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:
May. 30, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
Åsa Uhrenius, Stockholm, SE;
Berit Larsson, Danderyd, SE;
Goran Budgifvars, Spånge, SE;
Peter Andersson, Sollentuna, SE;
Feresteh Shojaei, Solna, SE;
Åsa Uhrenius, Stockholm, SE;
Berit Larsson, Danderyd, SE;
Goran Budgifvars, Spånge, SE;
Peter Andersson, Sollentuna, SE;
Feresteh Shojaei, Solna, SE;
St. Jude Medical AB, Jarfalla, SE;
Abstract
A heart stimulator has a pulse generator which emits stimulation pulses of different amplitudes, which are delivered to a patient's heart via a lead connected to the pulse generator. The pulse generator is controlled by a control unit, in a procedure for determining a stimulation threshold value, to emit stimulation pulses of successively unidirectionally changing amplitudes. Each stimulation pulse is followed by a test pulse having a predetermined high, constant amplitude delivered in a period corresponding to the refractory period after the preceding stimulation pulse. Each test pulse has an amplitude sufficient to capture a non-refractory heart. A measurement unit is connected to the electrode lead, and measures a signal picked up by the lead after each test pulse. The measured signals are supplied to a comparator, which compares the signals following the test pulses with each other. A significant change in the measured signal after the test pulses indicates that the amplitude of the stimulation pulses has passed the threshold value.