Patents Assigned to Biotronik CRM Patent AG
  • Patent number: 7599747
    Abstract: A screw-in electrode probe for cardiological application comprises an oblong electrode body (1), a supply line (10) running therein, and an electrode head (3) on the distal end (2). The latter is provided with housing (5), a shaft (6) mounted therein so it is rotatable and axially displaceable, and a corkscrew-like screw-in electrode (4) on the shaft (6). A contact spring in the form of an essentially planar spiral spring (11) is situated between these components, whose leg ends (12, 13) are in sliding contact with the housing (5) or the shaft (6), respectively, while exerting a radially directed spring force (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Jörg Feldmann, Gernot Kolberg, Hartmut Lenski
  • Patent number: 7593766
    Abstract: A detector for atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter comprises an atrial input for receiving an atrial signal representing an intraatrial electrogram or a time course of an intraatrial impedance, a ventricular input for receiving a ventricular event signal comprising information on an occurrence of a cyclically reoccurring ventricular event in chronological association to an atrial signal received via atrial input, an averaging unit adapted to average a plurality of sections of said atrial signal, each section to be considered for averaging starts or ends at a predetermined offset before a ventricular event, and to put out an averaged atrial signal, a peak amplitude determination unit adapted to determine peak-to-peak amplitude of said averaged atrial signal, and threshold comparator adapted to compare peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal to predetermined reference value and to generate an AF warning signal if peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal is less than predetermined threshol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas S. Faber, Michael Lippert, Marc Oliver Schweika-Kresimon
  • Patent number: 7593774
    Abstract: Pacemaker (10) comprises a control unit being adapted to automatically carry out a search for a capture threshold level of cardiac tissue. Available pulse strength values are tested in an iterative search wherein a next pulse strength value to be tested is determined based on Fibonacci indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Christopher S. de Voir
  • Patent number: 7583996
    Abstract: Heart stimulator that stimulates at least a heart's right atrium and ventricle in an atrium asynchronous stimulation mode with an overdrive stimulation rate. Interposes one resynchronization cycle after a sensed atrial event to regain AV synchrony during otherwise asynchronous stimulation mode. Allows for pacing mode that can pace the atrium with an overdrive stimulation rate in dual-chamber asynchronous mode while maintaining the AV synchrony and is called DDI(R)+. In DDI(R)+, pacemaker performs an atrial asynchronous (V synchronous) pacing mode such as DDI or DDI(R). The overdrive stimulation rate (OSR) is either a fixed rate (programmed by the external device) that is thought to be above the underlying intrinsic atrial rate, or is dynamically adjusted according to the measured atrial cycle length to be slightly above intrinsic atrial rate. The overdrive stimulation rate may be based on an intrinsic atrial rate or on hemodynamic need. DDI(R)+ timing may be ventricle-based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Jie Lian, Christopher S. de Voir, Garth Garner, Hannes Kraetschmer, Dirk Müssig
  • Patent number: 7580748
    Abstract: A heart stimulator provides a reliable automatic capture threshold search feature. A stimulation pulse generator is connected to at least a ventricular stimulation electrode for delivering electric stimulation pulses to at least the ventricle of the heart. The stimulation pulses generated have a strength depending on a control signal. A sensing stage is connected to an electrode for picking up electric potentials inside at least said ventricle of a heart and a control unit connected to the sensing stage and to the stimulation pulse generator determines points of time for scheduling stimulation pulses, to trigger the stimulation pulse generator so as to deliver a stimulation pulse when scheduled and to put out control signals for controlling the strength of the stimulation pulse. The control unit is further adapted to perform a capture analysis which may take into account extraordinary events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Garth Garner, Hannes Kraetschmer, Dirk Muessig, Indra B. Nigam
  • Patent number: 7580758
    Abstract: An implantable electrode device, particularly a cardiological electrode device, comprises an oblong, hose-like electrode body and a helical screw-in electrode, which is displaceable on the distal end of the electrode body between a retracted passive position inside the electrode body and an extended, active fixing position outside the electrode body, which is displaceable by a rotational movement of its electrode line, with the aid of a spindle-type cam controller, between the retracted passive position and the extended fixing position. The cam controller is formed by a separate cam coil, which is fixedly mounted in the electrode body and coaxially to the electrode supply line and, in addition, by a cam body, which is mounted on the electrode supply line rotationally fixed thereto and engages in the cam coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Agur Junge, Gernot Kolberg, Hans-Gerd Staeger
  • Patent number: 7570990
    Abstract: Atrial fibrillation or flutter detector having impedance unit, with measurement input, connected to atrial electrode line having electrode for unipolar measurement of atrium impedance and implemented to generate atrial impedance signal obtained in unipolar manner so that impedance signal comprises multiple impedance values detected at different instants within particular atrial cycle for each atrial cycle, comprising atrial contraction and the following relaxation of the atrium, and having a signal input, via which ventricle signal is supplied to detector, which reflects instants of ventricular contractions in chronological assignment to impedance signal, the detector having an analysis unit, implemented to average multiple sequential impedance signal sections of unipolar atrial impedance signal, delimited by two sequential ventricular contractions with one another and determine maximum amplitude of averaged unipolar atrial impedance signal section, compare to comparison value, and if maximum amplitude of ave
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas S. Faber, Michael Lippert, Marc Oliver Schweika-Kresimon
  • Patent number: 7558630
    Abstract: A medical electrode device has a purely mechanical contact connection between electrode and electrical line. For this purpose, a support sleeve is seated in the electrode body, on which the line section to be contacted is wound in a state without its insulation removed. The electrode is placed thereon while enclosing this line section, an internal thread having a cutting zone on the interior of the electrode breaking through the line insulation and being in electrical contact with the electrically conductive core of the electrical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Agur Junge
  • Patent number: 7551968
    Abstract: A stimulation electrode lead for connecting to an electrotherapy device such as a pacemaker, a defibrillator or the like, is disclosed. The stimulation electrode lead is configured for intraluminal placement within a blood vessel or within the heart of a patient, and comprising a proximal and a distal end, an electrode lead plug at the proximal end of the stimulation electrode lead, and the stimulation electrodes in the region of the distal end of the stimulation electrode lead, said stimulation electrodes having an electrically conductive outer surface and being connected electrically to the electrode lead plug, the stimulation electrode lead having at least one distal electrode support member in the region of its distal end, said support member supporting at least one electrode and being connected by a conductor link to a distal end of a first, extended portion of the electrode lead, wherein the conductor link is preformed so that when in the relaxed state it is not extended and can be elastically extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Erhard Flach, Thomas Töllner, Ole Grauhan
  • Patent number: 7532929
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac device is provided for adaptive ventricular rate smoothing during atrial fibrillation (AF). When AF is detected, the operation of the device is switched to non-atrial synchronized pacing mode such as DDI, DDIR, VDI, VDIR, VVI, or VVIR. The ventricular escape interval (VEI) is beat-by-beat modulated around a physiological interval zone (PIZ), which is determined by the pre-arrhythmia ventricular rate or the output of rate responsive sensor. The VEI remains unchanged if the preceding ventricular event is sensed and its RR interval is within the PIZ. Otherwise, the VEI is decreased asymptotically toward a lower interval threshold if the preceding RR interval is longer than the upper limit of the PIZ, or the VEI is increased asymptotically toward an upper interval threshold if the preceding RR interval is shorter than the upper limit of the PIZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Dirk Mussig, Volker Lang, Jie Lian
  • Patent number: 7532930
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention disclose an electrostimulator, in particular an atrial cardiac pacemaker, comprising electrode connections which are connected to a stimulation unit for the delivery of stimulation pulses by way of the electrode connections, and a stimulation control unit which is connected to the stimulation unit and adapted to trigger the delivery of stimulation pulses and to determine the strength of the stimulation pulses and for that purpose to deliver a stimulation control signal to the stimulation unit, and a detection unit which is connected to the stimulation control unit and at least indirectly to the electrode connections and adapted to evaluate electrical potentials at the electrode connections and to detect intrinsic (natural, spontaneous) events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Olaf Schermeier, Wolf Worzewski
  • Patent number: 7532928
    Abstract: An atrial defibrillator has a stimulation pulse generator to generate pacing pulses, a sensing stage for sensing intrinsic ventricular events, (an R-wave having an amplitude). It also includes a defibrillation shock generator to generate an atrial defibrillation shock, an atrial fibrillation detector adapted to detect an atrial fibrillation, and a control unit connected to the stimulation pulse generator. The sensing stage, the atrial fibrillation detector, the defibrillation shock generator, and control unit are adapted to trigger an atrial defibrillation shock after detection of an atrial fibrillation and synchronous with a sensed or a paced ventricular event. The control unit is adapted to compare a sensed R-wave amplitude with a reference R-wave amplitude and synchronize an atrial defibrillation shock with a paced ventricular event or a sensed ventricular event if the sensed ventricular event is an R-wave having an amplitude of at least 60% of the magnitude of the reference amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Volker Lang
  • Patent number: 7519422
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention disclose an implantable electrotherapy device comprising a housing in which are arranged an activity sensor, an impedance or conductivity measuring unit and an evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit is connected to the impedance or conductivity measuring unit and to the activity sensor and is adapted to evaluate the impedance or conductivity signal produced by the impedance or conductivity measuring unit and the respectively time-associated activity level signal and for producing and outputting a contractility signal, in such a way that the contractility signal is derived from the impedance or conductivity signal and the activity level signal and reflects the respective contractile state of a heart associated with an activity level signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Michael Lippert, Gerald Czygan
  • Patent number: 7511938
    Abstract: Filtering assembly for a feedthrough, for implantable medical devices, having operating conductive pin(s) and a ground conductive pin. The filtering assembly has: first insulating substrate, first conductive layer accommodated at first side of first insulating substrate and second conductive layer accommodated at second side of first insulating substrate opposing first side, first conductive layer comprises a conductive ground ring accommodated that surrounds the circumference of one end of the operating conductive pins and capacitive element(s), wherein each of the capacitive element(s) provides on the first side a connection to the operating conductive pin(s) and on the second side a connection to the ground ring, wherein the ground ring is connected to the ground pin, the second conductive layer comprises a ground plane providing connection to the ground ring of the first conductive layer and a connection to the ground pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Ralph Elam, Philip J. Atkin, Michael J. Ayton, Marion Ronald LeCompte, Dennis Digby, Habib Homayoun
  • Patent number: 7493173
    Abstract: An electrode line for intraluminal or intracardiac use for connection to a cardiac pacemaker, comprises an elongate, flexurally soft electrode line body having a distal end at which or in the proximity of which is arranged at least one distal electrode which is electrically connected to the electrical connecter and has an electrically conducting outside surface. The electrode line has a lumen for receiving a guide wire or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Geistert
  • Patent number: 7425852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase-locked loop for frequency synthesis, which has a memory for a control value for the controllable oscillator of the phase-locked loop, which is connectable via a first switch to the control input of the controllable oscillator and is implemented to output a stored control value, and whose frequency divider is connectable at its output via a second switch to the reference oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Matthias Garzarolli, Martin Lang
  • Publication number: 20070191889
    Abstract: An atrial defibrillator has a stimulation pulse generator to generate pacing pulses, a sensing stage for sensing intrinsic ventricular events, (an R-wave having an amplitude). It also includes a defibrillation shock generator to generate an atrial defibrillation shock, an atrial fibrillation detector adapted to detect an atrial fibrillation, and a control unit connected to the stimulation pulse generator. The sensing stage, the atrial fibrillation detector, the defibrillation shock generator, and control unit are adapted to trigger an atrial defibrillation shock after detection of an atrial fibrillation and synchronous with a sensed or a paced ventricular event. The control unit is adapted to compare a sensed R-wave amplitude with a reference R-wave amplitude and synchronize an atrial defibrillation shock with a paced ventricular event or a sensed ventricular event if the sensed ventricular event is an R-wave having an amplitude of at least 60% of the magnitude of the reference amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Volker Lang
  • Patent number: 7217163
    Abstract: A contact connection adapter for producing an intermittent electrical contact between two plugs has a main body and two socket-like receptacles placed thereon for the plugs. The cross-sections of the receptacle receiving the plugs to be connected intersect peripherally in this case in such a way that the plugs press against one another at their lateral contact faces and produce an electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Tassilo Landgraf
  • Publication number: 20060241705
    Abstract: Endocardial or intravascular cardiac pacemaker having a sealed housing, in which a battery and a pacemaker controller connected to the battery, as well as at least one stimulation pulse generator, are situated, the housing being oblong and having a length of less than 70 mm and a cross-sectional area of less than 100 mm2 and carrying at least two electrodes, each of which has an outwardly directed, electrically conductive surface and is implemented as a stimulation electrode and is at least sometimes electrically connected to the stimulation pulse generator via an electrical connection situated in the interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Andreas Neumann, Thorsten Lewalter, Jens Philipp
  • Publication number: 20060240714
    Abstract: A contact connection adapter for producing an intermittent electrical contact between two plugs has a main body and two socket-like receptacles placed thereon for the plugs. The cross-sections of the receptacle receiving the plugs to be connected intersect peripherally in this case in such a way that the plugs press against one another at their lateral contact faces and produce an electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventor: Tassilo Landgraf