Heart pacer

Abstract

A heart pacer to be implanted between the pectoralis major muscle and the skin a short distance below the clavicle having an outer container in the shape of an ovaloid.[...]. .Iadd.being, except where the heart lead is connected, curved in all dimensions and free of corners and shape ends. .Iaddend.Such a heart pacer adapts itself positionally, cosmetically and with a minimum of discomfort to implantation.

We claim: 
     
       1. A heart pacer including a container having therein power-supply means and means for deriving pulsations to be supplied to the heart from said power-supply means, said container to be implanted a short distance below the clavicle of the human body, said container having the form generally of an ovaloid its contour as viewed from its ends, its top and bottom and its sides, being of generally oval 0 configuration whereby said pacer adapts itself positionally and cosmetically and with a minimum of discomfort to the region of the human body where it is implanted. 
     
     
       2. The heart pacer of claim 1 wherein the contour of the container as viewed in the directions of its ends, of its top and bottom and of its sides is of generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
       3. The heart pacer of claim 1 to be implanted between the pectoralis major muscle and the epidermis of the host, the dimensions in connection with the ovaloid contour of the container of the pacer being such that said container seats neatly in the pectoralis major muscle and in the epidermis without producing an unsightly bulge of the epidermis. 
     
     
       4. The heart pacer of claim 1 having a container which has substantially no sharp corners in the region where it is seated in the body. 
     
     
       5. The heart pacer of claim 1 having a terminal for connecting a catheter, said terminal extending generally tangentially from a surface of the container. .Iadd. 6. A heart pacer to be implanted in a body by being seated between the skin and other tissue of said body, said heart pacer including a container having therein power-supply means and means for deriving pulsations for the heart from said power-supply means, said container having a head through which a catheter is to be connected to the heart extends, said head being encased in a casing forming a part of said container, said container having an outer surface which, except for said head and casing, is curved in all dimensions and the transition from each dimension to others is smooth, such that the container is free of corners and sharp ends, so that when said heart pacer is implanted, it is neatly seated between said other tissue and said skin, the depth of said container being small compared to the length or the width of said container, the said depth being the largest distance between the wall of the container, which is to engage the skin of the host on implantation, and the opposite wall of said container. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. The heart pacer of claim 6 wherein the head extends and the catheter enters the head laterally of the wall of the container which is to engage the skin of the host on implantation and the opposite wall of the container. .Iaddend.