Pacemaker with power-consuming component inhibited during storage

Abstract

A pacemaker contains at least one power-consuming component, such as a sensor with associated electronic circuitry for controlling the pacemaker function or a heart signal detector, and an electrode system for emitting heart stimulation pulses. The power-consuming component is disenabled prior to implantation of the pacemaker. Circuitry is provided for enabling the power-consuming component which is responsive to an event occurring substantially simultaneously with pacemaker implantation in the patient. Such circuitry may include a device for measuring the electrode impedance so as to enable the power-consuming component in response to the measured impedance value. The circuitry for enabling the power-consuming component can alternatively includes internal telemetry equipment in the pacemaker and external telemetry equipment for communications between the telemetry equipments. The external telemetry equipment can contain programming equipment and the internal telemetry equipment be arranged to enable the power-consuming component as soon as the programming equipment begins communicating at the time of implantation with the internal telemetry equipment, or by sending a special command from the programming equipment at the time of implantation. Alternatively the enabling circuitry can include a reed element, controllable by an external magnetic field, applied at the time of implantation, for enabling the power-consuming component.