Pacemaker circuit and associated methods for generating electrical stimulation signals

A pacemaker signal generator which converts energy from a battery to provide a pacing signal to a heart, the signal generator comprising:

• a controller which generates a first output signal and a second output signal;
• a transformer which multiplies the voltage from the battery to create a stimulation signal of sufficient voltage to achieve capture of the heart;
• and
• a switching stage which receives the first and second output signals from the controller, wherein the switching stage determines the direction of current flow through the transformer based upon the values of the first and second output signals.

A method of providing a stimulation signal to a heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a DC input signal;
• generating a pulse burst from the DC input signal, the pulse burst being defined as a rapid sequence of pulses used to cause a single contraction event;
• isolating the heart from the DC input signal;
• and
• boosting a voltage of the pulse burst to create the stimulation signal.

An implantable stimulation device having a pacing circuit for generating a pacing signal for application to a heart, comprising:

• means for providing a DC voltage;
• means for converting the DC voltage to a pulse burst having a first voltage, the pulse burst being defined as a rapid sequence of pulses used to cause a single contraction event;
• and
• means for boosting the first voltage of the pulse burst to create the pacing signal having a second voltage suitable for application to the heart.

A method of stimulating the contraction of a human heart so as to conserve battery power, comprising:

• providing a battery-powered, implantable stimulation device which uses a lead to apply electrical pacing signals to the myocardium of the heart;
• generating a stimulation signal within the implantable stimulation device, the stimulation signal comprising a sequence of voltage pulses of like polarity;
• and
• applying the stimulation signal to the myocardium via the lead in order to generate a single contraction of a chamber of the heart.