FAULT TOLERANT IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATORS AND IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORS INCORPORATING PHYSIOLOGIC SENSORS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING FAULT TOLERANCE IN SAME

• US 20070265669A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Roberts, Jonathan, Terry, Michael, Reinke, James, Roline, Glenn, Corey, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

This disclosure relates to fault tolerant instantiations of a cardiac therapy delivery device such as an implantable cardiac stimulator (e.g., an implantable pulse generator, IPG, and/or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, ICD) coupled to an implantable physiologic sensor (IPS). According to the disclosure delivery of cardiac pacing and/or cardioversion-defibrillator therapy delivery can cause errors in output signals from an IPS. Resolution of such errors involves selectively energizing (or disconnecting the output signal from) the IPS during pacing and/or defibrillation therapy delivery. Programmable signal “blanking” in lieu of or in addition to the foregoing also improves the integrity of the output signal (i.e., continuously energize the IPS and ignore parts of the output signal). An ICD having a transient weakness in an insulated conductor used for the IPS signal can likewise have the IPS de-energized and/or blank the IPS output signal during high voltage therapy delivery.

Claims

1. An apparatus increasing the reliability of an output signal from an implantable physiologic sensor (IPS) coupled to an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:

sensing means adapted for providing an output signal related to one or more physiologic parameters of a subject;

one of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) circuit and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) circuit adapted for therapy delivery to a portion of tissue; and

circuit means for one of selectively energizing the sensing means and excluding the output signal from an output signal processing circuit during a temporal window corresponding to the therapy delivery by one of the IPG and the ICD.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises a mechanical sensor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical sensor comprises one of an accelerometer and a pressure sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the AIMD comprises both the IPG circuit and the ICD circuit.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises a blood-based sensor.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the blood-based sensor comprises one of:

a saturated oxygen sensor, a pH sensor, a potassium-ion sensor, a calcium-ion sensor, a lactate sensor, a metabolite sensor, a blood-sugar sensor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the AIMD further comprises a substance delivery device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the IPG further comprises a device configured as one of:

a cardiac pacemaker, a gastric stimulator, a neurological stimulator, a brain stimulator, a skeletal muscle stimulator, a spinal cord stimulator, a therapeutic substance delivery device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the substance comprises:

a drug, a hormone, a protein, a volume of genetic material, a peptide, a volume of biological material.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises one of myocardial tissue, sub-muscular tissue, subcutaneous tissue.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises an ion-selective electrode.

12. A method for increasing reliability of an output signal from an implantable physiologic sensor (IPS) coupled to one of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), comprising:

receiving an output signal from an implantable physiologic sensor (IPS) adapted to sense a physiologic parameter of a patient;

delivering an electrical therapy via electrodes adapted to operatively couple to the patient; and

one of (i) interrupting a source of power to the IPS and (ii) excluding receipt of the output signal during a temporal window, wherein the temporal window corresponds to the delivery of the electrical therapy.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the IPS comprises a mechanical sensor.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the mechanical sensor comprises one of an accelerometer and a pressure sensor.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the accelerometer comprises a multi-axis accelerometer.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the IPS comprises a blood-based sensor.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the blood-based sensor comprises one of:

a saturated oxygen sensor, a pH sensor, a potassium-ion sensor, a calcium-ion sensor, a lactate sensor, a metabolite sensor, a blood-sugar sensor.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the IPG comprises a cardiac pacemaker.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the IPG comprises one of:

a gastric stimulator, a neurological stimulator, a brain stimulator, a skeletal muscle stimulator, a spinal cord stimulator.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the electrodes are deployed subcutaneously.