Implantable multi-electrode device for electrically stimulating

Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems

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A61N 136

Patent

active

06085118&

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for electrical stimulation of physiologic function and, more particularly to electronic circuitry associated with cardiac stimulators for detecting intracorporal cardiac signals and providing stimulation signals.


DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A cardiac pacemaker may include one or many electrode leads, each comprising one or many electrodes. During operation of the pacemaker said electrodes are coupled to electronic circuitry for sensing and pacing functions. A pacing output in the pacemaker may be coupled to a certain electrode such as a distal tip electrode positioned in the ventricle, and a sensing input may be coupled to another electrode such as a proximal ring electrode positioned in the ventricle. Accordingly the pacemaker may function to sense electrical impulses in the ventricle and to provide stimulation signals to the ventricle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,934 discloses pacing and sensing circuitry provided in a sealed case, and coupled to electrodes via a reduction switch unit. By means of the reduction switch unit, which is provided outside of the sealed case, the number of feedthroughs from the electrodes to the pacing and sensing circuitry is reduced. According to one version of the disclosure the reduction switch selects one out of four electrodes, and according to other versions the reduction switch provides 2 to 4 or 2 to 8 selection. Selection is performed in response to a control signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,873 discloses a device of the type generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,934 in which the number of feedthroughs is further reduced by superimposing the control signal on the stimulation signal at the output of the pacing circuitry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,238 discloses a heart pacing apparatus including a signal input, a signal output and two electrodes which are implanted in predetermined positions in a heart. A magnetically actuated switch means is used to selectively connect one electrode, having a first predetermined position, to the signal input and the other electrode, having a second predetermined position, to the signal output or vice versa.
In United Kingdom Specification 2 026 870 (Page 6, lines 27-42) different combination of leads (or conductors of leads) are selected in response to a detected failure (e.g., breakage of damage of a lead). This can be detected by loss of capture, i.e. failure to note a heart activity signal, or by measuring a high impedance between conductors.
European Application 0 598 617 discloses a device wherein a physician may program, using conventional programming techniques, into the device's memory the lead type and the placement of the lead (see e.g. abstract). The stored information, the polarity control signals, are then used to select predetermined electrodes and predetermined therapy in response of sensed heart signals (col. 3, lines 8-45). The positions of the different electrodes are already known (set by the physician) when a predetermined electrode is selected and connected to e.g. an output circuit.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an implantable stimulator having at least two terminals to which electrodes are connectable while eliminating the need to connect the first electrode to a first predetermined terminal and the second electrode to a second predetermined terminal.
The above object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a stimulator wherein any electrode may be connected to any terminal of the stimulator. the inventive stimulator has a connector system having at least two terminals, each terminal being connectable to an implantable electrode for applying pulses to a heart and/or for sensing signals, a switch, and means for controlling the switch such that each terminal is selectably coupled to a pulse generator and/or to a sensor signal evaluator. According to the invention the control means is devised to establish a position status for at least one of the terminals in response to a signal received at the sensor signal eval

REFERENCES:
patent: 4248238 (1981-02-01), Joseph
patent: 4628934 (1986-12-01), Pohndorf et al.
patent: 5423873 (1995-06-01), Neubauer et al.
patent: 5584865 (1996-12-01), Hirschberg et al.

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