REMOTE CALIBRATION OF AN IMPLANTABLE PATIENT SENSOR

• US 20100223020A1
• 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 9,723,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Techniques for remotely calibrating an implanted patient sensor with a remote networking device are described. In some embodiments, the sensor is a component of an implantable medical device (IMD). The remote networking device communicates with the IMD via a network to which the IMD and/or external programmer is connected. The IMD may transmit sensor information to the remote networking device when the IMD detects a problem with the sensor or when the patient indicates that therapy is not correctly selected for different activities. New calibration settings may be remotely generated by directly interrogating the sensor and/or communicating with the patient in order to associate sensor output with patient activities, motions, or postures.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a signal generated by an implantable sensor at a remote networking device via a network, wherein the implantable sensor generates the signal as a function of at least one of activity, motion, or posture of a patient; and

calibrating the implantable sensor via the remote networking device based on the sensor signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor comprises:

generating a new calibration setting for the sensor; and

transmitting the new calibration setting to at least one of the implantable medical device and an external programmer for the implantable medical device via the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor comprises:

determining that the sensor is inverted based on the signal; and

inverting current calibration settings for the sensor based on the determination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor comprises:

instructing the patient to assume a desired activity, motion, or posture; and

associating a value of the signal generated by the sensor when the patient has assumed the desired activity, motion, or posture with the desired activity, motion, or posture.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor comprises:

instructing the patient to assume a predetermined posture;

receiving a value of the signal generated by the sensor when the patient has assumed the predetermined posture;

comparing the received value to a previous value of the signal when the patient previously assumed the predetermined posture; and

determining a calibration setting based on the comparison.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the implantable sensor comprises modifying at least one of a sensitivity, a length of hysteresis, or a degree of hysteresis of the sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the sensor comprises receiving new calibration settings at the remote networking device from a clinician.

8. A remote networking device comprising:

a communications circuit that receives a signal generated by an implantable sensor via a network, wherein the signal is generated by the implantable sensor as a function of at least one of activity, motion, or posture of a patient; and

a processor that calibrates the sensor via the network based on the signal.

9. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein:

the processor generates a new calibration setting for the sensor; and

the communications circuit transmits the new calibration setting to at least one of the implantable medical device and an external programmer for the implantable medical device via the network.

10. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein the processor determines that the sensor is inverted based on the signal, and inverts a current calibration setting for the sensor based on the determination.

11. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein the processor calibrates the sensor by associating a value of the signal generated by the sensor when the patient assumes an activity, motion, or posture with the activity, motion, or posture.

12. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein:

the communications circuit receives a value of the signal generated by the sensor with the patient in a predetermined posture; and

the processor compares the received value to a previous value of the signal when the patient was previously in the predetermined posture, and determines a calibration setting based on the comparison.

13. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein the processor modifies at least one of a sensitivity, a length of hysteresis, or a degree of hysteresis of the sensor to calibrate the sensor.

14. The remote networking device of claim 8, wherein:

the processor receives new calibration settings from a clinician; and

the communications circuit transmits the new calibration setting to at least one of the implantable medical device and an external programmer for the implantable medical device via the network.

15. A method comprising:

identifying possible miscalibration of an implantable sensor that generates a signal as a function of at least one of activity, motion, or posture of a patient;

transmitting the signal generated by the sensor to a remote networking device via a network in response to the identification; and

receiving a calibration setting for the sensor from the remote networking device via the network in response to the signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying possible miscalibration of the implantable sensor comprises identifying inappropriate therapy.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying possible miscalibration of the implantable sensor comprises identifying an unexpected value of the signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying the calibration setting to adjust a value of the signal generated by the sensor; and

at least one of controlling delivery of therapy to the patient or monitoring the patient based on the adjusted value.

19. A device comprising:

a communications circuit; and

a processor that identifies possible miscalibration of an implantable sensor that generates a signal as a function of at least one of activity, motion, or posture of a patient, transmits the signal to a remote networking device via the communications circuit and a network in response to the identification, and receives a calibration setting for the sensor from the remote networking device via the communications circuit and the network in response to the signal.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor identifies inappropriate therapy, and transmits the signal in response to the identification.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor identifies an unexpected value of the signal, and transmits the signal in response to the identification.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor applies the calibration setting to adjust a value of the signal generated by the sensor, and at least one of controls delivery of therapy to the patient or monitors the patient based on the adjusted value.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the device comprises one of an implantable medical device that comprises the sensor or an external programmer for the implantable medical device.

24. A system comprising:

a local device that identifies possible miscalibration of an implantable sensor that generates a signal as a function of at least one of activity, motion, or posture of a patient, transmits the signal in response to the identification, and receives a calibration setting for the sensor in response to the signal; and

a remote networking device that communicates with the local device via a network, wherein the remote networking device receives the signal from the local device via the network, and transmits a sensor calibration setting to the local device in response to the signal.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the local device comprises one of an implantable medical device that comprises the sensor or an external programmer for the implantable medical device.