The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1999
Jerome T. Hartlaub, St. Paul, MN (US);
Marc T. Stein, Chandler, AZ (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A current limiting apparatus that is adapted to be operatively connected as part of a conductive loop formed by a medical device implanted within a living organism having electrically excitable tissue. This apparatus limits unwanted current in the conductive loop that may be induced by a significant level of an external signal such as a time-alternating electromagnetic field. This apparatus includes a switch for introducing a high impedance into the conductive loop when the switch is turned off. The apparatus also includes a control circuit that controls the switch to be turned on when the conductive loop should be closed to stimulate the electrically excitable tissue for a therapeutic effect. The control circuit turns the switch off whenever the living organism enters an area having a significant level of external signal that may induce unwanted current in the conductive loop to limit the unwanted current. The living organism can manually initiate turning off the switch when the living organism is about to enter an area having such an external signal. Alternatively, such an external signal is sensed to turn the switch off automatically when such an external signal is sensed.