Abstract: A small and cost effective sewage treatment system intended for unattended use in individual homes, small industries or businesses in locations where a central sewage treatment plant is not available. The sewage treatment system comprises a conventional septic tank which drains into a smaller aerated holding tank, a pump to transfer effluent from the holding tank into a disinfecting chamber, a regenerative heat exchanger used to raise the temperature of the effluent while being aerated in the holding tank, means for pumping the effluent at a controlled rate through a microwave field, and a conventional drain field used to release the disinfected water into the surrounding soil. Operation of this system is fully regulated by a micro-controller, thereby eliminating the need for human intervention during normal use.

Abstract: The implantable, electrically operated tissue stimulator system comprises a master controller module having a micro-controller, a telemetry circuit, a power module, non-volatile memory, a real time clock and a bi-directional bus, and a plurality of Input/Output modules (I/O modules) which are connected to said bi-directional bus. Each I/O module 16 comprises (1) a control logic, (2) a programmable DC/DC Converter, (3) a capacitor multiplexer, (4) two or more electrodes (channels), (5) one amplitude holding capacitor per electrode, including circuitry for isolating the holding capacitor from other holding capacitors, and a switching network used for isolating the main power source from the electrodes during delivery of the stimulation pulses.

Abstract: The electric field steering assembly is used to control the size and/or location of, and/or steer the position of, an electric field in a living creature. The assembly comprises a pulse generator or stimulator, at least one implanted lead coupled to the stimulator and having, at a distal end thereof, at least three spaced apart electrodes, and electrical circuitry for adjusting the current and/or voltage at each electrode.

Abstract: The implantable stimulator in accordance with the principles of the present invention utilizes a high value, small sized capacitor having at least a capacitive rating of 0.1 farads which is completely contained within the implantable stimulator. This high value, small size capacitor or series of capacitors enables the implantable stimulator to deliver, on a controlled and continual basis, electric stimulation pulses to targeted tissues over at least an 8 hour period. Further, the capacitive power source is replenished via an external, RF coupled device on a daily or other long term periodic basis. During the replenishing cycle, the energy contained in the battery of the external transmitter is transferred to the internal capacitive power source in the implantable stimulator.

Abstract: The implantable stimulator in accordance with the principles of the present invention utilizes a high value, small sized capacitor having at least a capacitive rating of 0.1 farads which is completely contained within the implantable stimulator. This high value, small size capacitor or series of capacitors enables the implantable stimulator to deliver, on a controlled and continual basis, electric stimulation pulses to targeted tissues over at least a 8 period. Further, the capacitive power source is recharged or replenished via an external, RF coupled device on a daily or other long term periodic basis. The method includes providing, on an exclusive basis, power to an implantable stimulator via a high value capacitive source during at least a twenty-four cycle of substantially continual delivery of electric stimulation pulses to targeted tissue.

Abstract: The activity sensing pacemaker comprises: a heart pulse sensing device for sensing heart pulses; pulse generating circuitry for generating pacing pulses; activity sensing structure and circuitry for sensing activity/movement of a patient wearing the pacemaker in one or more of three directions/dimensions, x, y, z, and for causing the pulse generating circuitry to generate pacing pulses at a rate/frequency related to the movements sensed; and, control circuitry coupled to the heart pulse sensing device, to the pulse generating circuitry and to the activity sensing structure and circuitry for controlling the pulse generating circuitry in response to the heart pulses sensed or in response to the patient movements sensed, the activity sensing structure and circuitry causing generation of control pulses related to the movements of the patient and the control circuitry including frequency sensing circuitry for sensing the frequency of the control pulses generated and for controlling the rate/frequency of the pacing

Abstract: A temperature and voltage stable clock circuit for use in implantable cardiac pacers employs CMOS devices to minimize current drain. The circuit includes a timing capacitor which is alternately charged to and discharged between two established threshold voltages during respective charge and discharge cycles, the periods of which determine the clock frequency. To render the frequency of the clock circuit independent of changes in capacitor charge and discharge currents brought about by changes in temperature, the threshold voltage is increased with temperature so that the charge and discharge cycles remain constant. To render the frequency of the clock circuit independent of changes in the power supply voltage, a Wilson current source is used to maintain a constant charge and discharge current to the timing capacitor.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac pacer having atrial and ventricular electrodes includes an input/output circuit which can be programmed for use with either unipolar or bipolar pacer leads. The circuit can be reprogrammed by the physician after implant to accommodate physiological changes in the patient or chronic changes in pacer lead characteristics, and can be utilized with single channel or dual channel cardiac pacers.

Abstract: A battery powered implantable cardiac pacer includes a battery consumption monitor circuit which develops within an internal counter a cumulative count of battery consumption in milliampere hours. The consumption count may be read out to an external indicator by a multiplex circuit to provide to the user an indication of battery life remaining. An over-current feature within the monitor circuit provides an alarm signal in the event that battery consumption exceeds a predetermined maximum level.

Abstract: A system for detecting P waves samples a cardiac signal during first and second time periods set by a clock signal. Comparators determine whether the signal increases in voltage during the time periods by a predetermined value, testing whether the slew rate of the signal falls within a range corresponding to the slew rate of a P wave. Latches responsive to the comparators provide input to a logic circuit whose output clocks a counter. Three successive positive samples input into the counter will cause the counter to generate a signal indicating a P wave has been detected.