Medtronic, Inc.

Pieter M Mulier

Robert E Kraska

Thomas L Jirak

Apparatus for indicating end of battery life in a cardiac pacemaker. A battery voltage monitoring circuit provides an indication of battery voltage drop below a predetermined level. A counter circuit and decode logic respond to the voltage drop indication to block a portion of a predetermined number of the generated pacing pulses from the heart to induce a benign arrhythmia in the heart thereby indicating end of battery life. In another embodiment a plurality of voltage sensors indicate progressive decreases in battery voltage and are connected with decode logic to block an increasing number of pacing pulses to indicate worsening battery condition.

Cardiac pacemaker

A body implantable electromedical device such as a cardiac pacemaker in which the stimulating signal generator module is detachably coupled to at least one of the power source modules and the leads, coupling being provided by assemblies which are body fluid corrosion resistant and inhibit current leakage between units of the assembly at different electrical potentials.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Pieter M Mulier