EP0000986A1 - Programmeur pour stimulateur implanté - Google Patents

Programmeur pour stimulateur implanté Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0000986A1
EP0000986A1 EP78300240A EP78300240A EP0000986A1 EP 0000986 A1 EP0000986 A1 EP 0000986A1 EP 78300240 A EP78300240 A EP 78300240A EP 78300240 A EP78300240 A EP 78300240A EP 0000986 A1 EP0000986 A1 EP 0000986A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
counter
output
programmer
bit
subintervals
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP78300240A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0000986B1 (fr
Inventor
John Walter Keller
Dennis Digby
Alan Coombes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biotronik SE and Co KG
Original Assignee
Biotronik Mess und Therapiegeraete GmbH and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US05/917,139 external-priority patent/US4211235A/en
Application filed by Biotronik Mess und Therapiegeraete GmbH and Co filed Critical Biotronik Mess und Therapiegeraete GmbH and Co
Publication of EP0000986A1 publication Critical patent/EP0000986A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0000986B1 publication Critical patent/EP0000986B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/372—Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
    • A61N1/37211—Means for communicating with stimulators
    • A61N1/37252—Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
    • A61N1/3727—Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data characterised by the modulation technique
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/362—Heart stimulators
    • A61N1/37—Monitoring; Protecting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C19/00—Electric signal transmission systems
    • G08C19/16—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses
    • G08C19/22—Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses by varying the duration of individual pulses

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting a preselected signal comprising a sequence of signal bits of different values.
  • Such an apparatus can be termed a programmable transmitter where the signal it is desired to transmit to a receiver may be selected, or set, prior to transmission.
  • the invention is especially concerned with programmable transmitters for enabling programming signals to be transmitted to, and received by, implanted, programmable body function control apparatus such as cardiac pacemakers.
  • Pacemakers for generating artificial stimulating pulses for the heart, and which may be implanted in the body, are well known.
  • the electrical circuitry for such pacemakers was of analog design, but in recent years digital circuitry has been also employed.
  • a digital approach to pacemakers has led to the evolution of programmable pacemakers - pacemakers having parameters such as pulse rates which are adjustable (programmable) once the pacemaker has been implanted.
  • Programmable pacemakers are described in, for instance, British Specifications 1,385,954 and 1,398,875.
  • Such pacemakers have circuitry to detect and decode signals transmitted outside the body and alter the program accordingly.
  • British Specification 1,385,954 (claiming priority based on U.S.S.N. 141694, in turn a parent of U.S.P.N.
  • the programming is accomplished by means of a magnetic field which is sensed'by a magnetic reed switch; the opening and closing of the switch provides programming pulses to a program store.
  • the programming is by means of radio frequency transmission and reception.
  • an external programmer for supplying a fixed number of pulse-width modulated signal bits as a program to an implanted, programmable body function control apparatus which comprises means for preselecting and storing a fixed number of signal bits in a code representative of the program to be supplied to said implanted apparatus and for supplying said code as an output of said means when actuated, counter means for actuating the said code output, means for actuating the counter, and means responsive to said code output for transmitting said program to said implanted apparatus as a sequence of a said fixed number of pulse-width modulated signal bits.
  • the illustrated programmer is designed to transmit an 8-bit tone burst modulated program, that is, an 8-bit pulse width modulated signal where a sine wave carrier frequency is pulse width modulated by each of the 8 data bits.
  • the programmer comprises a "press-to-program” switch 1 tied between the positive supply rail and earth.
  • the switch output drives a monostable 2.
  • the monostable 2 is employed to reset a 13 stage counter 3, and to control an oscillator 4.
  • the oscillator 4 includes an "oscillator disable" NOR gate 16 on its input side which, when supplied with a high input from monostable 2, provides a low output which disables the oscillator output to a clock input of counter 3.
  • Stage Q9 is employed to clock a parallel in/ serial out eight bit shift register 5 via an inverter 6.
  • the eight parallel inputs for shift register 5 (PI 1 to 8) are labelled A to H and the values of such inputs are set by eight switches which individually can be connected to the positive supply rail or to earth.
  • the Q9 stage of counter 3 also clocks a D-type flip-flop 11 whose D-input is tied to the positive supply rail.
  • the Q output of flip-flop 11 is supplied to one input of a NAND gate 12, whose second input is supplied by the Q1 stage of counter 3.
  • NAND gate 12 drives an amplifier/transmitter 13, outputs from which are transmitted into the body for receipt by an implanted cardiac pacemaker where the received pulses are decoded and employed for changing the program stored in the pacemaker.
  • NOR gate 10 clocks a further D-type flip-flop 14, whose D-input and reset are driven by the Q and Q outputs, respectively, of flip-flop 11.
  • the Q output of flip-flop 14 is employed to reset flip-flop 11.
  • the pacemaker program transmitted by amplifier/transmitter 13 consists of an eight bit pulse-width modulated signal wherein each pulse is itself several cycles of a sine wave carrier frequency.
  • the pulses of short bit length (which might represent "0" in the pacemaker program) and long bit length ("1") are determined by the signal supplied to NAND gate 12 from flip-flop 11 and are initially generated by the values selected by the settings of the eight switches on the inputs A to H of shift register 5.
  • the carrier frequency present in each pulse is derived from the rapid transitions made by the Q1 stage of counter 3, as supplied to the second input of NAND gate 12.
  • the output of NAND gate 12 is thus the square wave carrier frequency from Q1 modulated by the long or short bit lengths determined by the switching times of flip-flop 11. After passage through amplifier/transmitter 13, this output becomes the tone burst modulated signal described above.
  • the monostable 2 output remains high maintaining a reset on counter 3 and disabling oscillator 4.
  • the values of the 8-bits are selected by providing an appropriate combination of values through opening or closing each of the eight switches on the inputs to shift register 5.
  • the inputs H, G, D, and B are tied to the positive supply rail whereas inputs F, E, C, and A are earthed.
  • This will provide, as to be described, for transmission by amplifier/transmitter 13, the program 00110101 where "0" represents a pulse of short length (and "1" of long length), it being appreciated that the values are transmitted in the sequence HGFEDCBA. This arises since the first value appearing at the Q8 output of shift register 5 is the value of the PI 8 input (H).
  • the press-to-program switch 1 is depressed. This causes monostable 2 to fire (i.e. causing its output to go low), thus removing the reset from counter 3 and allowing oscillator 4 to commence running at a period To determined by its timing components. Counter 3 will increment by 1 count on every negative clock edge provided by oscillator 4.
  • flip-flop 11 clocks the level of its D-input to its Q output, putting Q “high” and Q “low”. This removes the reset on flip-flop 14 and places its D-input "high”.
  • the "high” output of Q is also applied to NAND gate 12 to commence transmission of the first bit in the 8-bit sequence of data.
  • the next positive edge on the clock input of flip-flop 14 will clock its Q output to "high”, thus resetting flip-flop 11.
  • the reset of the latter will, in turn, reset flip-flop 14, causing its Q output to go “low” and terminate transmission of the first bit in the 8-bit sequence.
  • the time at which flip-flop 14 clocks a "high" to its Q output determines the width of the flip-flop 11 Q output and hence the pulse width of the modulation at point C in Figure 1. It is dependent upon the state of the steering network comprising components 7, 8, 9, and 10.
  • the level on the Q8 output of shift register 5 determines whether the clock pulse for flip-flop 14 arises via NOR gate 7 or 9 and is derived from either the Q6 or Q9 stage of counter 3.
  • gate 7 enabled the first positive edge on the flip-flop 14 clock input occurs at 32TO from the time the flip-flop 11 Q output went "high".
  • gate 9 enabled this first positive edge occurs at 256TO from the time the flip-flop 11 Q output went "high".
  • the Q8 output of shift register 5 represents the value at its H input ("high") and this causes the pulse supplied by flip-flop 11 to NAND gate 12 to be cut off after 32To (i.e. causing a short pulse representing "0" to be transmitted).
  • the programmer again comprises a "press-to-program” switch 1 tied between the electrical supply rails.
  • the switch output drives a monostable 2.
  • the monostable 2 is employed to reset a 13 stage counter 3 to control an oscillator 4, and to reset a decade counter 15.
  • the oscillator 4 includes an "oscillator disable" NOR gate 16 which, when supplied with a high input from monostable 2, provides a low output which disables the oscillator output to a clock input of counter 3.
  • the Q7, 8 and 9 output stages of counter 3 are combined through a NAND gate 17 and a NOR gate 18 to provide a "short" output pulse to a transmission gate 19.
  • the Q9 output stage of counter 3 provides a "long” output pulse to a transmission gate 20 and, through inverter 21, to the clock input of the decade counter 15.
  • a NAND gate 22 receives the Q1 output of counter 3 and also the outputs of transmission gates 19 and 20.
  • the output of NAND gate 22 drives an amplifier/transmitter 23, output pulses from which are transmitted into the body for receipt by an implanted programmable cardiac pacemaker where the received pulses are decoded and employed for changing the program stored in the pacemaker.
  • the Q13 output of counter 3 is supplied to a disable input of monostable 2.
  • the decade counter 15 has eight output stages (0 to 7) which are successively employed to control (turn on and off) eight transmission gates which, in this embodiment, take the form of two quad/bilateral switches 24.
  • the eight gates formed by the switches 24 each receive an input from a selector switch 25.
  • the switches 25 (“A" to "H") can be individually connected to the positive supply rail or to earth.
  • the eight outputs of the switches 24 are coupled together to provide a common bus 26 which is employed to control transmission gate 20 and (via inverter 27) transmission gate 19.
  • the counts which are supplied by counter 3 to transmission gates 19 and 20 supply pulses representative of short bit lengths (e.g. "0") and long bit lengths (e.g. "1").
  • the eight bit program desired is selected by setting the switches 25 appropriately and these values are sequentially clocked onto the common bus 26 to open either transmission gate 19 or 20 depending upon the logic value supplied on bus 26.
  • the short or long pulse supplied to the amplifier/ transmitter 23 from the opened transmission gate 9 or 10 is employed to modulate the higher frequency count supplied to NAND gate 22 from the Q1 stage of counter 3 so that the output of the amplifier/transmitter is an eight-bit tone burst signal.
  • the press to program switch 1 normally open, the monostable 2 output remains high, maintaining a reset on counters 3 and 5 and disabling oscillator 4. No output is provided to amplifier/transmitter 23.
  • the values of the 8-bits are selected by providing an appropriate combination of values through opening or closing each of the switches 25.
  • the press to program switch 1 is then pressed. Pressing, i.e. closing, switch 1 causes monostable 2to fire (i.e. causing its output to go low), thus removing the reset from the counters 3 and 5 and allowing oscillator 4 to commence running.
  • decade counter 15 is incremented tyone so that the count, now at its "one” stage, causes the output value supplied by switch 25 "B” rather than 25 “A” to control which of the transmission gates 19 and 20 is opened.
  • the short or long pulse (modulating the Q1 high frequency output as before) is again transmitted by amplifier/transmitter 23.
  • This cycle repeats for each of the eight switches 25 so that a total of eight tone burst modulated pulses, of either short or long width, is transmitted.
  • the Q13 stage of counter 3 is then reached to disable monostable 2. This causes the . latter to revertto its stable state, which reintroduces a reset to counters 3 and 15 and disables oscillator 4. No further information is hence transmitted until the press to program switch 1 is once again depressed, when the whole cycle would then repeat.
  • the oscillator has a 20 KHz frequency.
  • This provides a 10 KHz output at the Q1 stage of counter 3, a pulse length of 3.2 ms to transmission gate 19 (a"short” pulse), a pulse length of 12.8 ms to transmission gate 20 (a “long” pulse), and a data rate for clocking decade counter 15 of 25.6 ms.
  • the NAND gate 22 thus transmits to amplifier/transmitter 23 eight bits, either of 3.2 ms or 12.8 ms in width and each including a 10 KHz square wave carrier.
EP78300240A 1977-08-19 1978-08-03 Programmeur pour stimulateur implanté Expired EP0000986B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3491277 1977-08-19
GB3491277 1977-08-19
US05/917,139 US4211235A (en) 1977-08-19 1978-06-19 Programmer for implanted pacer
US917139 1978-06-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0000986A1 true EP0000986A1 (fr) 1979-03-07
EP0000986B1 EP0000986B1 (fr) 1982-04-07

Family

ID=26262488

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP78300240A Expired EP0000986B1 (fr) 1977-08-19 1978-08-03 Programmeur pour stimulateur implanté

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0000986B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU517553B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1117217A (fr)
DE (1) DE2861717D1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0015779A1 (fr) * 1979-03-12 1980-09-17 Medtronic, Inc. Appareil pour la programmation d'un stimulateur cardiaque

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1118131B (it) * 1978-07-20 1986-02-24 Medtronic Inc Perfezionamento nei pacemaker cardiaci multi-modo adattabili impiantabili

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3906348A (en) * 1973-08-20 1975-09-16 Chamberlain Mfg Corp Digital radio control
US4024875A (en) * 1975-09-19 1977-05-24 Medtronic, Inc. Device for non-invasive programming of implanted body stimulators
LU76880A1 (fr) * 1976-03-03 1977-07-12

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4049004A (en) * 1976-02-02 1977-09-20 Arco Medical Products Company Implantable digital cardiac pacer having externally selectible operating parameters and "one shot" digital pulse generator for use therein

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3906348A (en) * 1973-08-20 1975-09-16 Chamberlain Mfg Corp Digital radio control
US4024875A (en) * 1975-09-19 1977-05-24 Medtronic, Inc. Device for non-invasive programming of implanted body stimulators
LU76880A1 (fr) * 1976-03-03 1977-07-12

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0015779A1 (fr) * 1979-03-12 1980-09-17 Medtronic, Inc. Appareil pour la programmation d'un stimulateur cardiaque

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3895378A (en) 1980-02-21
CA1117217A (fr) 1982-01-26
DE2861717D1 (en) 1982-05-19
EP0000986B1 (fr) 1982-04-07
AU517553B2 (en) 1981-08-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4211235A (en) Programmer for implanted pacer
US5127404A (en) Telemetry format for implanted medical device
US4539992A (en) Method and apparatus for communicating with implanted body function stimulator
US4556063A (en) Telemetry system for a medical device
AU682199B2 (en) Pacemaker telemetry system
EP0781153B1 (fr) Procede et appareil pour limiter la modification des parametres de stimulateurs electriques de tissus neurologique
US5752977A (en) Efficient high data rate telemetry format for implanted medical device
US4453162A (en) Efficient and fast-switching telemetry transmitter
US4237895A (en) Control signal transmitter and monitor for implanted pacer
US4312354A (en) Pacemaker with circuit for pulse width modulating stimulus pulses in accordance with programmed parameter control states
US4520825A (en) Digital circuit for control of gradual turn-on of electrical tissue stimulators
US4550370A (en) Pacemaker programmer with telemetric functions
US4124031A (en) Programmable pacer
US4126139A (en) Method and means for receiving parameter control data in an implantable heart pacer
EP0526173A2 (fr) Transpondeur programmable
ES456504A1 (es) Un marcapasos cardiaco numerico implantable mejorado.
US4203447A (en) Security maintenance for programmable pacer reprogramming
EP0001156B1 (fr) Appareil programmable et implantable, commandant une fonction corporelle et méthode pour reprogrammer le dit appareil
US4103238A (en) Transmitter modulated with three modulation patterns
EP0000986A1 (fr) Programmeur pour stimulateur implanté
US4164944A (en) Digital means for non-invasively controlling the parameters of an implantable heart pacer
CA1183576A (fr) Systeme de telemetrie pour dispositif medical
EP0107483B1 (fr) Programmateur pour stimulateurs cardiaques avec des fonctions télémétriques
US4190055A (en) Circuit for determining the parameter control states of an implanted pacer
EP0000987B1 (fr) Stimulateur du type à la demande à hystérésis de fréquence programmable

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB NL SE

17P Request for examination filed
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 2861717

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19820519

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19830731

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19840804

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19840828

Year of fee payment: 7

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19860831

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19880301

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19880429

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19881117

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 78300240.5

Effective date: 19850612

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19971028

Year of fee payment: 20

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT