Systems and methods used to reserve a constant battery capacity

• US 20050266301A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erickson, John H., Smith, Galen L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed which provide a substantially constant battery reserve capacity with respect to therapeutic medical devices. Accordingly, a battery control system may be operable to maintain a substantially constant reserve capacity throughout the life of the battery. The battery reserve capacity activation threshold may be set and continuously or periodically updated so that a battery'"'"'s remaining capacity equals the predetermined reserve capacity when the measured parameter reaches the activation threshold, thereby allowing a maximum amount of a battery'"'"'s total capacity to be employed for therapeutic use and reserve only that portion of that capacity determined to provide for a desired level and/or period of device function after reaching the reserve threshold.

Claims

1. A therapeutic medical device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry disposed in said housing and configured to generate a signal used in a therapeutic regimen;

a battery disposed within said housing and providing energy to said electronic circuitry for generating said signal; and

a battery control system operable to maintain a substantially constant reserve capacity throughout the life of said battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery control system comprises:

a programmable voltage comparator system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein said battery control system comprises:

a charging voltage change monitoring system, information from said charging voltage change monitoring system being used by said battery control system to establish said constant reserve capacity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery control system comprises:

a discharge voltage change monitoring system, information from said discharge voltage change monitoring system being used by said battery control system to establish said constant reserve capacity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery control system comprises:

a charging resistance change monitoring system, information from said charging resistance change monitoring system being used by said battery control system to establish said constant reserve capacity.

6. A method of providing a substantially constant battery reserve capacity with respect to a therapeutic medical device utilizing a battery, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one operational parameter of said battery; and

reserving battery capacity from a present total capacity of said battery, as a function of said monitored operational parameter, sufficient to provide operation of said medical device for a predetermined minimum amount of time while minimizing reduction of operating capacity.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining said present total capacity of said battery from said monitored operational parameter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said reserving battery capacity comprises:

measuring an output voltage of said battery;

comparing said measured voltage to at least one table; and

selecting an activation threshold for a measurable parameter according to said at least one table.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said reserving battery capacity comprises:

providing a programmable voltage comparator system;

selecting an activation threshold for a measurable parameter according to information provided by said voltage comparator system.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said determining information comprises:

determining said battery total capacity as a function of battery output voltage and total charge applied during recharging said battery.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said determining information comprises:

measuring a change in output voltage of said battery based on power discharged.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said reserving battery capacity comprises:

measuring said battery'"'"'s resistance to charging.

13. An electronic stimulation system for modifying neuronal signal transmission comprising:

an implantable generator portion comprising;

a housing;

a rechargeable battery;

electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to said battery, said electronic circuitry configured to generate a pulse used in a therapeutic regimen from energy provided by said battery; and

a battery capacity reserving system operable to maintain a constant and predetermined battery reserve capacity over a life of said rechargeable battery; and

a stimulation portion having a plurality of electrodes, said generator portion coupled to said plurality of electrodes and providing said pulse thereto.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said predetermined battery reserve capacity comprises a selected amount of time of normal operation using a present operating instruction set.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said predetermined battery reserve capacity comprises a selected amount of time of operating instruction set parameter sustaining operation.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said battery capacity reserving system establishes multiple activation thresholds with respect to reserved battery capacity.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said battery capacity reserving system comprises:

memory, software residing in said memory, and a table residing in said memory, and wherein said software sets an activation threshold according to a battery reserve capacity determined using said table.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said battery reserve capacity measurement system further comprises:

a voltage comparator system.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said battery capacity reserving system further comprises:

a charging voltage change monitoring system.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said battery capacity reserving system further comprises:

a discharge voltage change monitoring system.