A trapezoidal waveshape, which is known to be the best waveshape for defibrillating the heart, is produced by charging a capacitor, and by starting to discharge it through a silicon controlled rectifier to the load, namely, the body of the patient. Subsequently, a second SCR is used to short circuit the first SCR and load circuit to effect termination of the trapezoidal waveshape rapidly, i.e., effectively dumping the remainder of the charge.

An electrode for the stimulation of the sciatic nerve is disclosed, the electrode being comprised of a pair of physiologically inert plastic strips each of which has a plurality of contact means fixed thereto. The contact or electrode means which preferably are formed of platinum comprise a plurality of buttons positioned on opposite sides the sciatic nerve and are oriented by the surgeon with respect to each other to achieve optimum pain inhibition. When properly placed, the two plastic members...

A demand controlled cardiac pacer including a pair of electrodes for connection with the heart, a variable frequency relaxation oscillator connected to the electrodes, a resetting circuit for disabling the oscillator when heart pulses are produced at a normal rate, and a circuit responsive to the rate of reset for modifying the frequency of the oscillator so that upon heart failure stimulating pulses will be applied to the electrodes at a rate that begins somewhat below the last rate of producti...

An atrial and ventricular (bifocal) demand pacer. A device is disclosed for providing electrical stimulation to the atrium after a first pre-determined time, and to the ventricle after a second pre-determined time, where both pre-determined times are measured from the last natural heart-beat. The pacer monitors the ventricular endocardial electrogram and programs both the atrial and the ventricular stimulation accordingly. In patients with atrial bradycardia but normal AV conduction, only the at...

Disposable electrodes capable of conforming to irregular skin surfaces comprise a flexible, electrically nonconductive planar sheet material having one surface thereof coated with a skin adhesive adapted to be applied directly to the skin of the patient, the nonconductive planar body having a projecting tab to which an electrical connection can be made. A conductive foil sheet is adhered to the adhesive coating of the planar sheet, the foil being contiguous with the tab. A nonconductive planar s...

A timing circuit establishes pulse repetition rate and pulse width and cooperates with a pulse generating output circuit which delivers to an organ a series of stimulating pulses at one of several available pulse energy levels. Low voltage d-c sources are used for driving the timing and output circuits. The output circuit is adapted to selectively double or triple the source voltage and raise the output pulse amplitude to above the response threshold of the organ with an adequate margin of safet...

A faceplate of a thin-window photographic recording tube including a bulb face having provided therein a straight slit extending longitudinally of said bulb face. The faceplate features increased mechanical strength to withstand the atmospheric pressure and improved adhesion to the bulb face. The bonding agent for fastening the faceplate to the bulb face is advantageously isolated from the slit.

A sun bathing apparatus which is characterized by providing the combination of a comfortable lounge means with an apertured conduit for selectively sprinkling water on a person reclining on the lounge means. The lounge means is further characterized by incorporating a plurality of convenience features that are easily accessible to a person reclining thereon. In addition, the entire combination of the lounge means, convenience accessories, and water-sprinkling conduit arrangement are collapsible ...

The pacing pulse rate of a body implanted standby heart pacer is selectively controlled with a remote rate control device. The pacer has a coil which transmits a signal to the device whenever a natural heartbeat occurs or when an artificial stimulus is delivered to the heart. The same coil receives signals from the remote control device, and, if these signals are faster than the set rate of the pacer, the remote rate control will establish the rate of the pacer. The pacer paces the heart, when i...

A Pacemaker of the demand type having an output control circuit arranged to control the produced pace impulses in such a manner that the amplitude of each impulse is slightly less than that of the preceding impulse. When the amplitude has decreased below the threshold value so that a heart impulse fails to occur within a predetermined period, a reset circuit will cause another pace impulse to be produced having a given initial amplitude.