Controlling telemetry during magnetic resonance imaging

• US 20050070975A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zeijlemaker, Volkert A., Goedeke, Steven D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64

Abstract

The invention is directed techniques for coordinating telemetry of medical devices with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. By coordinating telemetry of a medical device with the performance of MRI techniques with, the use of telemetry during MRI may be facilitated. In one example, information indicative of electromagnetic radiation bursts in MRI techniques can be communicated to the medical device prior to execution. In another example, the medical device may identify the electromagnetic radiation bursts, e.g., by measuring for the presence of such bursts. In either case, the medical device can adjust its telemetry to improve communication during MRI.

Claims

1. A method of coordinating a medical device with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:

identifying information associated with one or more MRI electromagnetic radiation bursts; and

adjusting telemetry of a medical device during the electromagnetic radiation bursts based on the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying information comprises receiving the information from an MRI device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying information comprises identifying timing information indicative of a timing of one or more electromagnetic radiation bursts.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the timing information includes a start time of at least one burst interval, a duration of the burst interval(s), and a time interval between successive burst intervals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting telemetry comprises disabling one or more components of a telemetry unit during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting telemetry comprises increasing power of telemetry signals during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting telemetry comprises selecting a packet size for effective communication between burst intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying information associated with one or more MRI magnetic gradients; and

adjusting telemetry of a medical device during application of the MRI magnetic gradients.

9. A method of coordinating a medical device with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:

identifying an occurrence of one or more magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts; and

adjusting telemetry of a medical device to allow for effective communication during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically adjusting telemetry of a medical device upon identifying the occurrence.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising measuring one or more characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation bursts and adjusting telemetry based on the measured characteristics.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the characteristics include a duration of the electromagnetic radiations bursts and a time interval between bursts.

13. A medical device comprising:

a telemetry unit perform telemetry with another device; and

a control unit to adjust the telemetry during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the telemetry unit receives information from an MRI device indicative of the electromagnetic radiation bursts, and wherein the control unit adjusts telemetry based on the information.

15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the information comprises timing information indicative of a timing of one or more electromagnetic radiation bursts.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the timing information includes a start time of at least one burst interval, a duration of the burst interval(s), and a time interval between successive burst intervals.

17. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the control unit adjusts telemetry by disabling one or more components of the telemetry unit during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

18. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the control unit adjusts telemetry by increasing power of telemetry signals during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

19. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the control unit adjusts telemetry by selecting a packet size for effective communication between burst intervals.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of:

a programmer, an implantable medical device, a cardiac pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter, a pacemaker-defibrillator-cardioverter, a sensing device, a monitor, a muscular stimulator, a nerve stimulator, a deep brain stimulator, a gastric stimulator, a colon stimulator, an agent dispenser, and a recorder.

21. A medical device comprising:

a telemetry unit perform telemetry with another device; and

a control unit to identify an occurrence of one or more magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts and adjust the telemetry during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the control unit automatically adjusts telemetry upon identifying the occurrence.

23. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the telemetry unit receives radiation associated with the electromagnetic radiation bursts and the control unit measures one or more characteristics of the received radiation and adjusts telemetry based on the measured characteristics.

24. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the characteristics define a duration of the electromagnetic radiations bursts and a time interval between bursts.

25. A system comprising:

a first medical device to transmit information indicative of one or more magnetic radiation imaging (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts; and

a second medical device to receive the information and adjust telemetry based on the information.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device and the second medical device is a programmer.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device and the second medical device is an implantable medical device.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the first medical device is a programmer and the second medical device is an implantable medical device.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising a third medical device to receive the information and adjust telemetry based on the information, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device, the second medical device is an implantable medical device, and the third medical device is a programmer.

30. A system comprising

a first medical device to apply magnetic radiation imaging (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts;

and

a second medical device to receive radiation from the electromagnetic radiation bursts and adjust telemetry during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device and the second medical device is an implantable medical device.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device and the second medical device is a programmer.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising a third medical device to receive radiation from the electromagnetic radiation bursts and adjust telemetry during the electromagnetic radiation bursts, wherein the first medical device is an MRI device, the second medical device is an implantable medical device, and the third medical device is a programmer.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending communications to another device; and

means for adjusting telemetry during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending communications to another device;

means for identifying one or more magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) electromagnetic radiation bursts; and

means for adjusting telemetry to allow effective communication during the electromagnetic radiation bursts.

36. A method of coordinating a medical device with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising:

performing MRI imaging techniques by applying a substantially constant strong magnetic field, applying one or more MRI electromagnetic radiation bursts, and imaging a patient following the MRI electromagnetic radiation bursts;

identifying information associated with one or more MRI electromagnetic radiation bursts; and

adjusting telemetry of a medical device during the electromagnetic radiation bursts based on the information.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein identifying information comprises receiving the information from an MRI device that performs the MRI imaging techniques.