IMPLANTABLE THERAPY DELIVERY SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS

• US 20080262378A1
• 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:
  US11/737,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262378A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• 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 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• 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 1/3655 controlled by body or blood temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

A system includes an implantable medical device and an implantable therapy delivery element. The device includes a housing, electronics disposed in the housing, and a first temperature sensor operably coupled to the electronics and located in proximity to the housing. The element has a proximal end portion configured to be operably couplable to the device and a distal end portion configured to be placed in a patient at a location removed from the device. A second temperature sensor located on the element between the proximal end and the distal end. The second temperature sensor is operably couplable to the electronics. The electronics are configured to compare a value associated with the first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor to a value associated with the second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor. The system may be used for monitoring an infection in proximity to the device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(i) an implantable medical device comprising;

a housing;

electronics disposed in the housing, the electronics configured to control delivery of therapy; and

a first temperature sensor operably coupled to the electronics and located in proximity to the housing; and

(ii) an implantable therapy delivery element comprising;

a proximal end portion configured to be operably couplable to the implantable medical device, the proximal end portion having a proximal end;

a distal end portion configured to be placed in a patient at a location removed from the implantable medical device, the distal end portion having a distal end; and

a second temperature sensor located on the element between the proximal end and the distal end, the second temperature sensor being operably couplable to the electronics,

wherein the electronics are further configured to compare a value associated with the first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor to a value associated with the second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a first electrical contact operably coupled to the electronics, and wherein the implantable therapy delivery element comprises a second electrical contact configured to contact the first electrical contact when the implantable therapy element is coupled to the implantable medical device, the second electrical contact being electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics comprise an alert generating module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronics comprise a computer readable medium that when implemented cause the device to determine whether a value associated with the first temperature crosses a threshold;

determine whether the value associated with the first temperature is greater than a comparable value associated with the second temperature by a predetermined amount; and

activate the alert generating module if the value associated with the first temperature crosses the threshold value and is greater than the comparable value associated with the second temperature by the predetermined amount.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is an implantable electrical signal generator and wherein the therapy delivery element is an implantable medical lead.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is an implantable electrical signal generator and wherein the therapy delivery element is a lead extension.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is an implantable infusion device and wherein the therapy delivery element is an implantable catheter.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed on the housing of the implantable medical device.

8. A method for monitoring an infection in proximity to a therapy delivering medical device implanted in a patient, the therapy delivering medical device being part of a system comprising an associated therapy element for delivering the therapy from the therapy delivering device to the patient, the therapy delivery element being operably couplable to the therapy delivering medical device, the method comprising:

monitoring a first patient tissue temperature via a first temperature sensor that is a part of the therapy delivering implanted medical device;

monitoring a second patient tissue temperature via a second temperature sensor that is a part of the associated therapy element at a location removed from the therapy delivering implanted medical device;

determining whether an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device by comparing information relating to the first monitored temperature to information relating to the second monitored temperature; and

issuing an alert if a determination is made that an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device comprises determining whether a value associated with the first temperature is greater than a comparable value associated with the second temperature by a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device further comprises:

determining whether a value associated with the first temperature crosses a threshold.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the therapy delivering medical device is an implantable electrical signal generator and the associated therapy element is an implantable medical lead.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the therapy delivering medical device is an implantable electrical signal generator and the associated therapy element is an implantable medical lead extension.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the therapy delivering medical device is an implantable infusion device and the associated therapy element is an implantable catheter.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device is performed by the therapy delivering medical device.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein issuing the alert comprises activating an alert module of the therapy delivering medical device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the determination of whether an infection is present in proximity to the therapy delivering medical device is performed by an external device in wireless communication with the therapy delivering medical device.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein issuing the alert comprises activating an alert module of an external device in wireless communication with the therapy delivering medical device.

18. An implantable medical device comprising:

a housing;

electronics disposed in the housing, the electronics configured to control delivery of therapy; and

a first temperature sensor operably coupled to the electronics and located in proximity to the housing.

wherein the electronics are further configured to compare a value associated with the first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor to a value associated with a second temperature sensor located on an implantable therapy delivery element operably couplable to the electronics.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed on the housing of the implantable medical device.