Patent · US Expired

Automatic lead recognition for implantable medical device

US5534018A · kind A · utility

364Cited by
17References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1994
Grant dateJul 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/3706
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the availability of unipolar and/or bipolar pacing/sensing paths in a body-implantable cardiac pacing system. In one embodiment, a pacemaker system includes impedance monitoring circuitry for periodically measuring impedance between pairs of electrodes that are potentially available for pacing and/or sensing. This impedance monitoring circuitry includes circuitry for delivering excitation pulses between pairs of potentially available electrodes (including the pacemaker canister in the case of unipolar pacing or sensing), and for monitoring the current and voltage between those pairs of electrodes during delivery of an excitation pulse. Availability of a pair of electrodes for pacing and/or sensing is indicated if the impedance between a pair of electrodes is found to lie within a predetermined range. Detection of availability of a particular pair of electrodes is used initially as an indication that the pacing system has been implanted, and is also used to distinguish between unipolar and bipolar leads in the pacing system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.