Back to results
US 3,937,226 AGranted
Arrhythmia prevention apparatus
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorHerman D. Funke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for preventing arrhythmias such as fibrillation in which a plurality of electrodes are placed at selected points on a heart to sense depolarizations. An astable multivibrator receives the depolarization signals from the electrodes and provides an output signal to a device which in turn provides cardiac stimulation signals to all of the electrodes on the heart for the purpose of preventing the arrhythmia. The multivibrator is preferably synchronized to the QRS complex of the heart with its refractory period. In a second embodiment of the device, separate sensing and stimulation electrodes are used.
Claims15
Cardiac electrical stimulation apparatus comprising:
- first means for sensing depolarization at any one of a plurality of areas on a heart;
- second means for providing cardiac stimulation signals to a plurality of areas on the heart in rapid response to any sensed depolarization by the first means;
- and means connecting the first means to the second means.
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electrode means adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- means for responding rapidly to a signal from any one of the electrode means to provide cardiac stimulation signals to all the electrode means;
- and means connecting the electrode means to the means for responding.
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensing electrode means adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- a plurality of stimulation electrode means adapted to be connected in spaced relation on the heart;
- means for responding rapidly to a signal from any one of the sensing electrode means to provide stimulation signals on all of the stimulation electrodes;
- and means connecting the means for responding to the sensing electrodes and the stimulation electrodes.
1 more element
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electrode means adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- input means connected to the electrode means;
- output means connected to the electrode means;
- the input means including means for responding to signals from any of the electrode means to provide a signal;
- astable multivibrator means having a preset refractory period and an operation frequency which is variable in response to signals from the input means;
- means connecting the multivibrator means between the input means and the output means;
- and the output means including means for responding to the multivibrator means to provide heart stimulation signals to all the electrode means the heart stimulating signal occuring quickly after an input signal to said multivibrator means.
4 more elements
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensing electrodes adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- input means connected to the sensing electrode means;
- a plurality of stimulation electrodes adapted to be connected in spaced relation on the heart;
- output means connected to the stimulation electrode means;
- the input means including means for responding to signals from any of the sensing electrode means to provide a signal;
- astable multivibrator means having a preset refractory period and an operation frequency variable in response to signals from the input means;
- means connecting the multivibrator means between the input means and the output means;
- means in the multivibrator means responsive to the input means signal to provide another signal;
- and the output means including means for responding to the multivibrator means signal to provide heart stimulation signals to all the stimulation electrode means, the heart stimulating signal occuring quickly after an input signal to said multivibrator means.
6 more elements
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- amplifier means connected to the electrodes;
- multivibrator means connected to the amplifier means and responsive to a signal from any one of the electrodes to provide an output signal;
- and output amplifier means connected to the multivibrator means and the electrodes, and responsive to an output signal to provide heart stimulation signals simultaneously to all the electrodes the heart stimulating signal occuring quickly after an input signal to said multivibrator means.
1 more element
Fibrillation prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sense electrodes adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- a plurality of stimulation electrodes adapted to be connected in spaced relation on a heart;
- amplifier means connected to the sense electrodes;
- multivibrator means connected to the amplifier means and responsive to a signal from any one of the sense electrodes to provide an output signal;
- and output amplifier means connected to the multivibrator means and the stimulation electrodes, and responsive to an output signal to provide stimulation signals simultaneously to all the stimulation electrodes the heart stimulating signal occuring quickly after an input signal to said multivibrator means.
2 more elements
Cardiac arrhythmia prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes adapted to be connected to a heart;
- an R-wave synchronous pulse generator having input means and output means;
- the generator input means and output means connected to the electrodes;
- and the generator including means for providing cardiac stimulation pulses to all the electrodes in rapid response to a signal from at least one of the electrodes.
1 more element
Cardiac arrhythmia prevention apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sense electrodes adapted to be connected to a heart;
- a plurality of stimulation electrodes adapted to be connected to a heart;
- an R-wave synchronous pulse generator having input means and output means;
- the generator input means connected to the sense electrodes and the generator output means connected to the stimulation electrodes;
- and the generator including means for providing cardiac stimulation pulses to all the stimulation electrodes in rapid response to a signal from at least one of the sense electrodes.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.