Programmable multi-mode cardiac pacemaker

An implantable, programmable cardiac pacemaker system comprising:

• (a) external programmer means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency encoded signals, said encoded signals defining at least one of a plurality of selectable pacing modes and a plurality of selectable pacing parameters associated with the selected pacing mode;
• (b) implantable pulse generator means responsive to ones of said encoded signals for cyclically producing pacing pulses for at least one chamber of the heart, said pulse generator means including:
• (1) pulse controller means for performing a plurality of inter-cycle operations associated with the selected pacing mode during the production of pacing pulses for each cardiac cycle and further including:
• (i) means for storing ones of said encoded signals,
• (ii) means for storing a plurality of inter-cycle instructions, each instruction designating at least one of a plurality of the inter-cycle operations,
• (iii) means for sensing a plurality of analog conditions including electrical activity of the heart,
• (iiii) means responsive to said stored encoded signals and said inter-cycle instructions for prioritizing the inter-cycle operations of the selected pacing made, and
• (2) input/output controller means responsive to received ones of said encoded signals for selectively writing the selected pacing mode and its associated pacing parameters into said encoded signal storage means during a write mode and including means for selectively reading ones of said encoded signal storage means and ones of said analog conditions and further including means for transmitting encoded radio frequency signals corresponding thereto to said external programmer means during a read mode;
• and
• (c) means for coupling said pacing pulses to the appropriate chambers of the heart and said sensed analog conditions to said pulse generator means.