Patent US5350407A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5350407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable stimulator having quiescent and active modes of operation
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-30
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Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2012-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for selectively controlling an oscillator-driven implantable stimulator to operate either in a quiescent state, in response to a command from an external communicating device, or in an active state in response either to removal of an activation pin or to an activating command from an external communicating device. Upon completion of manufacture of the stimulator, and before being placed on a shelf to await implantation in a patient, the activation pin is inserted into the stimulator and the external communicating device is triggered to send a deactivating command to the stimulator. The stimulator responds by generally disabling current sources to stimulator circuits, while maintaining current sources to a wake up circuit of the stimulator that is associated with communication operations. The stimulator is activated by subsequently transmitting an activating command from an external communicating device to the implantable stimulator, or by removing the activation pin.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence C. McClure
- 👤 Kent E. Samuelson
- 👤 Daniel L. Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211; A61N1/37252; A61N1/375; A61N1/37512; A61N2001/37294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or in an active state of operation, in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator having an oscillator providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation and telemetry circuitry for communicating with the external communicating device, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry in response to said deactivating command; generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry while continuing to enable said quiescent state of operations in response to said deactivating command; subsequently transmitting an activating command from an external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command; and enabling power to said power-disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command so as to enable said active state of operation of said stimulator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or in an active state of operation, in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator having an oscillator providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation and telemetry circuitry for communicating with the external communicating device, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry in response to said deactivating command; generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry while continuing to enable said quiescent state of operations in response to said deactivating command; subsequently transmitting an activating command from an external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command; and enabling power to said power-disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command so as to enable said active state of operation of said stimulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, and a low-rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation in the event that the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command, said method further comprising the steps of: disabling said low rate timer in response to said deactivating command; and enabling said low rate timer in response to said activation command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said error detection circuitry includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection circuitry including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable stimulator having an activation pin and having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of said activation pin, said stimulator having an oscillator providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation, an aperture configured to accept one or another of a stimulation lead and said activation pin, and a circuit means to detect removal of an inserted activation pin, and said stimulator having telemetry circuitry means for communicating with the external communicating device, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry in response to said deactivating command; generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry while continuing to enable said quiescent state of operation, in response to said deactivating command; inserting said activation pin into said stimulator aperture; subsequently removing said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin; and enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable stimulator having an activation pin and having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of said activation pin, said stimulator having an oscillator providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation, an aperture configured to accept one or another of a stimulation lead and said activation pin, and a circuit means to detect removal of an inserted activation pin, and said stimulator having telemetry circuitry means for communicating with the external communicating device, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry in response to said deactivating command; generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry circuitry while continuing to enable said quiescent state of operation, in response to said deactivating command; inserting said activation pin into said stimulator aperture; subsequently removing said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin; and enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, and a low-rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation in the event that the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following the removal of said activation pin, said method further comprising the steps of: disabling said low rate timer in response to said deactivating command; and enabling said low rate timer in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said error detection circuitry includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection circuitry including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable programmable stimulator having stimulator circuits therein to operate either in a quiescent state or in an active state in response to external commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator including a communication circuit means for communicating with the external communicating device, at least one storage register, a power supply means for providing current sources to said stimulator circuits, an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits, and a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events, such wakeup events being individually enabled and disabled, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; forming a signal corresponding to said transmitted deactivating command and storing said signal in said at least one storage register; controlling said power supply means to generally disable said current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable the wakeup events associated with said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; subsequently interrogating said storage register to determine whether said stimulator is in a deactivated state; programming said deactivated stimulator; transmitting an activating command from an external communicating device to said deactivated stimulator; controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to said activating command; and controlling said power supply means to provide said current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable programmable stimulator having stimulator circuits therein to operate either in a quiescent state or in an active state in response to external commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator including a communication circuit means for communicating with the external communicating device, at least one storage register, a power supply means for providing current sources to said stimulator circuits, an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits, and a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events, such wakeup events being individually enabled and disabled, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; forming a signal corresponding to said transmitted deactivating command and storing said signal in said at least one storage register; controlling said power supply means to generally disable said current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable the wakeup events associated with said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; subsequently interrogating said storage register to determine whether said stimulator is in a deactivated state; programming said deactivated stimulator; transmitting an activating command from an external communicating device to said deactivated stimulator; controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to said activating command; and controlling said power supply means to provide said current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to said activating command.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, and a low-rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation in the event that the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command, said method further comprising the steps of: disabling said low rate timer in response to said deactivating command; and enabling said low rate timer in response to said activation command.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein said error detection circuitry includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection circuitry including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
299 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable programmable stimulator having an activation pin and having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state in response to removal of said activation pin, said stimulator including an aperture configured to accept one or another of a stimulation lead and said activation pin, a pin removal circuit means to detect removal of an inserted activation pin, a communication circuit means for communicating with the external communicating device, at least one storage register, a power supply means for providing current sources to said stimulator circuits, an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits, and a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events, such wakeup events being individually enabled and disabled, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; forming a signal corresponding to said transmitted deactivating command and storing said signal in said at least one storage register; controlling said power supply means to generally disable said current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable the wakeup events associated with said communication circuits means in response to said deactivating commands; inserting said activation pin into said stimulator aperture; subsequently removing said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to the removal of said activation pin; and controlling said power supply means to provide current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
299 words
A method of selectively controlling an implantable programmable stimulator having an activation pin and having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state in response to removal of said activation pin, said stimulator including an aperture configured to accept one or another of a stimulation lead and said activation pin, a pin removal circuit means to detect removal of an inserted activation pin, a communication circuit means for communicating with the external communicating device, at least one storage register, a power supply means for providing current sources to said stimulator circuits, an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits, and a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events, such wakeup events being individually enabled and disabled, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a deactivating command from said external communicating device to said implantable stimulator; forming a signal corresponding to said transmitted deactivating command and storing said signal in said at least one storage register; controlling said power supply means to generally disable said current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said communication circuit means in response to said deactivating command; controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable the wakeup events associated with said communication circuits means in response to said deactivating commands; inserting said activation pin into said stimulator aperture; subsequently removing said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to the removal of said activation pin; and controlling said power supply means to provide current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
145 words
A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, and a low rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation in the event that the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following the removal of said activation pin, said method further comprising the steps of: disabling said low rate timer in response to said deactivating command; and enabling said low rate timer in response to the removal of said activation pin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said error detection circuitry includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said stimulator includes sensing circuitry for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart, pacing circuitry for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart, error detection circuitry for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection circuitry including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said method comprising the steps of: responsive to said activating command transmitting step, detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and activating said error mode of stimulator operation in response to the detection of such error condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
174 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing Dower to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means to enable said quiescent state of operations; means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for enabling said active state of operations of said stimulator; and means responsive to said activating command for providing enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
174 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing Dower to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means to enable said quiescent state of operations; means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for enabling said active state of operations of said stimulator; and means responsive to said activating command for providing enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 17, further comprising; sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart; a low rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation when the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command; means responsive to said deactivating command for disabling said low rate timer; and means responsive to said activating command for enabling said low rate timer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 18, wherein said error detection means includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said stimulator further comprising: means responsive to said activating command for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection means including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists; means responsive to said activating command for detecting whether said error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
236 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits operable either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; circuit means for detecting removal of said inserted activation pin; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for providing enabling signals to all of said disabled stimulator circuits; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for enabling power to all of said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
236 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits operable either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; circuit means for detecting removal of said inserted activation pin; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for generally providing disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for providing enabling signals to all of said disabled stimulator circuits; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for enabling power to all of said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
134 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 21, further comprising; sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart; a low rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation when the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command; means responsive to said deactivating command for disabling said low rate timer; and means responsive to said detection of the removal of said activation pin for enabling said low rate timer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
74 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 22, wherein said error detection means includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said stimulator further comprising: means responsive to the removal of said activation pin for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
116 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 21, further comprising: sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection means including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists; means responsive to the removal of said activation pin for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
265 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: telemetry means for communication with the external communicating device; at least one storage register; a power supply for supplying and regulating current sources to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events; means for storing a representation of a deactivating command received by said telemetry means in a deactivating command storage register of said at least one storage register; means responsive to said deactivating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said power supply to generally disable current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable those wakeup events associated with said telemetry means; means for interrogating said deactivating command storage register to determine whether said stimulator is in a deactivated state; means for programming said deactivated stimulator; means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to said activating command; and means responsive to said activating command for controlling said power supply to enable current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
265 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: telemetry means for communication with the external communicating device; at least one storage register; a power supply for supplying and regulating current sources to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events; means for storing a representation of a deactivating command received by said telemetry means in a deactivating command storage register of said at least one storage register; means responsive to said deactivating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said power supply to generally disable current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable those wakeup events associated with said telemetry means; means for interrogating said deactivating command storage register to determine whether said stimulator is in a deactivated state; means for programming said deactivated stimulator; means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events in response to said activating command; and means responsive to said activating command for controlling said power supply to enable current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
128 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 25, further comprising: sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart; a low rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation when the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command; means responsive to said deactivating command for disabling said low rate timer; and means responsive to said activating command for enabling said low rate timer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 26, wherein said error detection means includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said stimulator further comprising: means responsive to said activating command for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
110 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 25, further comprising: sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection means including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists; means responsive to said activating command for detecting whether said error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
296 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, comprising: telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; circuit means for detecting removal of said inserted activation pin; at least one storage register; a power supply for supplying and regulating current sources to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events; means for storing a representation of a deactivating command received by said telemetry means in a deactivating command storage register of said at least one storage register; means responsive to said deactivating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said power supply to generally disable current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable wakeup events associated with said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for controlling said power supply to enable current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
296 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, comprising: telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; circuit means for detecting removal of said inserted activation pin; at least one storage register; a power supply for supplying and regulating current sources to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; a wakeup circuit means for notifying the stimulator of internal and external wakeup events; means for storing a representation of a deactivating command received by said telemetry means in a deactivating command storage register of said at least one storage register; means responsive to said deactivating command received by said telemetry means for controlling said power supply to generally disable current sources to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means; means responsive to said deactivating command for controlling said wakeup circuit means to generally disable wakeup events while continuing to enable wakeup events associated with said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for controlling said wakeup circuit means to enable wakeup events; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activation pin for controlling said power supply to enable current sources to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
134 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 29, further comprising; sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart; a low rate timer for activating said error mode of stimulator operation when the stimulator fails to conclude a cardiac cycle by the occurrence of the first of two events, pacing the heart and sensing of a natural cardiac depolarization, within a predetermined time interval following said activating command; means responsive to said deactivating command for disabling said low rate timer; and means responsive to said detection of the removal of said activation pin for enabling said low rate timer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
74 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 30, wherein said error detection means includes at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists, said stimulator further comprising: means responsive to the removal of said activation pin for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
116 words
A stimulator in accordance with claim 29, further comprising: sensing means for sensing natural cardiac depolarizations of a patient's heart; pacing means for providing pacing pulses to the patient's heart; error detection means for establishing an error mode of operation of said stimulator in which pacing pulses are generated and delivered to the heart, said error detection means including at least one error detection circuit for detecting whether at least one predetermined error condition exists; means responsive to the removal of said activation pin for detecting whether said at least one error condition is extant in the stimulator; and means responsive to the detection of such error condition for activating said error mode of stimulator operation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
162 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; and means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for enabling operations of said stimulator and for enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
162 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation or an active state of operation in response to commands from an external communicating device, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; and means responsive to an activating command received by said telemetry means for enabling operations of said stimulator and for enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
217 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activating pin for providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits and for enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
217 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to removal of an inserted activation pin, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said inserted activation pin and for accepting a stimulation lead upon removal of said inserted activation pin; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; means for detecting removal of said activation pin from said stimulator aperture; and means responsive to the detection of the removal of said activating pin for providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits and for enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
203 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to insertion of a stimulation lead, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said stimulation lead; circuit means for detecting insertion of said stimulation lead into said aperture; and means responsive to the detection of the insertion of said stimulation lead for providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits and for providing enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
203 words
An implantable stimulator having stimulator circuits which operate either in a quiescent state of operation in response to a command from an external communicating device or in an active state of operation in response to insertion of a stimulation lead, said stimulator comprising: a power source for providing power to said stimulator circuits; an oscillator for providing timing signals to said stimulator circuits for use in switching from one of said states of operation to another of said states of operation; telemetry means for communicating with the external communicating device; means responsive to a deactivating command received by said telemetry means for generally disabling power to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means and for generally disabling signals to substantially all of said stimulator circuits except said oscillator and said telemetry means while continuing to enable stimulator operations associated with said telemetry means; an aperture in said stimulator for receiving said stimulation lead; circuit means for detecting insertion of said stimulation lead into said aperture; and means responsive to the detection of the insertion of said stimulation lead for providing enabling signals to said disabled stimulator circuits and for providing enabling power to said disabled stimulator circuits.
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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) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |