MEDICAL DEVICE IDENTIFICATION

• US 20070203547A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Arne, Lawrence, Costello, Benedict
• Application Number:
  US11/611,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/37294 Means for testing medical devices within the package prior to implantation

Abstract

Techniques are provided for accessing information about a medical device or a related component. One or more interrogatable identification elements are located in a medical device. An interrogation device can communicate with the identification element(s), which element(s) can store information about the medical device, such as a manufacturer name, a date of manufacture, an expiration date, configuration data, calibration data, and a list of enabled functions. In certain embodiments, the interrogation device can also store information in the identification element at any time, such as usage time or usage frequency.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising an interrogatable identification element with a unique identifier and at least one effector.

2. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said interrogatable identification element comprises a memory, a controller, and an encoding/decoding block.

3. The implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein said memory stores unique device identification data.

4. The implantable medical device according to claim 3, wherein said memory stores unique device usage data.

5. The implantable medical device according to claim 2, wherein said interrogatable identification element is configured to communicate with an interrogation device.

6. The implantable medical device according to claim 5, wherein said interrogatable identification element is configured to communicate wirelessly with said interrogation device.

7. The implantable medical device according to claim 5, wherein said interrogatable identification is configured to communicate with said interrogation device using at least one wire.

8. The implantable medical device according to claim 5, wherein said interrogation device is an ex vivo device.

9. The implantable medical device according to claim 5, wherein said interrogation device is an implantable device.

10. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said device includes at least at least two effectors.

11. The implantable medical device according to claim 10, wherein said effector comprises an electrode.

12. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable medical device is a device selected from the group consisting of a cochlear implant device, retinal implant device, diaphragm pacemaker, implantable glucose sensor, physiological sensor and cardiovascular device.

13. The implantable medical device according to claim 12, wherein said physiological sensor is a physiological pressure sensor.

14. The implantable medical device according to claim 12, wherein said implantable medical device is a cardiovascular device.

15. The implantable medical device according to claim 14, wherein said cardiovascular device is a lead comprising at least two effector satellites.

16. The implantable medical device according to claim 15, wherein said lead includes a single pin connector at its proximal end.

17. The implantable medical device according to claim 16, wherein said connector is an IS-1 connector.

18. A medical system comprising:

an interrogation device; and

an implantable medical device comprising an interrogatable identification element with a unique identifier.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said interrogatable identification element comprises a memory, a controller, and an encoding/decoding block.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said memory stores unique device identification data.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said system is a cardiovascular system.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said implantable medical device is present on a cardiovascular lead.

23. The implantable medical device according to claim 22, wherein said implantable medical device comprises said interrogatable identification element and at least one effector present on said cardiovascular lead.

24. The implantable medical device according to claim 23, wherein said cardiovascular lead comprises at least two effector satellites.

25. The implantable medical device according to claim 24, wherein said lead includes a pin connector at its proximal end.

26. The implantable medical device according to claim 25, wherein said connector is a IS-1 connector.

27. The implantable medical device according to claim 22, wherein said interrogation device comprises an implantable pulse generator.

28. A method for identifying an implantable medical device, said method comprising:

interrogating an implantable medical device comprising an interrogatable identification element with a unique identifier to obtain said unique identifier; and

using said obtained unique identifier to identify said medical device.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said implantable medical device is implanted in a subject.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said interrogating comprises employing an ex vivo interrogation device.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said interrogating comprises employing an in vivo interrogation device.

32. A kit comprising:

an implantable medical device comprising an interrogatable identification element with a unique identifier; and

instructions for using said device.

33. The kit according to claim 32, wherein said kit further comprises an interrogation device.