INFECTION MONITORING

• US 20080262331A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin T., Rondoni, John C.
• Application Number:
  US11/737,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16836 by sensing tissue properties at the infusion site, e.g. for detecting infiltration detecting tissue temperature for diagnostic purposes A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36142 for improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient

Abstract

Implantable medical devices include a sensor capable of detecting an indicator of infection in proximity to the device. Sensed information regarding the indicator of infection is provided to the device for a time period of between two hours and six months after the device is implanted. A determination may be made as to whether the sensed information is indicative of infection. The determination may be made in the implanted device or in an external device in wireless communication with the implanted device. If the information is indicative of infection, an alert may be issued from the implanted device or an external device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

commencing sensing, in proximity to an implanted medical device, information regarding an indicator of infection;

providing the information regarding the indicator to the implanted medical device;

determining whether the sensed information is indicative of infection;

determining whether a predetermined time period of between 2 hours and 6 months has elapsed since the sensing has commenced; and

ceasing the sensing if the predetermined time period has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the sensed information is indicative of an infection is determined within the implanted device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the information provided to the implanted device to an external device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein sending the sensed information provided to the implanted device to an external device comprises sending the information to a programmer device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether the sensed information is indicative of an infection is performed in the external device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information regarding the sensed indicator to an implanted medical device comprises providing the information in discrete time intervals.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the information comprises sensing temperature.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensing the information further comprises sensing one or more of impedance, pH, and a biological marker of infection.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing the information comprises sensing one or more of impedance, pH, and a biological marker of infection.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the provided information in a memory of the device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the sensed information is indicative of infection comprises determining in discrete time intervals.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the information regarding the indicator of infection comprises sensing the information in discrete time intervals.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is a time period of between twelve hours and three months.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is a time period of between one day and one month.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information regarding the sensed indicator to an implanted medical device comprises transmitting the information to the device from a sensor operably coupled to the device.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing an alert if the indicator of infection is indicative of an infection.

8-21. -21. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

33. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when implemented cause an implantable medical device to (i) sense information regarding an indicator of infection;

(ii) provide the information regarding the sensed indicator to the implanted medical device;

(iii) determine whether the sensed information is indicative of infection;

(iv) determine whether a predetermined time period of between 2 hours and 6 months has elapsed since the sensing has commenced; and

(v) cease the sensing if the predetermined time period has elapsed.

34. An implantable medical device comprising:

the computer-readable medium of claim 33;

electronics capable of executing instructions of the computer readable medium; and

a sensor operably coupled to the electronics and capable of providing the electronics with the information regarding the sensed indicator.

35. An implantable medical device comprising:

means for sensing, in proximity to an implanted medical device, information regarding an indicator of infection;

means for providing the information regarding the indicator to the implanted medical device;

means for determining whether the sensed information is indicative of infection;

means for determining whether a predetermined time period of between 2 hours and 6 months has elapsed since the sensing has commenced; and

means for ceasing the sensing if the predetermined time period has elapsed.