Synchronization and calibration of clocks for a medical device and calibrated clock

• US 20060161384A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Werder, Jonathan C., Frei, Mark G., Osorio, Ivan, Bhavaraju, Naresh C., Peters, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/176
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/00 Synchronisation radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Apparatus and method support the synchronization and calibration of a plurality of clocks in a medical device system that may provide treatment to a patient with a nervous system disorder. The plurality of clocks, which may be located at different components of the medical device system, comprises a first clock and a second clock. The second clock may be synchronized to a first clock by disabling a run mode operation and setting the second clock to a selected time. When a reference time of the first clock approximately equals the selected time, the second clock enables the run mode operation. Additionally, a drift time that is indicative of a time difference between the first clock and the second clock is determined. If the drift time is greater than a predetermined amount, an indication to resynchronize the first and second clocks is provided.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a plurality of clocks wherein at least one of the clocks is associated with a medical device system, the plurality of clocks comprising a first clock and a second clock, the method comprising:

(a) reading a current time from the second clock;

(b) obtaining a reference time;

(c) subtracting the current time from a reference time in order to determine a drift time;

(d) storing the drift time into a memory; and

(e) if the drift time is greater than a predetermined amount, resynchronizing the first and second clocks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second clocks is implanted within a patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference time is obtained from an implanted device.

4. A method for calibrating a plurality of clocks wherein at least one of the clocks is associated with a medical device system, the plurality of clocks comprising a first clock and a second clock, the method comprising:

(a) reading a first current time from the second clock;

(b) obtaining a reference time;

(c) subtracting the current time from a reference time in order to determine a first drift time;

(d) storing the first drift time into a memory;

(e) notifying a user to calibrate the first and second clocks;

(f) receiving a selected time, the selected time being different than the reference time;

(g) receiving an indication that the selected time approximately equals the reference time;

(h) obtaining a second current time from the second clock;

(i) subtracting the second current time from the selected time in order to determine a second drift time; and

(j) storing the second drift time into a memory.

5. An apparatus for calibrating a plurality of clocks in a medical device system, the medical device system providing treatment to a patient with a nervous system disorder, the plurality of clocks comprising a first clock and a second clock, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface;

a communications interface that is coupled to the second clock;

a memory;

a processor that is connected to the user interface in order to receive an instruction from a user, that is connected to the memory, and that instructs the second clock through the communications interface, the processor configured to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving a current time from the second clock;

(b) subtracting the current time from a reference time in order to determine a time difference; and

(c) if the time difference is greater than a predetermined amount, resynchronizing the first and second clocks.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to perform the further steps of:

(d) reading the current time from the second clock;

(e) obtaining the reference time;

(f) subtracting the current time from the reference time in order to determine a drift time; and

(g) storing a drift time into the memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to perform the further step of:

(h) if the drift time is greater than the predetermined amount, resynchronizing the first and second clocks.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to perform the further steps of:

(d) notifying a user to calibrate the first and second clocks;

(e) receiving a selected time, the selected time being greater than the reference time;

(f) receiving an indication that the selected time approximately equals the reference time;

(g) obtaining the current time from the second clock;

(h) subtracting the current time from the selected time in order to determine a drift time; and

(i) storing the drift time into a memory.