MULTI-STAGE TESTING OF ELECTRODES OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090276007A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Torgerson, Nathan A., Smith, Todd V., Ball, Warren W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Method, controller and system for an implantable medical device capable of delivering therapeutic stimulation through a plurality of electrodes. A control module is operable to conduct a plurality of measurements of impedance values creating a plurality of measured impedance values for a plurality of selected sets of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes based on a plurality of active parameters. The control module conducts the plurality of measurements of impedance values in a plurality of stages in which at least one of said plurality of active parameters is varied between individual ones of the plurality of stages.

Claims

1. A controller for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, said implantable medical device being capable of delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient through said plurality of electrodes, comprising:

a control module operatively coupled to said plurality of electrodes;

said control module being operable to conduct a plurality of measurements of impedance values creating a plurality of measured impedance values for a plurality of selected sets of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes based on a plurality of active parameters; and

said control module conducting said plurality of measurements of impedance values in a plurality of stages in which at least one of said plurality of active parameters is varied between individual ones of said plurality of stages.

2. The controller as in claim 1 wherein said at least one of said plurality of active parameters comprises at least one of voltage, pulse width, frequency, current, power and electrode polarity.

3. The controller as in claim 2 wherein said controller compares said plurality of measurements of impedance values to a predetermined range.

4. The controller as in claim 3 wherein a subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if a selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a predetermined relationship with said predetermined range.

5. The controller as in claim 4 wherein said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if said selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a measured impedance value outside of said predetermined range.

6. The controller as in claim 5 wherein a value of a stimulation parameter in said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is greater than a value of said stimulation parameter in a previous one of said plurality of stages.

7. The controller as in claim 6 wherein said value of said stimulation parameter does not exceed a maximum allowable value.

8. The controller as in claim 7 wherein said stimulation parameter is voltage and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable voltage.

9. The controller as in claim 7 wherein said stimulation parameter is current and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable current.

10. The controller as in claim 7 wherein said stimulation parameter is pulse width and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable pulse width.

11. The controller as in claim 4 wherein said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if said selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a measured impedance value inside of said predetermined range.

12. The controller as in claim 1 wherein a subset of said plurality of electrodes is varied between said plurality of stages.

13. The controller as in claim 3 wherein a subset of said plurality of electrodes is varied between said plurality of stages.

14. The controller as in claim 12 wherein said subset of said plurality of electrodes is varied dependent, at least in part, upon a comparison of said plurality of measurements to said predetermined range.

15. The controller as in claim 14 wherein said comparison of said plurality of measurements results in at least one of said plurality of electrodes is outside of said predetermined range.

16. A system for delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient, comprising:

an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes; and

a controller, comprising;

a control module operatively coupled to said plurality of electrodes; and

said control module being operable to conduct a plurality of measurements of impedance values creating a plurality of measured impedance values for a plurality of selected sets of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes based on a plurality of active parameters; and

said control module conducting said plurality of measurements of impedance values in a plurality of stages in which at least one of said plurality of active parameters is varied between individual ones of said plurality of stages.

17. The system as in claim 16 wherein at least one of said plurality of active parameters comprises at least one of voltage, pulse width, frequency, current, power and electrode polarity.

18. The system as in claim 17 wherein said controller compares said plurality of measurements of impedance values to a predetermined range.

19. The system as in claim 18 wherein a subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if a selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a predetermined relationship with said predetermined range.

20. The system as in claim 19 wherein said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if said selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a measured impedance value outside of said predetermined range.

21. The system as in claim 20 wherein a value of a stimulation parameter in said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is greater than a value of said stimulation parameter in a previous one of said plurality of stages.

22. The system as in claim 21 wherein said value of said stimulation parameter does not exceed a maximum allowable value.

23. The controller as in claim 21 wherein said stimulation parameter is voltage and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable voltage.

24. The controller as in claim 21 wherein said stimulation parameter is current and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable current.

25. The controller as in claim 21 wherein said stimulation parameter is pulse width and wherein said maximum allowable value is a maximum allowable pulse width.

26. The system as in claim 19 wherein said subsequent one of said plurality of stages is conducted if said selected set of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes has a measured impedance value inside of said predetermined range.

27. A method for delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient using an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected sets of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes using a plurality of active parameters;

comparing said measurements of impedance with a predetermined range; and

automatically obtaining a subsequent plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected sets of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes using a second plurality of active parameters.

28. The method as in claim 27 wherein said second plurality of active parameters varies from said first plurality of active parameters.

29. The method as in claim 28 wherein said plurality of active parameters comprises at least one of voltage, pulse width, frequency, current, power and electrode polarity.

30. The method as in claim 27 wherein said subsequent plurality of measurements of impedance values are obtained for said selected sets of individual ones of said plurality of electrodes that are outside of a predetermined range.

31. The method as in claim 29 wherein said stimulation parameter is increased in said subsequent plurality of measurements.

32. The method as in claim 31 wherein said stimulation parameter does not exceed a maximum allowable value.