US5464429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for producing heart defibrillation sequences from stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks
Assignee: Pacesetter AB
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Filing: 1993-09-01
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Granted: 1995-11-07
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Expires: 2013-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for producing heart defibrillation sequences formed of stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks contains a unit for delivering pulses through an intracardiac or epicardiac electrode, normally for cardiac pacing, and defibrillator circuitry for delivering defibrillation shocks through defibrillation electrodes. The unit for delivering pacing pulses has an output stage which is capable of generating a stimulation pulse, delivered to the heart via the pacing electrode, having a higher energy content than a pacing pulse, but considerably less energy than a conventional defibrillation shock. A control unit is connected to the unit for delivering stimulation pulses and to the defibrillator circuitry for forming a defibrillation sequence consisting of stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks. The control unit determines the timing for delivering the stimulation pulses and the defibrillation shocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Sven-Erik Hedberg
- 👤 Martin Obel
- 👤 Kurt Hoegnelid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3956; A61N1/3962; A61N1/39622
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for defibrillation of a heart comprising: a pacing electrode and a plurality of defibrillation electrodes; means for delivering pacing pulses through said pacing electrode to a heart for pacing said heart; means for delivering defibrillation shocks through said plurality of defibrillation electrodes to said heart; output means, connected to said pacing electrode, for delivering stimulation pulses to said heart having an energy content slightly higher than said pacing pulses and significantly lower than said defibrillator shocks; and control means, connected to said means for delivering defibrillation shocks and to said output means, for producing a defibrillation sequence consisting of stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks, respectively delivered to said heart via said pacing electrode and said defibrillation electrodes, at selected time intervals within said sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for defibrillation of a heart comprising: a pacing electrode and a plurality of defibrillation electrodes; means for delivering pacing pulses through said pacing electrode to a heart for pacing said heart; means for delivering defibrillation shocks through said plurality of defibrillation electrodes to said heart; output means, connected to said pacing electrode, for delivering stimulation pulses to said heart having an energy content slightly higher than said pacing pulses and significantly lower than said defibrillator shocks; and control means, connected to said means for delivering defibrillation shocks and to said output means, for producing a defibrillation sequence consisting of stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks, respectively delivered to said heart via said pacing electrode and said defibrillation electrodes, at selected time intervals within said sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes memory means for storing data for a plurality of respective time intervals available for delivering stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks and for storing a plurality of available amplitudes of said stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks and for storing a plurality of different available combinations of numbers and ordering of stimulation pulses and defibrillation shocks by selecting from said memory means at least one of said available time intervals, available amplitudes and available combinations to produce said difibrillation sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising electrode switching means for selectively connecting one of said plurality of defibrillation electrodes as a return electrode for said stimulation pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising an apparatus case electrically connected to said output means adapted for implantation in a patient, and wherein said electrode switching means comprises means for selecting one of said plurality of said defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case as said return electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said memory means comprises means for storing a selection of said defibrillation electrodes for connection as said return electrode, and wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means dependent on the stored data for connecting one of said defibrillation electrodes as said return electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means for connecting a different one of said defibrillation electrodes as said return electrode between each stimulation pulse in said defibrillation sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means for connecting a different one of said defibrillation electrodes as said return electrode between groups of stimulation pulses in said defibrillation sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for delivering defibrillation shocks includes pulse generating circuitry having energy-storing capacitors, and wherein said output means comprises pulse generating circuitry identical to said pulse generator circuitry in said means for delivering defibrillation shocks but with energy-storing capacitors having a capacitance less than the energy-storing capacitors in said means for delivering defibrillation shocks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for controlling delivery of said stimulation pulses at an interval having a duration which is a fraction of the refractory period of a heart cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for controlling delivery of said stimulation pulses and said defibrillation shocks for producing a series of said stimulation pulses before each defibrillation shock.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pacing electrode comprises an endocardiac electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pacing electrode comprises an epicardiac electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said defibrillation electrodes respectively comprise patch electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said defibrillation electrodes comprise a combination of patch electrodes and intracardiac electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output means comprises means for generating stimulation pulses having an energy content of approximately 1 millijoule.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising electrode switching means for selectively connecting one of said plurality of defibrillation electrodes as a return electrode for said stimulation pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further comprising an apparatus case electrically connected to said output means and adapted for implantation in a patient, and wherein said electrode switching means comprises means for selecting one of said plurality of defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case as said return electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said memory means comprises means for storing a selection of said defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case for connection as said return electrode, and wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means dependent on the stored data for connecting one of said defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case as said return electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means for connecting a different one of said defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case as said return electrode between each stimulation pulse in said defibrillation sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said microprocessor means comprises means for controlling said electrode switching means for connecting a different one of said defibrillation electrodes or said apparatus case as said return electrode between groups of stimulation pulses in said defibrillation sequence.
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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) | 1998-11-06 | 1999-05-08 | 1999-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-06 | 2003-05-08 | 2003-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-06 | 2007-05-08 | 2007-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |