Input response override for an implantable medical device

• US 20070173910A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Armstrong, Randolph
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an override of an operational mode of an implantable medical device. An override input to enter an override mode is received. A determination as to whether a magnetic input has been received is made. A predetermined response to the magnetic input is blocked in response to receiving the override input.

Claims

1. A method for providing an operational override for an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

receiving an override input to enter an override mode;

determining whether a magnetic input has been received; and

blocking a predetermined response to said magnetic input in response to receiving said override input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined response to said magnetic input comprises interrupting a neurostimulation therapy, and wherein blocking said predetermined response comprises permitting said neurostimulation therapy to continue when a magnetic input is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an override input comprises receiving a signal to override a protection protocol that occurs in response to the detection of a magnetic field of a predetermined duration and magnitude.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an override input comprises receiving at least one override parameter, wherein said override parameter comprises a time period for blocking said predetermined response to said magnetic input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a magnetic input has been received comprises determining whether a magnetic field of at least one of a predetermined duration and a predetermined time period has been detected.

6. A method for providing an override of a response function to a magnetic input in an implantable medical device (IMD) for delivering a neurostimulation therapy, comprising:

detecting the presence of a magnetic field;

determining whether said IMD is in an override mode; and

continuing said neurostimulation therapy if said IMD is in an override mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

altering said neurostimulation therapy if said IMD is not in an override mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein altering said neurostimulation therapy comprises performing an action selected from the group consisting of terminating a stimulation for a predetermined period of time and altering a neurostimulation therapy parameter selected from a group consisting of an amplitude, a polarity, and a frequency.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting the presence of a magnetic field comprises detecting said magnetic field for a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether said IMD is in an override mode comprises receiving a signal indicative of an instruction to enter an override mode.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein continuing said neurostimulation therapy if said IMD is in an override mode comprises continuing said current stimulation mode for a predetermined maximum period of time.

12. An implantable medical device (IMD) for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a neural structure of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

a sensor to detect the presence of a magnetic field;

an interface to receive an override signal for placing said IMD into an override mode; and

a controller operatively coupled to said sensor and said interface, to determine whether a magnetic input has been received and to block a predetermined response to said magnetic input in response to receiving said override signal.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, comprising:

a stimulation unit, operatively coupled to said controller, to provide a first stimulation signal and a second stimulation signal;

a communication unit to provide communication with an external device; and

a stimulation override unit to perform an action selected from the group consisting of an alteration of said first stimulation signal to provide said second stimulation signal and maintaining said first stimulation signal.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein said stimulation override unit comprises:

an override data generator to provide override data; and

an override module comprising;

an override register to receive at least one of default data and said override data, and

a register check unit to check the content of said override register to determine whether said override register contains at least one of said default data and said override data,

wherein said override module generates a signal to prompt said IMD to continue an override mode based upon a determination that said override register contains said override data and wherein said override module generates a signal to prompt said IMD to exit an override mode based upon a determination that said override register contains said default data.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein said controller further determines whether said magnetic field is detected for a predetermined period of time.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein said controller continues a first stimulation mode based upon a determination that said IMD is in an override mode and said controller prompts a second stimulation mode based upon a determination that said IMD is not in an override mode based upon said magnetic input signal.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein said default data comprises a predetermined string of digital data.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein said override data comprises a predetermined string of digital data.

19. An implantable medical device (IMD) for providing an operational override, comprising:

a sensor to determine whether a magnetic input has been received; and

a controller to determine whether said IMD is in a mode selected from the group consisting of an operational mode and an override mode, said controller to provide

a first stimulation signal in response to determining that said magnetic input has been received and determinating that said IMD is in an override mode, and

a second stimulation in response to determining that said magnetic input has been received and determining that said IMD is in an operational mode.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein said first stimulation signal comprises a therapeutic neuromodulation signal for treating a disorder.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein said second stimulation signal comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of a zero current signal, a zero voltage signal, a background signal, and a stimulation signal comprising at least one of an altered frequency, amplitude, pulse width, polarity, phase, off-time, and on-time.