Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090157127 | TELEMETRY DURING SAFETY MODE OPERATION - This document discusses, among other things, n implantable device comprising a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external device, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and the communication circuit. The processor is configured to communicate information with the external device, via the communication circuit and the logic circuit, using a set of communication messages. While in a device safety mode, the processor is held in an inactive state and the logic circuit is configured to communicate with the external device using a subset of the set of communication messages. | 06-18-2009 |
20090189082 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RADIATION EFFECTS DETECTION - This document discusses, among other things, an implantable apparatus comprising a solid state electronic circuit and a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect an exposure of the solid state electronic circuit to ionizing radiation, and generate an indication of a non-single-event-upset (non-SEU) effect to the solid state electronic circuit from the exposure to ionizing radiation. | 07-30-2009 |
20090254915 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FAULT RESILIENT PROCESSING IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device is provided. A processor and memory store are provided in an implantable medical device. Separate times on the processor are scheduled to a plurality of processes. Separate memory spaces in the memory store are managed by exclusively associating one such separate memory space with each of the processes. Data is selectively validated prior to exchange from one of the processes to another of the processes during execution in the separate processor times. | 10-08-2009 |
20100087892 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE RESPONSIVE TO MRI INDUCED CAPTURE THRESHOLD CHANGES - Energy delivered from an implantable medical device to stimulate tissue within a patient's body is controlled. An electrical signal used to stimulate the tissue is changed from a first energy state to a second energy state during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The energy delivered is maintained at the second energy state after the MRI scan. A capture threshold of the tissue is then measured, and the energy delivered to the tissue is adjusted based on the measured capture threshold of the tissue. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088539 | System and Method for Providing Fault Tolerant Processing in an Implantable Medical Device - Embodiments herein generally relate to implantable medical devices and, specifically, to a system and method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device. In an embodiment a system for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. The system can include an implantable medical device comprising a processor and memory store configured to execute a plurality of threads, temporal and spatial constraints assigned to one or more of the threads, and a kernel. The kernel can include a scheduler and a thread monitor configured to monitor execution of threads against the temporal and spatial constraints, and further configured to issue a response upon violation of either of the constraints by one of the plurality of threads. In an embodiment a method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. Other embodiments are also included herein. | 04-08-2010 |
20100106215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETECT IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE CONFIGUARATION CHANGES AFFECTING MRI CONDITIONAL SAFETY - Systems and methods for checking the connection of a lead to an implantable medical device implanted within a patient's body are disclosed. An illustrative method includes measuring at least one characteristic associated with the lead connection to the implantable medical device prior to an MRI scan. The method further includes comparing the at least one measured characteristic with a threshold parameter programmed within the implantable medical device. The method further includes setting a flag in the implantable medical device upon the at least one measured characteristic satisfying at least one condition associated with the threshold parameter for a predetermined period of time. The flag indicates a disconnection of the lead from the implantable medical device. | 04-29-2010 |
20100211123 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ARRHYTHMIA THERAPY IN MRI ENVIRONMENTS - Systems and methods for arrhythmia therapy in MRI environments are disclosed. Various systems disclosed utilize ATP therapy rather than ventricular shocks when patients are subjected to electromagnetic fields in an MRI scanner bore and shock therapy is not available. As the patient is moved out from within the scanner bore and away from the MRI scanner, the magnetic fields diminish in strength eventually allowing a high voltage capacitor within the IMD to charge if necessary. The system may detect when the electromagnetic fields no longer interfere with the shock therapy and will transition the IMD back to a normal operational mode where shock therapy can be delivered. Then, if the arrhythmia still exists, the system will carry out all of the system's prescribed operations, including the delivery of electric shocks to treat the arrhythmia. | 08-19-2010 |
20110137359 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC TACHYCARDIA DETECTION AND CONTROL IN MRI ENVIRONMENTS - An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a lead having one or more sensing electrodes and one or more therapy delivery electrodes, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of static and time-varying scan fields in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. A controller, in electrical communication with the lead and the sensor, is configured to process signals related to tachycardia events sensed via the one or more sensing electrodes and to deliver pacing and shock therapy signals via the one or more therapy delivery electrodes. The controller compares the sensed static and time-varying scan fields to static and time-varying scan field thresholds. The controller controls delivery of anti-tachycardia pacing and shock therapy signals as a function of the detected tachycardia events, the comparison of the sensed static scan field to the static scan field threshold, and the comparison of the time-varying scan fields to the time-varying scan field thresholds. | 06-09-2011 |
20110145588 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO AUTHORIZE RESTRICTED FUNCTIONALITY - Embodiments of the invention are related to medical systems and methods for controlling authorization of restricted functionality, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a medical system including an external medical device programmer comprising control circuitry and a wireless communications module for sending instructions selected from a set of instructions wirelessly to a specific implanted medical device. In an embodiment, the external medical device programmer can be configured to initiate a transfer of verifying data to a remote key authority requesting permission if the user input directs delivery of restricted instructions to the specific implanted medical device, the verifying data including information regarding the specific implanted medical device. Other embodiments are also included herein. | 06-16-2011 |
20110156706 | SENSING DURING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Physiologic information can be received from a subject during a portion of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session using a sensing circuit of an implantable medical device (IMD). An indication of an active MRI scan can be received, and a time period to inhibit use of physiological information from the subject can be determined following the received indication of the active MRI scan. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160565 | DETECTING PROXIMITY TO MRI SCANNER - A plurality of separate indications of a scanner field can be received using a corresponding plurality of scanner field sensors of an implantable medical device (IMD). In an example, the IMD can be switched from a first therapy mode to a second therapy mode using one or more of the plurality of scanner field sensors, and from the second therapy mode back to the first therapy mode using each of the plurality of scanner field sensors. In certain examples, shock therapy can be terminated or inhibited using a detected proximity of the IMD to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, or antitachycardia pacing (ATP) can be terminated or inhibited using a detected active scan of the MRI scanner. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160567 | FUNCTIONAL MRI CARDIAC OPTIMIZATION - An implantable or other ambulatory device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac function management device, can use imaging information, such as one or more of cardiac functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) information or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) information, such as for helping optimize one or more parameters of the implantable or other ambulatory device. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160602 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE WITH POST-MRI CARDIAC SIGNAL SENSING ADJUSTMENT - An implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can include an automatic testing and adjusting of cardiac signal sensing after an MRI scanning procedure, such as to accommodate an MRI-induced physiological change in sensed cardiac depolarization amplitude or in lead impedance such as at an electrode/tissue interface. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160786 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE FAILSAFE MODE FOR MRI - An implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can include a failsafe backup, such as a separate and independent safety core that can assume control over operation of the implantable device from a primary controller. In an example, the safety core can include a normal first safety core operating mode and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) second safety core operating mode that can provide different functionality from the normal first safety core operating mode. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160816 | APPARATUS TO SELECTIVELY INCREASE MEDICAL DEVICE LEAD INNER CONDUCTOR INDUCTANCE - A medical device lead includes an insulative lead body, outer and inner conductive coils, and a flexible core assembly. The outer conductive coil extends through the lead body and is coupled to a first electrode at a distal end of the outer conductive coil. The inner conductive coil extends coaxially with the outer conductive coil, is coupled to a second electrode at a distal end of the inner conductive coil, and includes a central lumen. The flexible core assembly is disposed in the central lumen and is comprised of a material that has a saturation magnetization of at least about 1.5 T and a relative permeability of greater than one. The flexible core assembly includes a positioning interface configured for manipulation of the flexible core assembly such that the flexible core assembly translates through the central lumen during insertion and extraction of the flexible core assembly. | 06-30-2011 |
20110163834 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING INDUCTOR SATURATION IN MAGNETIC FIELDS - This document discusses, among other things, an inductive component that can include a core having two portions: (1) a first portion composed of a first material having a first magnetic saturation level; and (2) a second portion composed of a second material selected to provide inductance for the inductive component when an external magnetic field is greater than the first magnetic saturation level. In an example, the first portion can be composed of a material having a relatively low magnetic saturation level (e.g., a ferrite), and the second portion can be composed of a material having a relatively high magnetic saturation level (e.g., a high permeability iron alloy). | 07-07-2011 |
20110166449 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RADIATION EFFECTS DETECTION - An implantable medical apparatus comprises a solid state electronic circuit, an ionizing radiation exposure sensor, an ionizing radiation dose rate sensor, and a controller circuit. The ionizing radiation exposure sensor is configured to detect an exposure of the solid state electronic circuit to ionizing radiation, and generate an indication of a non-single-event-upset (non-SEU) effect to the solid state electronic circuit from the exposure to ionizing radiation, wherein the sensor comprises an accumulated ionizing radiation exposure sensor. The controller circuit is configured to blank the indication from the accumulated ionizing radiation exposure sensor when the radiation dose rate sensor indicates that flux ionizing radiation exceeds a flux ionizing radiation threshold. | 07-07-2011 |
20120004694 | THERAPY CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device can include a therapy circuit configured to provide a specified electrostimulation therapy to a tissue site, the specified electrostimulation therapy including a scheduled completion, the therapy circuit including a protection circuit configured to adjust specification of the electrostimulation therapy being provided so as to provide an adjusted electrostimulation therapy before the scheduled completion. The medical device can include a monitoring circuit comprising a comparator. The monitoring circuit can be configured to trigger the protection circuit to inhibit the therapy circuit when the therapy circuit output parameter exceeds the specified threshold as indicated by the comparator. | 01-05-2012 |
20120130453 | INSULATIVE STRUCTURE FOR MRI COMPATIBLE LEADS - A medical device lead includes a proximal connector, an insulative lead body extending distally from the proximal connector. The proximal connector is configured to couple the lead to a pulse generator. A first conductive coil is coupled to the proximal connector and extends through the lead body. The first conductive coil is coupled to a first electrode at a distal end of the first conductive coil. A first magnetically impregnated polymer layer is adjacent the first conductive coil. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143273 | IMPLANTABLE LEAD INCLUDING A SPARK GAP TO REDUCE HEATING IN MRI ENVIRONMENTS - A medical device lead includes a proximal connector configured to couple the lead to a pulse generator, and an insulative lead body extending distally from the proximal connector. The first lead conductor is coupled to the proximal connector and extends through the lead body. The medical device lead also includes a distal defibrillation electrode. A first spark gap is connected between the first lead conductor and the distal defibrillation electrode and has a breakdown voltage that prevents transmission of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) induced signals from the first lead conductor to the distal defibrillation electrode in an MRI environment and allows transmission of therapy signals to the distal defibrillation electrode. | 06-07-2012 |
20130041444 | MEDICAL DEVICE LEAD WITH CONDUCTOR FRACTURE PREDICTION - A medical device lead includes a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is configured for connection to a pulse generator. One or more electrodes are at a distal end of the lead body, and a lead conductor extends through the lead body and is electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrodes. The conductor is configured to deliver electrical signals between the proximal end and the at least one of the one or more electrodes. A sacrificial conductor extends through the lead body adjacent to lead conductor and is configured to fail at a lower stress than the lead conductor. | 02-14-2013 |
20130152380 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING INDUCTOR SATURATION IN MAGNETIC FIELDS - This document discusses, among other things, an inductive component that can include a core having two portions: (1) a first portion composed of a first material having a first magnetic saturation level; and (2) a second portion composed of a second material selected to provide inductance for the inductive component when an external magnetic field is greater than the first magnetic saturation level. In an example, the first portion can be composed of a material having a relatively low magnetic saturation level (e.g., a ferrite), and the second portion can be composed of a material having a relatively high magnetic saturation level (e.g., a high permeability iron alloy). | 06-20-2013 |
20140046390 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC TACHYCARDIA DETECTION AND CONTROL IN MRI ENVIRONMENTS - An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a lead having one or more sensing electrodes and one or more therapy delivery electrodes, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of static and time-varying scan fields in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. A controller, in electrical communication with the lead and the sensor, is configured to process signals related to tachycardia events sensed via the one or more sensing electrodes and to deliver pacing and shock therapy signals via the one or more therapy delivery electrodes. The controller compares the sensed static and time-varying scan fields to static and time-varying scan field thresholds. The controller controls delivery of anti-tachycardia pacing and shock therapy signals as a function of the detected tachycardia events, the comparison of the sensed static scan field to the static scan field threshold, and the comparison of the time-varying scan fields to the time-varying scan field thresholds. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046392 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE RESPONSIVE TO MRI INDUCED CAPTURE THRESHOLD CHANGES - Energy delivered from an implantable medical device to stimulate tissue within a patient's body is controlled. An electrical signal used to stimulate the tissue is changed from a first energy state to a second energy state during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The energy delivered is maintained at the second energy state after the MRI scan. A capture threshold of the tissue is then measured, and the energy delivered to the tissue is adjusted based on the measured capture threshold of the tissue. | 02-13-2014 |
20140135861 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ARRHYTHMIA THERAPY IN MRI ENVIRONMENTS - Systems and methods for arrhythmia therapy in MRI environments are disclosed. Various systems disclosed utilize ATP therapy rather than ventricular shocks when patients are subjected to electromagnetic fields in an MRI scanner bore and shock therapy is not available. As the patient is moved out from within the scanner bore and away from the MRI scanner, the magnetic fields diminish in strength eventually allowing a high voltage capacitor within the IMD to charge if necessary. The system may detect when the electromagnetic fields no longer interfere with the shock therapy and will transition the IMD back to a normal operational mode where shock therapy can be delivered. Then, if the arrhythmia still exists, the system will carry out all of the system's prescribed operations, including the delivery of electric shocks to treat the arrhythmia. | 05-15-2014 |
20140350619 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMMING - A system and method of enabling detection enhancements selected from a plurality of detection enhancements. In a system having a plurality of clinical rhythms, including a first clinical rhythm, where each of the detection enhancements is associated with the clinical rhythms, the first clinical rhythm is selected. The first clinical rhythm is associated with first and second detection enhancements. When the first clinical rhythm is selected, parameters of the first and second detection enhancements are set automatically. A determination is made as to whether changes are to be made to the parameters. If so, one or more of the parameters are modified under user control. | 11-27-2014 |