Abstract: A method for detecting nonlinear distortion over communication channels. The method utilizes moment invariants in determining whether nonlinear distortion exists. The method is particularly applicable to detecting the presence of nonlinear distortion over telephone lines that are used for modem communications. The detection of the presence of nonlinear distortion is important in order that appropriate processing operations be performed which are required in the presence of such distortion. The particular processing operations that are performed in the presence of nonlinear distortion function to improve the reliability of data transfer especially at higher data rates. The nonlinearity distortion is detected by calculating high order moment invariants of the error magnitude present at the input to the slicer stage in the receiver. The method of the invention is effective, in part, because the probability density function of the noise is different, i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the sensitivity of a radio frequency (RF) receiver at certain frequencies suffering from co-channel interference. In the preferred embodiment, when a reference frequency, FREF, generates significant harmonics for a received RF signal in a selected channel, the reference frequency is varied or offset by a small amount, &Dgr;F. The harmonics of the offset reference frequency, F′REF=FREF±&Dgr;F, are thereby shifted away from the frequency of the received RF signal, thus reducing co-channel interference. The offset amount &Dgr;F is chosen such that the same injection frequency synthesized from FREF can still be synthesized from FREF±&Dgr;F by shifting N by an integer amount, preferably to N+1 or N−1. However, the invention encompasses shifting N by other integer amounts.

Abstract: In a diode mixer circuit MIX, a driving circuit DRIV produces a first, second, third and fourth drive signal DS1, DS2, DS3, DS4. Each drive signal is a combination of a first and a second input signal LO, RF with the following signs: DS1: +LO+RF DS2: +LO−RF DS3: −LO+RF DS4: −LO−RF A first, second, third and fourth diode D1, D2, D3, D4 transfer the first, second, third and fourth drive signal DS1, DS2, DS3, DS4 respectively, to an output O1. The first and fourth diodes D1, D4 have the same polarity relative to the output. The second and third diodes D2, D3 also have the same polarity relative to the output, but opposite to that of the first and fourth diodes D1, D4. A mixer circuit of this type is suitable for a relatively large variety of applications, notably because it may be realized in the form of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A wireless data communication system is operable in a power saving mode wherein stations are synchronized to be in an awake state to receive synchronizing messages (TIM, PSYNC) and traffic indicator information and are changed to a doze state if they are not to receive data messages. In one embodiment all stations (20) communicate via a base station access point (16), which broadcasts synchronizing messages (TIM) at regular intervals identifying stations (20) that are to receive data messages. In another embodiment all stations (220) communicate directly with one another, one station assumes the role of a master station and broadcasts synchronizing messages (PSYNC), and stations (220) desiring to transmit data messages transmit traffic indicator messages (PTIM) to the appropriate destination stations (220), in a synchronized awake period just before the next synchronizing message (PSYNC) is expected to arrive.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus connects to a telecommunications network via an exchange line. It has signal recognition for detecting and recognizing calling line identity (CLI) and called number identity (CNI) signalling transmitted over the exchange line. The apparatus causes an incoming call to be transferred to a second exchange line in response to specified CLIs and/or CNIs.

Abstract: An emergency call control apparatus for a mobile communication system does not disconnect, in a handoff, an emergency call from a mobile station in a service zone to which the mobile station has moved even when the radio channels are congested in the service zone. When a channel securement requesting unit in a first base station controller receives an emergency call from the mobile station, the channel securement requesting unit requests a second base station controller associated with a service zone adjacent to a service zone of a first base station to secure a radio channel. In the second base station controller, a securing unit secures an idle radio channel. When the mobile station engaging in an emergency call moves into the adjacent service zone, a connection requesting unit in the first base station controller requests the second base station controller to make a radio connection between the mobile station and the second base station through a radio channel secured by the securing unit.

Abstract: Wireless terminals automatically and dynamically establish call coverage groups based on physical locations. Each location is assigned a call coverage telephone number. When a new wireless terminal enters the location, the wireless terminals automatically and dynamically determine a new call coverage path. The wireless terminals establish the new call coverage path by communicating with each other. The wireless switching system to which the wireless terminals are connected does not administer the call coverage group. The criteria utilized to establish the call coverage group is stored within the wireless terminals that will be part of that call coverage group. When a call is received by the wireless switching system for the call coverage number, the wireless switching system broadcasts a page message for the call coverage number. The wireless terminals in the call coverage group for the call coverage number each wait an individual predefined amount of time before attempting to respond to the page message.

Abstract: A mobile radio network provides additional services over and above a basic service. A public telecommunication terminal suitable for this network has provision for entry of terminal control data. The terminal recognizes additional service control data and prohibits action on data thus recognized.

Abstract: Remote control commands are provided to an accessory device utilizing a radiotelephone, such as a cellular telephone, as a receiver which receives control commands over a wide area cellular network utilizing a remote control adaptor. The adaptor may take the form of a detachable adaptor attaching to the radiotelephone or a remote control battery pack replacing the normal battery pack for the radiotelephone or a docking station serving as a remote control as well as a battery charger for the radiotelephone. Alternatively, a lock box is provided allowing remote actuated access to a compartment of the lock box. The radiotelephone acts as a receiver providing an audio signal to a tone signal decoder which passes decoded and converted tone signals to a comparator which assembles a command for comparison to a predetermined password. Switches are activated responsive to the comparison to control accessory devices.

Abstract: The arrangement disclosed allows a user of a mobile telephone 11 to use intelligent network (IN) services specific to his home network, regardless of whether the network 12, 13, 14 to which he is currently connected can support the service. When the user makes an outgoing call attempt (step 1) the associated signalling is transmitted over a signalling channel. The mobile switching centre (MSC) 13 recognises a customer identity (encoded electronically in the call set-up signals ) and accesses the data relating to the user which is stored in a register 14. The data in the register 14 relating to the user 11 includes a marking identifying him as an IN served customer, causing the MSC 13 to halt the call process and send a signal (2), protocol, to the service control point (SCP) 15 in the user's home network. The SCP 15 then activates the user's service profile and as part of that profile recognises the need to retrieve additional information from the user 11, e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a receiving method in a digital cellular radio system. The invention further relates to a receiver of the cellular radio network. In computing the signal to noise ratio, a reference signal is utilized which is the convolution of the estimated impulse response of a channel and the predetermined sequence. The signal to noise ratio is obtained as a ratio between the variance of the reference signal and the predetermined sequence received from the channel. The signal to noise ratio is used for weighing the diversity branches of the diversity receiver.

Abstract: In the occurrence of a multi-mode portable handset leaving the coverage area of a first operating network during an active telephone call on the first operating network, a method is disclosed for terminating the telephone call and re-initiating it within a second operating network. The signal strength and bit error rate corresponding to the first operating network are monitored during the telephone call. When it is determined that the handset is leaving the coverage area using these indicators, the handset warns both parties in the conversation. With use of the redial function or CLID (Calling Line Identification) the telephone number of the party other than the user of the portable handset is determined. The handset proceeds to terminate the call on the first operating network and dials the telephone number corresponding to the other party on the second operating network. The telephone conversation can then proceed on the second operating network with a minimum inconvenience to the user of the handset.

Abstract: Advanced subscriber outage notification methods (100) notify a user of a subscriber unit (30) that its call is going to be dropped. The subscriber unit (30), the satellite (20) or the mobile telecommunication system (10) first predicts whether an outage is going to occur and how much time there is before the outage. Second, the subscriber unit (30) notifies the user of the outage and the time remaining before the outage. Third, the subscriber unit (30) waits for whether the user wants to end the call. Next, the subscriber unit (30), the satellite (20) or the mobile telecommunication system (10) terminates the call if the user wants to end the call. Lastly, the mobile telecommunication system (10) drops the call once the time remaining before the outage expires.

Abstract: Wireless telephone communications are processed by first contacting a worldwide wireless access facility which interfaces between the caller and the phone systems to determine a present location of a subscriber. The facility queries the home system requesting a roaming status and number of the subscriber. If the subscriber is roaming, the home network identifies a present serving network for the indicated subscriber from a list maintained of each subscriber's roaming location. The home network queries the present serving system and obtains a temporary local directory number for the subscriber. The home network returns a number to the worldwide wireless facility for reaching the subscriber. The facility uses this number to direct the telephone call to the called party.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for porting a mobile directory number of a subscriber from a donor wireless service provider to a recipient wireless service provider with minimum interruption to the subscriber's wireless communication service. In one embodiment, the present invention is accomplished by creating an entry for the wireless terminal in the recipient wireless service provider's home location register and a temporary pointer in the donor wireless service provider's home location register, wherein such temporary pointer will cause the donor wireless communication system to route or forward any call intended for the wireless terminal being ported to the recipient wireless communications system for completion in well-known fashion. When the porting process is complete, the temporary pointer is removed or deactivated in the donor wireless service provider's home location register.

Abstract: A wireless communications systems for servicing mobile subscribers which dynamically optimizes the absolute number of channels reserved for use only as guard channels to minimize the blocking of handoff as well as new calls even under widely varying traffic and mobility conditions. This is accomplished by periodically first incorporating values, representative of traffic and mobility data typically collected in cellular systems, obtained over a given period of time, into an equation developed by the present inventors and calculating the number of guard channels needed to obtain assumed values of new and handoff call blocking; second changing the number of guard channels to the calculated value; and then third gathering data for a new period of time before returning to the first step.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of analyzing lists of neighboring cells in a cellular telecommunications system comprising a plurality of active mobile stations and a static network, the static network having a first cell and a plurality of cells neighboring the first cell, each of the cells having a base station. The method is applicable to GSM and GSM-like systems.

Abstract: A method for determining a handover for a mobile station (1) in a multicellular communication system having a serving cell (3), a plurality of neighboring cells (4,5), and at least one control cell where the cells include at least one macrocell (2) and a plurality of microcells. The method includes the steps of comparing the received signal of the control cell with a parameter value.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for optimizing the performance of the cellular network by maintaining status values concerning the cell and adjusting the conditions for handoff in response to the status values. The status values may include a pilot signal strength measurement for the second cell, a round trip delay measurement from the second cell to the mobile unit, an a designation of whether the second cell is current, removed, or most recently removed. With the status values, a determination can be made to remove the second cell from the mobile unit's Active Set if either the pilot signal strength for the second cell falls below a predetermined threshold or the round trip delay value exceeds a predetermined maximum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extending the cell radius between a mobile station (101) and a base station (103). A propagation delay is determined between the mobile station (101) and the base station (103). A transmit time offset is determined for the mobile station (101). The transmit time offset is based at least in part upon the propagation delay. Information is then transmitted between the mobile station (101) and the base station (103) at the transmit time offset.

Abstract: A system for customizing service in a wireless communication system in accordance with a user profile, unique to each user of the system, is described. In this system, a base station receives a call establishment request either via an external MTSO (mobile telephone switch office) or PSTN (public telephone switch network), or internally from a call establishment request, broadcasted by a wireless terminal associated with a first subscriber within a cell of interest. Both the base station and the wireless terminal are located in a cell (i.e., the cell of interest) of the wireless communication system. The base station determines whether it has a free channel, or resource, to service the call establishment request. If the base station does not have a free channel to service the call establishment request, then a call processor determines a service priority level contained in a user profile of the first subscriber. This service priority level is communicated to the base station.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system, in order to determine a level of loading, the system enters a period of silence during which a designated remote unit continues to transmit but other remote unit transmissions are interrupted. The base station and designated remote unit perform closed loop power control on a reverse link signal received from the designated remote. A first series of power control commands accumulated and a first corresponding transmit gain adjustment value is stored. Normal operation is resumed. Once again, the base station and designated remote unit perform closed loop power control on the reverse link signal received from the designated remote unit. A second series of power control commands are accumulated and a second corresponding transmit gain adjustment value is stored. A level of loading is determined based upon the first and second transmit gain adjustment values.

Abstract: A “cluster mobile switching center” (cMSC) is arranged to perform the switching and control functions of a conventional mobile switching center (MSC), including, if desired, the additional functions of a conventional visitor location register (VLR). The cMSC is implemented on distributed processors using modular software. Advantageously, a specific instance of middleware, known as Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), is used as the communications middleware. Functionally, the cMSC is arranged to have two classes of servers: (1) Interworking managers (IMs) that act as gateways and provide interfaces to external network elements, and (2) core servers that perform call processing (registration, location updates, incoming and outgoing call processing) functions and communicate with each other using CORBA. IMs terminate standard protocols with the external elements and use CORBA to communicate with the core servers.

Abstract: When a recall mode is selected as the operation mode of a PHS terminal, recall data is generated. The recall data specifies the other PHS terminal, a state wherein another terminal enters a specific service area, and a message, for example, that the other party has arrived in the specific service area which is to be received from a server or the other terminal when the other terminal is set in the designated state. The recall data is set in the subaddress of a call set-up message and registered in the server or the PHS terminal. When the other terminal enters the specific service area, the server or the other terminal transmits the message to the PHS terminal in the recall mode. The PHS terminal displays the transmitted message on a display device. The user of the PHS terminal can thus know that the user of the other terminal has arrived in the specific service area and that communication with the other terminal is enabled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a channel selection controller and method for establishing a wireless link connecting a central terminal and a subscriber terminal of a wireless telecommunications system, at least two frequency channels being provided over which said wireless link could be established. The channel selection controller comprises: a storage for storing data identifying the at least two frequency channels; a selector for selecting a frequency channel from those listed in said storage; and link acquisition logic for establishing a wireless link on the frequency channel selected by the selector. Further, the selector is responsive to the link acquisition logic being unable to establish said wireless link, to select an alternative frequency channel from those listed in said storage.

Abstract: An improved wrist-carried radiotelephone includes a first housing including a microphone, a display and a radio transceiver. A second housing includes a latch, a user interface, a speaker, and a removable battery. A flexible wristband has a first portion including an antenna extending downwardly and a latch clip at one end thereof operable to be received in the latch of the second housing. A second portion of the wristband includes electrical connections to connect the circuits of the first and second housing. The wristband includes support members to maintain the wrist-carrier radiotelephone in a predetermined configuration when the first portion of the wristband is unlatched from the second housing such that the speaker and microphone of the radiotelephone are at an optimum orientation in relation to a user's ear and mouth.

Abstract: An improvement in the transparency of personal telecommunications over the prior art is achieved by automatically placing a return call from a personal communications unit of a called individual in response to a call from a caller and alerting the called individual to the existence of the call placed to his personal number only upon an indication that the call from the calling telephone remains in progress. In one embodiment of the invention, the called individual associates his personal communications unit with a telephone channel, before his reception of any calls. Should a caller make a call to the called individual's personal calling number, the telephone network causes the transmission of an actuation signal. In response to the actuation signal, the personal communications unit places a call to a predetermined number over a switched telephone network using the aforementioned associated telephone channel.

Abstract: A communication system (20) is provided with multiple purpose personal communication devices (50 and 150). Each communication device (50 and 150) includes a touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160) to communicate text and graphic information to and from the user and for operating the communication device (50 and 150). Voice activation (78) and voice control capabilities (76) are included within communication devices (50 and 150) to perform the same functions as the touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160). The communication device includes a built-in modem (82), audio input and output (52 and 53), telephone jacks (86), and wireless communication (90). A plurality of application modules (100) are used with personal communication devices (50 and 150) to perform a wide variety of communication functions such as information retrievable, on-line data base services, electronic and voice mail.

Abstract: A receiving communication device (101) receives a reference signal transmitted through at least one of the antennas (106, 110, 112) of an antenna array of a transmitting communication device (102). The receiving communication device determines a weight to be associated with the at least one of the antennas, and transmits weight information to the transmitting communication device. The transmitting communication device adjusts the weight associated with the at least one of the antennas according to weight information received from the receiving communication device.

Abstract: A wireless communication terminal is configured for enabling a user to receive and transmit video images as well as receive and transmit audio or speech signals associated with the user of the terminal and another user at, for example, a remote location. The received video image is obtained from a video image signal received over a radio frequency communications link established between the wireless communication terminal and a cellular base station. This received video image is displayed in a video image display conveniently associated with the wireless communication terminal. The transmitted video image signal may be that of the user of the terminal, of a scene within the field of view of the video camera or of text either coupled to the terminal through one of many well known data interfaces, or an image of text as captured by the camera.

Abstract: A mobile communication device with a flat display of relatively large screen size, capable of displaying an HTML document, to enhance its operability. A personal information list written in HTML is present on the display. Anchor points are set to person names, phone numbers, FAX numbers and e-mail addresses in the list. Selection of these items with a pen causes their associated operations to be performed. The person names and their phone numbers of the list appear within a display window of the device with its cover closed. With respect to the anchor points other than those to the phone numbers, a special character string “KEYSKIP” is set in each start tag of the anchor points. A browser sequentially moves a focus among the anchor points in response to the rotating operation of a rotary push switch. In this processing, the browser will skip the focusing of the anchor points that has the “KEYSKIP” attribute added.

Abstract: When the user of a portable radio apparatus performs an operation for transmitting data outside a communication service area, the data to be transmitted is compressed in a compression section 6, and stored in a compressed data memory 13. When the user moves within the communication service area, the stored compressed data is automatically transmitted. On the other hand, when destination information for the transmitted data already exists, only the transmitted data is added to the destination information already registered, and transmitted in a batch. Alternatively, if the destination has a function for decompressing compressed data, the compressed transmitted data is transmitted in a batch, while, if the destination does not have the function for decompression compressed data, the compressed transmitted data is decompressed and transmitted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus using the principles of time-resolved spectroscopy are disclosed. The present invention employs incident light pulses of sufficiently short duration to permit the rate of the rise and decay of such pulses to be measured. Consequently, the rate of decay, u, permits a determination of the concentration of an absorptive pigment, such as hemoglobin. The present invention also allows the precise path length the photons travel to be determined. Using this path length information and by measuring changes in optical density using known continuous light (CW) spectrophotometry systems, the methods and apparatus disclosed allow changes in the concentration of an absorptive pigment to be correctly be measured. From these data, the oxygenation state of a tissue region, such as the brain, can be accurately determined in real time.

Abstract: The quantitative determination of various materials in highly scattering media such as living tissue may be determined in an external, photometric manner by the use of a plurality of light sources positioned at differing distances from a sensor. The light from said sources is amplitude modulated, and, in accordance with conventional frequency domain fluorometry or phosphorimetry techniques, the gain of the sensor is modulated at a frequency different from the frequency of the light modulation. Data may be acquired from each of the light sources at differing distances at a frequency which is the difference between the two frequencies described above. From these sets of data from each individual light source, curves may be constructed, and the slopes used to quantitatively determine the amount of certain materials present, for example glucose, oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in living tissue.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a living organism by analyzing at least two physical parameters of a region under investigation of the living organism in order to provide a multimodal approach to living organism diagnosis. By utilizing information derived from the plurality of physical parameters to generate a series of functional maps, and by, in some instances, applying external influences to the living organism, accurate diagnosis of the living organism can take place.

Abstract: A phase-sensitive method of inversion recovery MR imaging is provided, which is directed to a specified object. The method comprises the steps of applying an inversion-recovery MR sequence to the object to acquire a set of MR data for an initial image, wherein the initial image comprises a pixel matrix of specified size, each of the initial image pixels having an associated MR signal and a phase vector. The method further comprises generating a phase vector image from information provided by respective initial image pixels, the phase vector image having a matrix size which is substantially less than the matrix size of the initial image. A region-growing procedure is applied to the phase vector image to remove phase errors therefrom. Thereupon, the phase vector image is zoomed or expanded to a matrix of the same size as the initial image matrix. For multi-slice imaging where TI time is comparatively long, the method may employ a distributed interleave mode of data acquisition to reduce total imaging time.

Abstract: A system and method for arterial and venous discrimination in MR venography is disclosed. By setting a noise level in the phase image (that is proportional to the velocity encoding value) at a threshold level between that of the arterial signals and the venous signals during the diastole portion of the cardiac cycle and acquiring a phase contrast MR image during the diastole portion, the arterial signals are effectively suppressed and a venous only image can be reconstructed. Post-processing steps are disclosed which can alternatively provide an arterial only image. By separately reconstructing a magnitude image and a phase image map to produce a magnitude image and a phase image, a masking module can create an output displaying venous only or arterial only images based on a user selection. The present invention allows for a complete noninvasive angiography exam to be completed within approximately 30 minutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image processing method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio for a series of MR images or CT images which are based on the projection-reconstruction method. First the pixels which reproduce the same sub-structure in the projection images are determined in the one-dimensional projection images constituting the two-dimensional MR or CT images. The image values of these pixels are subjected to noise filtering. Two-dimensional MR images or CT images are reconstructed from the noise filtered one-dimensional projection images.

Abstract: An interface for association with an electrode structure deployed in contact with heart tissue generates a real image of the electrode structure acquired by an imaging device. The interface also generates an idealized image of the electrode structure based at least in part upon the real image. The interface displays either the real image, or the idealized image, or both on a display screen.

Abstract: An angiography device including an endoscope designed to be inserted into a body cavity, a light source for emitting excitation light in a first wavelength range into the cavity, a digital camera for sensing an image of the body cavity in a second wave range that does not overlap the first wavelength range, and a screen for displaying the sense image, the first and second wavelength ranges lying in the infrared range.

Abstract: A radiation thermometer which starts body temperature measuring operations when a temperature measurement switch is pressed, inserts a probe into an opening of a living being, receives an infrared ray from within the opening and computes a temperature, and displays a maximum value of measured temperature data as a body temperature, for the purpose of avoiding temperature measurement and displaying of a temperature executed by manipulation of the temperature measurement start switch after insertion of the probe into an opening of a living being, a careless manipulation of the switch after insertion into an external acoustic opening despite a previous normal manipulation of the switch before insertion, etc.

Abstract: An ophthalmological measurement apparatus for measuring bloodstream velocity in an fundus blood vessel in an eye to be measured including a measurement system for measuring the bloodstream velocity in the fundus blood vessel, an input block for inputting information relating to the fundus blood vessel as an object to be measured by the measurement system, and a control block for selecting the measurement conditions and computation conditions of the measurement system, based on the information input by the input block.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an apparatus for and a method of trans-surface molecular delivery, including a non-conductive carrier having a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a plurality of through holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, a first electrode disposed on at least a portion of the distal surface and extending through at least a portion of the plurality of through holes and onto at least a portion of the proximal surface, a second electrode disposed on at least a portion of the proximal surface and in closely spaced relation with the first electrode for engaging a tissue surface through which to apply an electric field, and an insulating barrier that is disposed on at least a portion of the proximal surface of the carrier between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A radiotherapy stent device has a flexible, collapsible mesh body that can be expanded in a blood vessel of a patient to deliver radiation to the tissue surrounding the site of stent implantation. One or more hollow sleeves are secured on the body. The sleeves are loaded with radioactive material immediately prior to positioning of the stent in the vascular structure. As a result, the shelf life of the stent is substantially increased, and dosage of the radiation can be more precisely controlled.

Abstract: An implant comprising an electric power consuming device electrically coupled to an electric power source including an anode, a cathode and at least one potential probe which is independent of the anode and the cathode. By providing at least one potential probe which is independent of the anode and the cathode, implants can be monitored and controlled to avoid process which can damage the electrodes and shorten the service life of the electrodes and the service life of the implant itself.

Abstract: A nonprogrammable automated heart rhythm classifier that may be used alone or in conjunction with a therapy system for delivering shock treatment or therapeutic drugs to a patient, a monitoring or recording system, a paging or alarm system, or other rhythm classifying device. The nonprogrammable heart rhythm classifier is used to determine whether a patient's heart rhythm is normal, monomorphic tachycardia or polymorphic tachycardia from extracted features of the cardiac signal of a patent's heart. The extracted features are cycle length and regularity, and preferably with the addition of morphology. Prior to feature extraction, the cardiac electrical signal is conditioned with a signal conditioning system. The classifier may comprise a trained neural network or a trained discriminant function, which has been previously trained by a known set of classified heart rhythm data. Morphology can be estimated by kurtosis or from the probability density function.

Abstract: Two-chamber pacemaker (100), comprising atrium sensing means (EA, 107) as well as ventricle sensing means (EV, 105) and refractory switching means (100B) for influencing the processing of output signals from the atrium sensing means for a predetermined refractory time, further comprising ventricle stimulation means (106, EV) and a stimulation control unit (100A), which effects a changeover back from a non-atrium synchronous 1:1 operating mode to an atrium-synchronous 1:1 operating mode in dependence on the signals from the atrium sensing means that are influenced by the refractory switching means.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac rhythm management device adapted to receive and digitize electrocardiogram signals from leads placed on or in the heart and capable of automatically adjusting an evoked response detection threshold dependent upon a modulation of the amplitude of the evoked response. Respiration, activity level, and lead maturation, among others, all effect the modulation of the evoked response and the amplitude of a signal associated with evoked response. The present invention automatically adjusts the evoked response detection threshold to account for this modulation. Without limitation, the automatic adjustment of the evoked response detection threshold may be utilized during an automatic capture verification sequence. In the event of non-capture or fusion beats during an automatic adjustment, the evoked response detection threshold is not adjusted.

Abstract: A pacemaker housing has a socket for receiving a plug of an electrode lead, the socket being located in an opaque part of the housing, and the housing having an exterior marking which indicates a proper insertion depth for the plug into the socket. The plug of the electrode lead can be provided with one or more markings which successively proceed toward the side of the housing having the socket opening therein, with one of the markings coinciding with the edge of the socket when the plug is inserted to a proper depth into the socket.

Abstract: A connector system for use with a sealed implantable medical device having at least one lead receiving channel for slidably receiving a connecting end of an electrical lead comprises a support member fixed to the medical device having a threaded bore generally parallel to and spaced from the lead receiving channel, an annular seal member mounted on the support member at the open end of the lead receiving channel and coaxial and aligned therewith, and a plunger adapted for attachment to the medical device and having an inlet bore for reception of the electrical lead and an annular flange coaxial with the inlet bore. When positioned for attachment to the medical device, the annular flange is coaxial with the lead receiving channel and aligned and engageable with its associated annular seal member.