Abstract: A pacemaker has an interference detecting circuit, and an evaluating and storing unit for continuously evaluating and storing the heart rate. The evaluating and storing unit stores the rate evaluated from at least one of the most recent cardiac cycles free of interference. A determining unit determines an interference backup rate from the stored rate in response to the detection of the onset of an interference situation. A control unit then adjusts the pacing rate equal to the interference backup rate.

Abstract: A heart stimulating device has pulse generators which can operate in either a first mode wherein the stimulation pulse energy is adjusted to a capture threshold of a patient's heart, or a second mode wherein the stimulation pulse energy is fixed. An evoked response detector senses IEGM signals to detect capture or non-capture subsequent to an emitted stimulation pulse. A noise detector detects as noise IEGM signals having predetermined signal characteristics. The noise detector, after having detected noise, sets the pulse generators to operate in the second mode. A lead arrangement connects the pulse generators, the evoked response detector, and the noise detector to a patient's heart.

Abstract: A pacemaker contains at least one power-consuming component, such as a sensor with associated electronic circuitry for controlling the pacemaker function or a heart signal detector, and an electrode system for emitting heart stimulation pulses. The power-consuming component is disenabled prior to implantation of the pacemaker. Circuitry is provided for enabling the power-consuming component which is responsive to an event occurring substantially simultaneously with pacemaker implantation in the patient. Such circuitry may include a device for measuring the electrode impedance so as to enable the power-consuming component in response to the measured impedance value. The circuitry for enabling the power-consuming component can alternatively includes internal telemetry equipment in the pacemaker and external telemetry equipment for communications between the telemetry equipments.

Abstract: An apparatus for stimulating living tissue delivers a stimulating pulse with a predetermined stimulating pulse amplitude and a stimulating pulse duration. Each stimulating pulse is separated by a stimulating pulse time interval, which is controlled by a control device. Maintenance of the predetermined stimulating pulse amplitude is undertaken by continuous control of the stimulating pulse time interval by means of the control device, which increases the value of a predetermined minimum stimulating pulse time interval to a new value if the time period, from the time when the voltage across an output capacitor reaches the value of the stimulating pulse amplitude until the time when the stimulating pulse is delivered, is shorter than a safety time interval established by the control device.

Abstract: A medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient includes components for detecting physiological events and/or for stimulating physiological events, and includes control logic connected to the detecting and or stimulating components, and further components for the telemetric transmission of data relating to the logical status of the control logic to and from an external receiver. The components for telemetrically transmitting data are connected to the control logic, and continuously transmit data identifying the current logical status of the control logic to the external receiver.