Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An implantable medical device, comprising: (a) at least one electrode for delivering pulses and sensing a physiologic electrical signal; (b) an amplifier circuit, coupled to the electrode, for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal sensed by the electrode, and (c) a negative peak tracking circuit, coupled to the amplifier circuit, for detecting a change in the polarity of the sensed physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
An implantable medical device, comprising: (a) at least one electrode for delivering pulses and sensing a physiologic electrical signal; (b) an amplifier circuit, coupled to the electrode, for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal sensed by the electrode, and (c) a negative peak tracking circuit, coupled to the amplifier circuit, for detecting a change in the polarity of the sensed physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein the negative peak tracking circuit includes a feedback circuit for differentiating between a stimulation polarization artifact and the physiologic electrical signal, the feedback circuit providing a differential output signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a second order peak tracking circuit, coupled to the negative peak tracking circuit, for detecting an increase in the magnitude of the derivative of the differential output signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of detecting an evoked response to delivery of a cardiac stimulating pulse to a patient's heart by an electrode capable of sensing a physiologic electrical signal and delivering stimulating pulses, the electrode being coupled to a hermetically sealed implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) coupling the electrode to an input of a sense amplifier circuit; (b) defining a capture detect window following delivery of a stimulating pulse; (c) detecting, during the capture detect window, a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal sensed at the electrode, the change in polarity of the physiologic signal corresponding to a post-pace polarization artifact; (d) providing feedback current to the sense amplifier circuit in response to detecting the change in polarity of the physiologic electrical signal to provide a filtered output signal, the feedback current removing the post-pace polarization artifact from the physiologic electrical signal, the filtered output signal corresponding to an evoked response signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of detecting an evoked response to delivery of a cardiac stimulating pulse to a patient's heart by an electrode capable of sensing a physiologic electrical signal and delivering stimulating pulses, the electrode being coupled to a hermetically sealed implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) coupling the electrode to an input of a sense amplifier circuit; (b) defining a capture detect window following delivery of a stimulating pulse; (c) detecting, during the capture detect window, a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal sensed at the electrode, the change in polarity of the physiologic signal corresponding to a post-pace polarization artifact; (d) providing feedback current to the sense amplifier circuit in response to detecting the change in polarity of the physiologic electrical signal to provide a filtered output signal, the feedback current removing the post-pace polarization artifact from the physiologic electrical signal, the filtered output signal corresponding to an evoked response signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A medical device capable of providing intra-cardiac electrical stimuli to a patient's heart, comprising: an electrode for delivering an electrical stimulating pulse, and sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating, in the patient's heart; a pulse generator, coupled to the electrode, for generating the electrical stimulating pulse to be applied to the heart by the electrode; a sense amplifier, coupled to the electrode, for amplifying and sensing the physiologic electrical signal; a negative peak tracking circuit for detecting an evoked response to the electrical stimulating pulse and coupled to the sense amplifier, the circuit detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
A medical device capable of providing intra-cardiac electrical stimuli to a patient's heart, comprising: an electrode for delivering an electrical stimulating pulse, and sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating, in the patient's heart; a pulse generator, coupled to the electrode, for generating the electrical stimulating pulse to be applied to the heart by the electrode; a sense amplifier, coupled to the electrode, for amplifying and sensing the physiologic electrical signal; a negative peak tracking circuit for detecting an evoked response to the electrical stimulating pulse and coupled to the sense amplifier, the circuit detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 5, wherein the negative peak tracking circuit includes a feedback circuit for differentiating between a stimulation polarization artifact and the physiologic electrical signal, the feedback circuit providing a differential output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
A cardiac stimulating system, comprising: (a) at least one electrode for delivery of stimulating pulses to a patient's heart and for sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating in the heart; (b) a sensing circuit input node, coupled to the at least one electrode, for sensing the physiologic electrical signal; (c) a sensing circuit output node for providing a sensing circuit output signal thereto; (d) an amplifier having an amplifier input coupled to the input node for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal and providing the amplified physiologic electrical signal to an amplifier output node; (e) a capture detection circuit, coupled between the amplifier output node and the sensing circuit output node, for tracking maximum or minimum excursions in the amplified physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
A cardiac stimulating system, comprising: (a) at least one electrode for delivery of stimulating pulses to a patient's heart and for sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating in the heart; (b) a sensing circuit input node, coupled to the at least one electrode, for sensing the physiologic electrical signal; (c) a sensing circuit output node for providing a sensing circuit output signal thereto; (d) an amplifier having an amplifier input coupled to the input node for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal and providing the amplified physiologic electrical signal to an amplifier output node; (e) a capture detection circuit, coupled between the amplifier output node and the sensing circuit output node, for tracking maximum or minimum excursions in the amplified physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detecting an evoked response to a cardiac stimulating pulse delivered to a patient's heart by an electrode, the method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring, using the electrode, a sensed signal during a capture detect window following delivery of the stimulating pulse; (b) detecting, by one of negative peak tracking and second order peak tracking, a change in polarity of the sensed signal, and (c) if a change in polarity of the sensed signal is detected in step (b), filtering the sensed signal to provide a filtered output signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detecting an evoked response to a cardiac stimulating pulse delivered to a patient's heart by an electrode, the method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring, using the electrode, a sensed signal during a capture detect window following delivery of the stimulating pulse; (b) detecting, by one of negative peak tracking and second order peak tracking, a change in polarity of the sensed signal, and (c) if a change in polarity of the sensed signal is detected in step (b), filtering the sensed signal to provide a filtered output signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing an implantable medical for delivering the cardiac stimulating pulse, acquiring the sensed signal, and detecting the change in polarity of the sensed signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the change in polarity of the sensed signal corresponds to a stimulation polarization artifact sensed by the electrode following delivery of the stimulating pulse by the electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: (d) applying the filtered output signal to a threshold detector; and (e) generating an evoked response detection signal if the filtered output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold of the threshold detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
An implantable medical devices comprising: (a) at least one means for delivering electrical pulses and sensing a physiologic electrical signal; (b) means for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal sensed by the delivering and sensing means, the amplifying means being coupled to the delivering and sensing means; (c) means for negative peak tracking, coupled to the amplifying means, for detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
An implantable medical devices comprising: (a) at least one means for delivering electrical pulses and sensing a physiologic electrical signal; (b) means for amplifying the physiologic electrical signal sensed by the delivering and sensing means, the amplifying means being coupled to the delivering and sensing means; (c) means for negative peak tracking, coupled to the amplifying means, for detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
A medical device capable of providing intra-cardiac electrical stimuli to a patient's heart, comprising: means for delivering an electrical stimulating pulse and sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating in the patient's heart; means for generating electrical stimulating pulses, coupled to the delivering and sensing means, for generating the electrical stimulating pulse to be applied to the heart by the delivering and sensing means; means for sensing and amplifying the physiologic electrical signal coupled to the delivering and sensing means; means for negative peak tracking, coupled to the amplifying and sensing means, the negative peak tracking means detecting an evoked response to the electrical stimulating pulse by detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A medical device capable of providing intra-cardiac electrical stimuli to a patient's heart, comprising: means for delivering an electrical stimulating pulse and sensing a physiologic electrical signal originating in the patient's heart; means for generating electrical stimulating pulses, coupled to the delivering and sensing means, for generating the electrical stimulating pulse to be applied to the heart by the delivering and sensing means; means for sensing and amplifying the physiologic electrical signal coupled to the delivering and sensing means; means for negative peak tracking, coupled to the amplifying and sensing means, the negative peak tracking means detecting an evoked response to the electrical stimulating pulse by detecting a change in the polarity of the physiologic electrical signal.