SWITCH FOR MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20080046018A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Ventrassist Pty,Ltd.
• Inventors: Glanzmann, Lee Thomas, Ayre, Peter Joseph, Von Huben, Nicholas Oliver
• Application Number:
  US11/839,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 Implantable batteries

Abstract

A switch for use with a medical device. The switch includes an accelerometer for detecting motion, a controller cooperating with said accelerometer to determine whether said detected motion is substantially identical to a predefined motion of a user. The controller alters the functioning state of the medical device, if the detected motion is substantially identical to the predefined motion of the user.

Claims

1. A switch for operating a medical device wherein said switch includes:

an accelerometer for detecting motion;

a controller cooperating with said accelerometer to determine whether said detected motion is substantially identical to a predefined motion of a user and wherein the controller alters the functioning state of the medical device, if the detected motion is substantially identical to the predefined motion of the user.

2. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said functioning state is either on or off.

3. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accelerometer has more than a single axis.

4. The switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the accelerometer is implanted within the user.

5. The switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the device is a medical device implanted within the user.

6. A system for operating a medical device wherein said system includes:

detecting a motion of a user;

comparing said detected motion to a predefined motion of a user and wherein the functioning state of the medical device is altered, if the detected motion is substantially identical to the predefined motion of the user.

7. A switch for use with an implantable medical device, said switch adapted to be disposed under the skin layer of a patient, said switch operable by a slapping motion of said patient.

8. A switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein said switch comprises an accelerometer for detecting motion operably connected to a controller for determining whether a motion detected by said accelerometer is substantially identical to a predefined slapping motion of said patient, and wherein said controller alters the functioning state of said medical device if said detected motion is substantially identical to said predefined slapping motion.

9. An implantable medical device comprising a switch adapted to be disposed under the skin layer of a patient, said switch operable by a slapping motion of said patient.

10. An implantable medical device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said switch comprises an accelerometer for detecting motion operably connected to a controller for determining whether a motion detected by said accelerometer is substantially identical to a predefined slapping motion of said patient, and wherein said controller alters the functioning state of said medical device if said detected motion is substantially identical to said predefined slapping motion.

11. A switch for operating a medical device wherein said switch includes:

an accelerometer for detecting motion;

a controller cooperating with said accelerometer to determine whether said detected motion is substantially identical to a predefined motion of a user recorded in a memory device integral with or connected to said controller, and wherein the controller alters the functioning state of the medical device, if the detected motion is substantially identical to the predefined motion of the user.