Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080262322 | INDICATOR METRICS FOR INFECTION MONITORING - A method for monitoring an infection in proximity to an implantable medical device includes monitoring an indicator of infection in proximity to an implanted medical device; determining whether the indicator crosses a first threshold indicative of infection for a first period of time; and issuing a first alert if the indicator crosses the first threshold for the first period of time. The method further includes determining whether the indicator crosses a second threshold indicative of infection for a second period of time. A value associated with the second threshold is less indicative of an infection than a comparable value associated with the first threshold. The second period of time is greater than the first period of time. The method further includes issuing a second alert if the indicator crosses the second threshold for the second period of time. The first and second alert may be the same or different. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262323 | MULTI-PARAMETER INFECTION MONITORING - Methods for monitoring an infection in proximity to an implantable medical device include monitoring a first indicator of infection in proximity to a medical device implanted in a patient; monitoring a second patient parameter; and determining whether the combination of the first indicator and the second parameter are indicative of infection in proximity to the implanted device. If a determination is made that the combination of the first indicator and the second parameter are indicative of infection, an alert may be issued. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262331 | INFECTION MONITORING - Implantable medical devices include a sensor capable of detecting an indicator of infection in proximity to the device. Sensed information regarding the indicator of infection is provided to the device for a time period of between two hours and six months after the device is implanted. A determination may be made as to whether the sensed information is indicative of infection. The determination may be made in the implanted device or in an external device in wireless communication with the implanted device. If the information is indicative of infection, an alert may be issued from the implanted device or an external device. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262332 | INFECTION MONITORING - A method includes monitoring an indicator of infection in proximity to an implanted active therapy delivering medical device and providing information regarding the monitored indicator to the implanted medical device. The method further includes determining whether the information regarding the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the implanted medical device. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262374 | EVENT TRIGGERED INFECTION MONITORING - Implantable medical devices include a sensor module capable of detecting an indicator of infection in proximity to the device. The sensor module is activated following a detection of an event associated with the device, such as, for example, refill of an implantable infusion device or implantation. The sensor module is deactivated two or more hours following activation. Methods include detecting a first event associated with an implanted medical device; activating a sensor module of the implanted medical device at or after the detection of the first event; deactivating the sensor module two hours or more after the sensor module is activated; and determining whether information regarding the indicator of infection is indicative of an infection. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262378 | IMPLANTABLE THERAPY DELIVERY SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS - A system includes an implantable medical device and an implantable therapy delivery element. The device includes a housing, electronics disposed in the housing, and a first temperature sensor operably coupled to the electronics and located in proximity to the housing. The element has a proximal end portion configured to be operably couplable to the device and a distal end portion configured to be placed in a patient at a location removed from the device. A second temperature sensor located on the element between the proximal end and the distal end. The second temperature sensor is operably couplable to the electronics. The electronics are configured to compare a value associated with the first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor to a value associated with the second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor. The system may be used for monitoring an infection in proximity to the device. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262379 | REFINED INFECTION MONITORING - A method for monitoring infection in proximity to an implanted medical device includes monitoring an indicator of infection in proximity to the device and determining whether a value associated the indicator of infection crosses a first threshold indicative of infection. The method further includes detecting an event associated with the device. The event is capable of affecting the indicator of infection. The method also includes determining whether the value associated with the indicator of infection crosses a second threshold indicative of infection if the event is detected. The method may further include issuing an alert if (i) the first threshold is crossed and the event is not detected, or (ii) the second threshold is crossed and the event is detected. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262380 | BASELINE ACQUISITION FOR INFECTION MONITORING - A method includes obtaining a baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to an implantable medical device and monitoring the indicator of infection in proximity to the device. The method further includes determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the device. The determination as to whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection includes comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the baseline value. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262580 | HEATING IMPLANTABLE DEVICE TO TREAT A CONDITION - An implantable medical device includes a housing and electronics disposed in the housing. The device also includes a heating element disposed in proximity to the housing and operably coupled to the electronics. The electronics are configured to control heating of the heating element to heat tissue in proximity to the housing to aid in the treatment of a condition of the patient in proximity to the device when implanted. The device may further include a temperature sensor disposed in proximity to the housing and operably coupled to the electronics. In such embodiments, the electronics may be configured to control the amount of heat generated by the heating element based on information transmitted from the temperature sensor. | 10-23-2008 |
20080269812 | Therapy adjustment - Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy program to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy programs may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy program from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy program is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate program that best suits the detected patient parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy program and a stored therapy program. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy programs may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269843 | Therapy adjustment - Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy program to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy programs may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy program from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy program is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate program that best suits the detected patient parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy program and a stored therapy program. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy programs may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. | 10-30-2008 |
20080281376 | Therapy control using relative motion between sensors - The invention is directed to controlling therapy delivery based on a relative motion between a first and second activity sensor. The relative motion between the activity sensors is representative of the relative motion between the locations of the body of the patient at which the respective activity sensors are located. The use of relative motion, however, may substantially remove motion experienced by both the activity sensors, e.g., motion caused by the environment in which patient is located, thus providing a new reference frame from which to analyze the motion measurements. The relative motion may be used to detect a condition of a movement disorder and/or control delivery of the therapy delivered to patient to treat or reduce the condition. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281381 | Multi-location posture sensing - Techniques for controlling therapy delivery based on the relative orientation and/or motion of a device accelerometer and a lead accelerometer are described. In one embodiment, a therapy system includes an electrical stimulator and a lead. The electrical stimulator comprises a processor that controls delivery of a therapy to a target stimulation site in a patient and a device accelerometer coupled to the electrical stimulator. The lead is coupled to the electrical stimulator to deliver the therapy from the electrical stimulator to the target stimulation site in the patient, and includes a lead accelerometer. The processor compares signals from the accelerometers, and controls delivery of the therapy to the patient based on the comparison. In this manner, the processor may adjust stimulation to, for example, address movement of electrodes relative to target tissue when a patient changes postures. | 11-13-2008 |
20080300449 | EVALUATING PATIENT INCONTINENCE - Systems and methods for determining a number of interruptions in a sleep state of a patient attributable to an urge or need to void during a sleep event include monitoring an activity level of the patient. The urge or need to void may be attributable to fecal or urinary incontinence. The patient activity level may be determined with one or more sensors that detect motion and/or one or more sensors that monitor a physiological parameter of the patient that varies as a function of patient activity. In one embodiment, a clinician selects a therapy parameter set for the patient based on the severity of the patient's incontinence. In another embodiment, the number of interruptions in the sleep state is associated with a therapy parameter set that was implemented during the sleep state in order to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy parameter set. In another embodiment, a medical device automatically adjusts a therapy parameter to treat the incontinence if the number of interruptions in the sleep state exceeds a threshold. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300470 | COLLECTING ACTIVITY DATA FOR EVALUATION OF PATIENT INCONTINENCE - Systems and methods for determining whether an involuntary voiding event was attributable to stress or urge incontinence include determining an activity level of a patient that coincides with the occurrence of the involuntary voiding event or the activity level within a certain time range of the involuntary voiding event. Patient activity data may be collected via a signal that varies as a function of patient activity. The signal may be generated with one or more sensors that detect motion, such as an accelerometer or a piezoelectric crystal, and/or one or more sensors that monitor a physiological parameter of the patient that varies as a function of patient activity, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, electrocardiogram morphology, respiration rate, respiratory volume, core temperature, muscular activity level or subcutaneous temperature of the patient. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300650 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD INCLUDING VOIDING EVENT SENSOR - An implantable medical lead includes at least one stimulation electrode and at least one sensor configured to generate an electrical signal that varies as a function of a parameter associated with a voiding event of a patient. In some embodiments, the sensor may be at least one of a microphone that captures sounds associated with voiding events, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a strain gauge, a physiological parameter sensing electrode or a temperature sensor. The electrical signal generated by the sensor may used to detect an occurrence of a voiding event. Thus, the lead may be coupled wirelessly or via a wired connection to a device that processes the electrical signal from the sensor, generates voiding information based on the electrical signal, and in some cases, records the voiding information for later retrieval and analysis. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300651 | VOIDING EVENT IDENTIFICATION BASED ON PATIENT INPUT - An implantable medical device (IMD) is configured to operate as an automatic voiding diary for logging urinary and/or fecal voiding events. The IMD detects urinary and/or fecal voiding events and generates data that identifies detected events as voluntary or involuntary events. In particular, the IMD generates the identification data based on a patient defined action. In one embodiment, the patient defined action is the patient tapping on the skin located above the IMD. The IMD may generate the identification data based on one or more characteristics of the tapping, e.g., the number, frequency, duration, or pattern of taps. The IMD may also generate the identification data based on a lack of input during a specific range of time after a detected voiding event. In some embodiments, the identification data may be used to identify a false positive, i.e., an event that was incorrectly detected by the IMD. | 12-04-2008 |
20090005770 | CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE DURING RECHARGE FOR TREATMENT OF CONDITION - Methods include determining whether an infection is in proximity to an implanted rechargeable medical device. If an infection is determined to be present, the recharge process is allowed to sufficiently heat the device to facilitate clearing of the infection. Additional methods include monitoring temperature in proximity to an implantable rechargeable device in connection with recharging the device. If the monitored temperature falls outside a desired range, one or more parameters associated with recharge energy are modified to cause the temperature to reside within the desired range. The desired temperature range, may be a range that can facilitate treatment of a condition in proximity to the implanted device without causing undesired damage to the patient's tissue surrounding the implanted device. | 01-01-2009 |
20090174559 | EXTERNAL VOIDING SENSOR SYSTEM - The disclosure describes an external sensor attached to an undergarment worn by a patient that detects voiding information. The sensor stores the voiding information in a voiding log and transmits the voiding log to an external device. The external device includes a user interface that displays the voiding log to the patient for review. The patient may correct any incorrect voiding information that was logged in error or due to a non-voiding event. A user, such as a clinician or the patient, may use the voiding information to diagnose a condition of the patient. In addition, the voiding information of the voiding log may be used by the user to adjust a stimulation therapy or the external device to automatically adjust stimulation therapy. The undergarment may be disposable or washable after patient use. | 07-09-2009 |
20090198146 | BLANKING INFECTION MONITORING DURING RECHARGE - A method includes monitoring infection in proximity to a rechargeable implantable medical device; determining whether an event associated with recharging of the device has occurred; and blanking the monitoring if the event has occurred. | 08-06-2009 |
20090273318 | TIME REMAINING TO CHARGE AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, CHARGER INDICATOR, SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFORE - System and method for estimating a time to recharge a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device. A plurality of measured parameters relating to the implantable medical device and an external charging device are applied to a model of recharging performance and an estimate is provided to a patient, perhaps in advance of charging. Once charging has begun, updated estimates can be provided until charging is complete. Once charging is complete, the model may be updated to reflect any differences in the estimated time to complete charging and the actual time required to complete charging. The model may be based on limitations to the rate at which charge may be transferred to the rechargeable power source over a plurality of intervals. | 11-05-2009 |
20090273349 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A POWER SOURCE OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques for monitoring a battery of an implantable medical device are disclosed. First and second current sources are provided to draw currents having amplitudes of I | 11-05-2009 |
20090276015 | TIME TO NEXT RECHARGE SESSION FEEDBACK WHILE RECHARGING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFORE - A system and method for determining, during a recharge session, an amount of time until a subsequent recharge session is required to charge a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device. A model allows a determination of the time until recharge without suspending charging during the recharge session by basing the determination on an initial measured battery voltage and a present current into the rechargeable power source. Alternatively, charging is suspended during the recharge session, and voltage measurements are taken, after which time charging is resumed, without patient input or suspending the recharge session. | 11-05-2009 |
20090299153 | EVENT TRIGGERED INFECTION MONITORING - Implantable medical devices include a sensor module capable of detecting an indicator of infection in proximity to the device. The sensor module is activated following a detection of an event associated with the device, such as, for example, refill of an implantable infusion device or implantation. The sensor module is deactivated two or more hours following activation. Methods include detecting a first event associated with an implanted medical device; activating a sensor module of the implanted medical device at or after the detection of the first event; deactivating the sensor module two hours or more after the sensor module is activated; and determining whether information regarding the indicator of infection is indicative of an infection. | 12-03-2009 |
20100280576 | TREE-BASED ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR PROGRAMMING - The disclosure describes an implantable stimulation system that guides programming with a therapeutic tree. All possible stimulation parameters are arranged on the therapeutic tree, with each level of the therapeutic tree containing a different stimulation parameter type. Each level includes nodes that are connected to nodes of adjacent levels. A program path is created by moving through nodes of lower levels. The stimulation parameter types are arranged so that coarse adjustments occur at higher levels of the tree and fine adjustments occur at lower levels of the tree. The nodes of the program path define the stimulation parameters of the delivered stimulation therapy. The user may provide information such as efficacy input and/or medication dosage information to the system for identifying the most efficacious program path in treating pain of the patient. Additionally or alternatively, efficacy feedback may be received from physiological parameter sensors. | 11-04-2010 |
20110009928 | THERAPY ADJUSTMENT - Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy parameter value to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy parameter values may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy parameter value from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy parameter value is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate therapy parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy parameter value and a stored therapy parameter value. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy parameter values may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. | 01-13-2011 |
20110040352 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION BASED ON AN ENERGY THRESHOLD - A therapy program is modified to decompose a therapy field generated by therapy delivery by a medical device according to a therapy program into a plurality of subfields based on a comparison between an energy associated with the therapy program and a threshold value. The therapy field defined by the therapy program may be decomposed into a plurality of subfields when an electrical stimulation energy of the stimulation signal defined by the therapy program exceeds the maximum energy output of the medical device or of a channel of the medical device. Therapy subprograms may be generated for each of the therapy subfields. An energy associated with each of the therapy subfields may be less than the energy threshold value of the medical device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040353 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION BASED ON AN ENERGY THRESHOLD - A therapy program is modified to decompose an electrical stimulation signal defined by the therapy program into a plurality of sub-signals based on a comparison between an energy associated with the stimulation signal and a threshold value. An electrical stimulation signal defined by a therapy program may be decomposed into a plurality of subsignals when an electrical stimulation energy of the stimulation signal exceeds the maximum energy output of the medical device or of a channel of the medical device. The energy associated with each one of the subsignals may be less than the energy threshold value of the medical device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040546 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION - A therapy program may be modified based on information indicative of a change in a therapy field, which may represent a region of a patient's tissue to which therapy is delivered. Upon receiving information indicative of a therapy field change, an algorithmic model of a present therapy field may be generated and compared to an algorithmic model of a baseline therapy field, which indicates a therapy field that provides efficacious therapy to the patient. If a characteristic of the present therapy field differs from the baseline therapy field model, the current therapy program may be modified. In another example, upon receiving information indicative of a therapy field change, the current therapy program may be modified, and an algorithmic model of a therapy field based on the modified therapy program may be compared to a baseline therapy field model to determine whether the modified therapy program is a suitable alternative. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040547 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION BASED ON THERAPY GUIDELINES - Techniques for modeling therapy fields for therapy delivered by medical devices are described. Each therapy field model is based on a set of therapy parameters and represents where therapy will propagate from the therapy system delivering therapy according to the set of therapy parameters. Therapy field models may be useful in guiding the modification of therapy parameters. As one example, a processor compares an algorithmic model of a therapy field to a reference therapy field and adjusts at least one therapy parameter based on the comparison. As another example, a processor adjusts at least one therapy parameter to increase an operating efficiency of the therapy system while substantially maintaining the modeled therapy field. | 02-17-2011 |
20110208012 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION BASED ON A THERAPY FIELD MODEL - Techniques for modeling therapy fields for therapy delivered by medical devices are described. Each therapy field model is based on a set of therapy parameters and represents where therapy will propagate from the therapy system delivering therapy according to the set of therapy parameters. Therapy field models may be useful in guiding the modification of therapy parameters. As one example, a processor compares an algorithmic model of a therapy field to a reference therapy field and adjusts at least one therapy parameter based on the comparison. As another example, a processor adjusts at least one therapy parameter to increase an operating efficiency of the therapy system while substantially maintaining the modeled therapy field. | 08-25-2011 |
20120123499 | Therapy Control Using Relative Motion Between Sensors - The invention is directed to controlling therapy delivery based on a relative motion between a first and second activity sensor. The relative motion between the activity sensors is representative of the relative motion between the locations of the body of the patient at which the respective activity sensors are located. The use of relative motion, however, may substantially remove motion experienced by both the activity sensors, e.g., motion caused by the environment in which patient is located, thus providing a new reference frame from which to analyze the motion measurements. The relative motion may be used to detect a condition of a movement disorder and/or control delivery of the therapy delivered to patient to treat or reduce the condition. | 05-17-2012 |
20130261698 | THERAPY CONTROL USING RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN SENSORS - The invention is directed to controlling therapy delivery based on a relative motion between a first and second activity sensor. The relative motion between the activity sensors is representative of the relative motion between the locations of the body of the patient at which the respective activity sensors are located. The use of relative motion, however, may substantially remove motion experienced by both the activity sensors, e.g., motion caused by the environment in which patient is located, thus providing a new reference frame from which to analyze the motion measurements. The relative motion may be used to detect a condition of a movement disorder and/or control delivery of the therapy delivered to patient to treat or reduce the condition. | 10-03-2013 |
20140031900 | THERAPY PROGRAM MODIFICATION BASED ON AN ENERGY THREHOLD - A therapy program is modified to decompose an electrical stimulation signal defined by the therapy program into a plurality of subsignals based on a comparison between an energy associated with the stimulation signal and a threshold value. An electrical stimulation signal defined by a therapy program may be decomposed into a plurality of subsignals when an electrical stimulation energy of the stimulation signal exceeds the maximum energy output of the medical device or of a channel of the medical device. The energy associated with each one of the subsignals may be less than the energy threshold value of the medical device. | 01-30-2014 |
20140277251 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PROVIDING ADAPTIVE NEUROSTIMULATION THERAPY - In general, the disclosure is directed to an implantable neurostimulator and system capable of providing adaptive neurostimulation therapy to alleviate incontinence. The neurostimulator operates according to a set of stimulation parameters stored in memory. During operation, information is obtained from the patient, the implanted neurostimulator, one or more implanted sensors, or some combination thereof. A processor analyzes the information to automatically generate proposed adjustments to the stimulation parameters applied by the neurostimulator. The adjustments provide an adaptive neurostimulation therapy that supports or enhances therapeutic efficacy based on the information. | 09-18-2014 |