further timing signal for controlling the operation of the pulse generator; and means responsive to a ventricular sense signal present at the termination of said first interval for suspending operation of said timing means to prolong the time interval of said further timing signal until said ventricular sense signal substantially dissipates.

Claim 3

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular sense amplifier blanking signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval, following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular blanking interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 4

The pulse generator of claim 2 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 5

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 6

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said suspending means comprises gating means disabled by said ventricular sense signal for operating said timing means for a prolongation interval extending until the ventricular sense signal dissipates.

Claim 7

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said timing means further comprises: clock means for providing clock pulses at a predetermined rate; counter means responsive to applied clock signals for changing its count; gating means responsive to a ventricular sense signal for applying said clock signals to said counter means; and decoding and logic means coupled to said counter means for providing said disabling signal for said first interval following the ventricular sense signal until said counter reaches a first count.

Claim 8

The pulse generator of claim 6 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular sense amplifier blanking signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval, following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular blanking interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 9

The pulse generator of claim 7 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 10

The pulse generator of claim 6 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first signal.

Claim 11

The pulse generator of claim 6 wherein said suspending means comprises gating means disabled by said ventricular sense signal for operating said timing means for a prolongation interval extending until the ventricular sense signal dissipates.

Claim 12

The pulse generator of claim 1 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing ventricular trigger signals at a predetermined lower rate; means responsive to a ventricular trigger signal for providing said disabling signal and said further timing signal; and wherein said ventricular pulse providing means is also responsive to ventricular trigger signals for providing ventricular stimulating pulses.

Claim 13

The pulse generator of claim 11 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular sense amplifier blanking signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval, following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular blanking interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 14

The pulse generator of claim 12 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 15

The pulse generator of claim 11 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 16

The pulse generator of claim 11 wherein said suspending means comprises gating means disabled by said ventricular sense signal for operating said timing means for a prolongation interval extending until the ventricular sense signal dissipates.

Claim 17

The pulse generator of claim 11 wherein said timing means further comprises: clock means for providing clock pulses at a predetermined rate; counter means responsive to applied clock signals for changing its count; gating means responsive to a ventricular sense signal for applying said clock signals to said counter means; and decoding and logic means coupled to said counter means for providing said disabling signal for said first interval following the ventricular sense signal until said counter reaches a first count.

Claim 18

The pulse generator of claim 16 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular sense amplifier blanking signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval, following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular blanking interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 19

The pulse generator of claim 17 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 20

The pulse generator of claim 16 wherein said timing means further comprises: means for providing a ventricular refractory signal for a certain interval longer than said first interval following the ventricular sense signal, whereby said ventricular refractory interval is prolonged by a ventricular sense signal at the end of said first interval.

Claim 21

The pulse generator of claim 16 wherein said suspending means comprises gating means disabled by said ventricular sense signal for operating said timing means for a prolongation interval extending until the ventricular sense signal dissipates.

Claim 22

An atrial and ventricular pulse generator comprising: atrial sensing means for sensing atrial contractions of the heart and providing an atrial sense signal; ventricular sensing means for sensing ventricular contractions of the heart and providing a ventricular sense signal; ventricular pulse providing means for providing ventricular stimulating pulses in response to a ventricular trigger signal; control means responsive to atrial and ventricular sense signals and selectively providing ventricular trigger signals for triggering said ventricular pulse providing means; means for providing a clock signal; counting means for counting said clock signals; gating means for applying said clock signals to said counting means in response to a ventricular sense signal; first decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a disable interval signal upon a first count of said counting means; second decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a ventricular timing signal upon a further count of said counting means; and further gating means responsive to a ventricular sense signal at the termination of the ventricular disable interval signal for suspending the count of said counting means thereby prolonging the interval of the signal provided by said second decoding means until said ventricular sense signal substantially dissipates.

Claim 23

An atrial and ventricular pulse generator comprising: atrial sensing means for sensing atrial contractions of the heart and providing an atrial sense signal; ventricular sensing means for sensing ventricular contractions of the heart and providing a ventricular sense signal; ventricular pulse providing means for providing ventricular stimulating pulses in response to a ventricular trigger signal; control means responsive to atrial and ventricular sense signals and selectively providing ventricular trigger signals for triggering said ventricular pulse providing means; means for providing a clock signal; counting means for counting said clock signals; gating means for applying said clock signals to said counting means in response to a ventricular sense signal; first decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a disable interval signal upon a first count of said counting means; second decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a ventricular timing signal upon a further count of said counting means; and further gating means responsive to a ventricular sense signal at the termination of the ventricular disable interval signal for suspending the count of said counting means thereby prolonging the interval of the signal provided by said second decoding means until said ventricular sense signal substantially dissipates.

Claim 24

The pulse generator of claim 21 wherein said gating means further responsive to a ventricular trigger signal for apply said clock signal to said counting means.

Claim 25

The pulse generator of claim 22 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: ventricular blank interval decoding means for providing a ventricular blanking signal at a further count of said counting means.

Claim 26

The pulse generator of claim 21 wherein said second decoding means further comprising: ventricular blank interval decoding means for providing a ventricular blanking signal at a further count of said counting means.

Claim 27

The pulse generator of claim 21 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: ventricular refractory interval decoding means for providing a ventricular refractory signal at a further count of said counting means.

Claim 28

The pulse generator of claim 21 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: atrial blank interval decoding and logic means responsive to an atrial sense signal and a further count of said counter means for commencing and terminating, respectively, an atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 29

The pulse generator of claim 26 further comprising: atrial pulse providing means for providing atrial stimulating pulses in response to atrial trigger signals and wherein: said control means selectively provides said atrial trigger signals; and said atrial blank interval decoding and logic means is also responsive to said atrial trigger signals for commencing said atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 30

The pulse generator of claim 21 further comprising: means for providing an upper rate data signal; and wherein said second decoding means further comprises: upper rate interval decoding means responsive to a further count of said counting means and said upper rate data signal for providing an upper rate signal for controlling the maximum rate of said ventricular pulse providing means.

Claim 31

The pulse generator of claim 28 further comprising: reset means responsive to said upper rate signal for resetting the count of said counter means and disabling said gating means.

Claim 32

The pulse generator of claim 29 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: ventricular refractory interval decoding means for providing a ventricular refractory signal at a further count of said counting means.

Claim 33

The pulse generator of claim 30 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: atrial blank interval decoding and logic means responsive to an atrial sense signal and a further count of said counter means for commencing and terminating, respectively, an atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 34

The pulse generator of claim 31 further comprising: atrial pulse providing means for providing atrial stimulating pulses in response to atrial trigger signals and wherein: said control means selectively provides said atrial trigger signals; and said atrial blank interval decoding and logic means is also responsive to said atrial trigger signals for commencing said atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 35

The pulse generator of claim 32 further comprising: means for providing an upper rate data signal; and wherein said second decoding means further comprises: upper rate interval decoding means responsive to a further count of said counting means and said upper rate data signal for providing an upper rate signal for controlling the maximum rate of said ventricular pulse providing means.

Claim 36

The pulse generator of claim 21 wherein said further gating means responds to the count of said counting means as long as the ventricular sense signal persists.

Claim 37

An atrial and ventricular pulse generator comprising: atrial sensing means for sensing atrial contractions of the heart and providing an atrial sense signal; ventricular sensing means for sensing ventricular contractions of the heart and providing a ventricular sense signal; atrial pulse providing means for providing atrial stimulating pulses in response to atrial trigger signal; ventricular pulse providing means for providing ventricular stimulating pulses in response to a ventricular trigger signal; and digital control and memory means responsive to atrial and ventricular sense signals and selectively providing atrial and ventricular trigger signals for triggering said atrial and ventricular pulse providing means under the control of operating mode and rate control signals further comprising: first means for commencing a ventricular disable interval signal upon the production of a ventricular sense signal; second means for providing further signals representing a ventricular blanking interval, an atrial blanking interval and a ventricular refractory interval upon production of a ventricular sense signal; and third means responsive to a ventricular sense signal at the termination of the ventricular disable interval signal for suspending operation of said second means until dissipation of said ventricular sense signal to thereby prolong the ventricular blanking interval, atrial banking interval and ventricular refractory interval.

Claim 38

An atrial and ventricular pulse generator comprising: atrial sensing means for sensing atrial contractions of the heart and providing an atrial sense signal; ventricular sensing means for sensing ventricular contractions of the heart and providing a ventricular sense signal; atrial pulse providing means for providing atrial stimulating pulses in response to atrial trigger signal; ventricular pulse providing means for providing ventricular stimulating pulses in response to a ventricular trigger signal; and digital control and memory means responsive to atrial and ventricular sense signals and selectively providing atrial and ventricular trigger signals for triggering said atrial and ventricular pulse providing means under the control of operating mode and rate control signals further comprising: first means for commencing a ventricular disable interval signal upon the production of a ventricular sense signal; second means for providing further signals representing a ventricular blanking interval, an atrial blanking interval and a ventricular refractory interval upon production of a ventricular sense signal; and third means responsive to a ventricular sense signal at the termination of the ventricular disable interval signal for suspending operation of said second means until dissipation of said ventricular sense signal to thereby prolong the ventricular blanking interval, atrial banking interval and ventricular refractory interval.

Claim 39

The pulse generator of claim 35 further comprising: means for providing a clock signal; counting means for counting said clock signals; gating means for applying said clock signals to said counting means in response to a ventricular sense or trigger signal; and wherein: said first means comprises first decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a disable interval signal upon a first count of said counting means; said second means further comprises second decoding means coupled to said counting means for providing a ventricular blanking signal, an atrial blanking signal and a ventricular refractory signal upon further counts of said counting means; and said third means further comprises gating means responsive to a ventricular sense signal at the termination of the ventricular disable interval signal for suspending the count of said counting means as long as the ventricular sense signal persists thereby prolonging the intervals of the signals provided by said second decoding means.

Claim 40

The pulse generator of claim 36 wherein said second decoding means further comprises: atrial blank interval decoding and logic means responsive to an atrial sense signal and a further count of said counter means for commencing and terminating, respectively, an atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 41

The pulse generator of claim 37 further comprising: said atrial blank interval decoding and logic means is also responsive to said atrial trigger signals for commencing said atrial blank interval signal.

Claim 42

The pulse generator of claim 36 further comprising: means for providing an upper rate data signal; and wherein said second decoding means further comprises: upper rate interval decoding means responsive to a further count of said counting means and said upper rate data signal for providing an upper rate signal for controlling the maximum rate of said ventricular pulse providing means.

Claim 43

The pulse generator of claim 39 further comprising: reset means responsive to said upper rate signal for resetting the count of said counter means and disabling said gating means.