TRANSMISSION OF POWER SOURCE USAGE INFORMATION OVER A NETWORK

• US 20100222847A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,180,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to transmitting power source usage information regarding a power source of an implantable medical device (IMD) to a remote networking device via a network. The IMD operates on power supplied by a power source, such as a battery, within the housing of the IMD. The use of the power source may be monitored remotely in order to maintain therapy. Power source usage information may include power source recharge patterns such as frequency of recharging events, length of recharging events, period between recharging events, discharge state of the power source, and degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during recharging. The IMD, or an external device used with the IMD, may generate, store, and transmit the power source usage information to the remote networking device. Action requests may be transmitted from the remote networking device via the network based upon the power source usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating power source usage information related to previous recharging of a rechargeable power source within an implantable medical device;

transmitting the power source usage information to a remote networking device via a network; and

receiving an action request from the remote networking device via the network in response to the power source usage information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source usage information comprises information relating to power source recharge patterns.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting that a specified battery recharge pattern has occurred; and

transmitting the power source usage information via the network in response to the detection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the specified battery recharge pattern is at least one of infrequent recharging events, frequent short recharging events, a long period between recharging events, or a low degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during transcutaneous energy transfer to the power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source usage information comprises at least one of frequency of recharging events, duration of recharging events, period between recharging events, or degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during transcutaneous energy transfer to the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action request comprises a patient instruction regarding a power source recharging technique.

6. (canceled)

8. A device comprising:

a processor that generates power source usage information related to previous recharging of a rechargeable power source within an implantable medical device; and

a communication circuit that transmits the power source usage information to a remote networking device via a network and receives an action request from the remote networking device via the network in response to the power source usage information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises the implantable medical device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises an external device that at least one of communicates with or recharges an implantable medical device.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor generates power source usage information that includes information relating to power source recharge patterns.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein:

the processor detects that a specified battery recharge pattern has occurred; and

the communications circuit transmits the power source usage information via the network in response to the detection.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the specified battery recharge pattern is at least one of infrequent recharging events, frequent short recharging events, a long period between recharging events, or a low degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during transcutaneous energy transfer to the power source.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the action request comprises a patient instruction regarding a power source recharging technique.

14. (canceled)

16. A method comprising:

receiving power source usage information related to previous recharging of a rechargeable power source within an implantable medical device at a remote networking device via a network;

generating an action request based upon the power source usage information; and

transmitting the action request from the remote networking device via the network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising presenting the power source usage information to a user in conjunction with therapy parameters that were used by the implantable medical device to deliver therapy when the power source usage information was generated.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the action request comprises a command that unlocks the power source for use from a disabled state due to an overdischarged battery.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the action request comprises a patient instruction regarding a power source recharging technique.

20. A remote networking device comprising:

a communication circuit that receives power source usage information related to previous recharging of a rechargeable power source within an implantable medical device via a network; and

a processor that generates an action request based upon the power source usage information, and controls the communication circuit to transmit the action request from the remote networking device via the network.

21. The remote networking device of claim 20, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor presents the power source usage information to a user in conjunction with therapy parameters that were used by the implantable medical device to deliver therapy when the power source usage information was generated via the user interface.

22. The remote networking device of claim 20, wherein the action request comprises a patient instruction regarding a power source recharging technique.

23. A system comprising:

a first device that generates power source usage information related to previous recharging of a rechargeable power source within an implantable medical device, and transmits the power source usage information via a network; and

a second device that receives the power source usage information via the network, generates an action request based upon the power source usage information, and transmits the action request to the first device via the network.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the first device comprises the implantable medical device; and

the second device comprises a remote networking device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the power source usage information comprises at least one of frequency of recharging events, duration of recharging events, period between recharging events, or degree of coupling between primary and secondary coils during transcutaneous energy transfer to the power source.