Patent ID: 8452399
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A constant current pacing apparatus comprising: an H-bridge circuit comprising a high side and a low side, wherein the H-bridge circuit comprises first and second legs connected between the high side and low side thereof, wherein the first leg of the H-bridge circuit comprises first and second current switching elements and the second leg of the H-bridge circuit comprises at least a third current switching element, wherein a patient is connectable to the first leg of the H-bridge circuit between the first and second current switching elements and to the second leg of the H-bridge circuit, wherein one of the first and second current switching elements along with the third current switching element define a pair of current switching elements such that, when the constant current pacing apparatus is operational and the pair of current switching elements are selected, a pacing stimulus having a first polarity is applied to the patient, and further wherein each current switching element of the H-bridge circuit is associated with a current blocking diode connected relative thereto; and a constant current source connected to the high side or the low side of the H-bridge circuit, wherein, the constant current source, when the constant current pacing apparatus is operational, applies a constant current output to the H-bridge circuit, wherein a diode is connected between the constant current source and the H-bridge circuit to prevent external current flow from the H-bridge circuit to the constant current source, wherein the current blocking diodes associated with the current switching elements of the H-bridge circuit and the diode connected between the constant current source and the H-bridge circuit protect the constant current pacing apparatus from high voltage pulses applied to the patient via one or more other medical devices.