Abstract: A handle assembly is provided for a generally cylindrical compressed air tank having a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a substantially annular mounting piece having an outer perimeter and an opening formed therein for receiving an axial section of the air tank. The mounting piece is releasably fastened to the received section of the air tank, and a handle that is disposed entirely within the outer perimeter of the annular portion is attached to the mounting piece to facilitate manipulation of the tank.

Abstract: A telemetry system for communicating with a tank circuit contained in a pacer implanted in a patient includes a telemetry coil and a capacitor connected to the telemetry coil for forming a resonant tank. The telemetry coil is positionable externally on the patient's skin substantially overlying the implanted pacer. The resonant tank has a varying impedance in response to telemetered digital data signals from the implanted tank circuit. A clock oscillator generates a squarewave at a selected frequency. A delayed clock-to-pulse converter is responsive to the squarewave for generating drive pulses which are slightly delayed from the leading edges of the squarewave. A coil driver generates a sinusoidal carrier waveform having a varying amplitude and frequency in response to the drive pulses and to the varying impedance of the resonant tank. A sample and hold circuit is provided for sampling each cycle of the sinusoidal carrier waveform of the varying amplitude and frequency to provide a sample and hold signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board having an optical data buss incorporated therein. Optical fibers are imbedded within the body of the printed circuit board and form an optical data circuitry within the board. Holes are formed in the printed circuit board at predetermined locations to receive a novel chip carrier. The chip carriers have a transparent area that interfaces with the optical fibers. Optical data entering the chip carrier is intercepted by an optical beam-splitter where the signals are directed to a photo transistor die for conversion to electrical signals which are then conducted to an integrated circuit die and into the printed circuitry of the printed circuit board. Electrical data signals from the printed circuit board may be conducted to the chip carrier which also contains a photo-transmitter die where the electrical data signals are converted to optical signal data and are projected to a beam-splitter for deflection into the optical fiber circuitry.

Abstract: A telemetry system for communicating with a tank circuit contained in a pacer implanted in a patient includes a telemetry coil and a capacitor connected to the telemetry coil for forming a resonant tank. The telemetry coil is positionable externally on the patient's skin substantially overlying the implanted pacer. The resonant tank has a varying inpedance in response to telemetered data signals from the implanted tank circuit. A clock oscillator generates drive current pulses at a selected frequency to be applied to the resonant tank. A switching transistor generates a pulse waveform having a varying amplitude and frequency in response to the drive current pulses and to the varyng impedance of the resonant tank. A pair of sample and hold circuits are connected in series to function as a clocked filter for sampling the pulse waveform of a varying amplitude and frequency to provide a sample and hold signal.

Abstract: A system is provided for communicating with a tank circuit that is implanted in a patient. The system comprises a telemetry circuit including an oscillator enclosed within a housing. An inductor coil is located outside of the housing for positioning externally on the patient in proximity to the implanted tank circuit. The inductor coil is connected to the telemetry circuit by electrical wiring, with the inductor coil being operative to form at least a portion of a resonant tank for the oscillator.

Abstract: A telemetry system is provided for communicating with an implanted pacer. A patient's coil is positioned on the patient substantially overlying the implanted pacer. An FM oscillator generates a waveform which varies in frequency and amplitude in response to the telemetry signals from the implanted pacer. The varying frequency generated by the oscillator may be utilized to determine the proximity of the patient's coil with respect to the implanted pacer. An analog signal is generated that has a parameter which varies in inverse proportion to the proximity of the coil to the pacer. The varying waveform generated by the oscillator may also be used to reconstruct telemetry signals that are generated by a tank circuit that is contained in the pacer. An automatic gain control circuit is used to provide a corrected gain notwithstanding the position of the patient's coil with respect to the implant.

Abstract: An acquisition circuit for a cardiac pacer includes an oscillator for producing an externally generated magnetic signal at a first predetermined frequency. An implantable cardiac pacer has a tuned inductor coil to be responsive to the magnetic signal for developing an induced signal with a phase-shift. Light-emitting devices are responsive to the magnetic signal and the induced signal are provided for transmitting optical signals which change gradually from flashing to a steady on condition when the telemetry head is moved closer to and adequately positioned over the cardiac pacer to indicate that positive acquisition has been obtained.