SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTENDING THE LIFE OF AN IMPLANTED PULSE GENERATOR BATTERY

• US 20160114171A1
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Parker, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Systems and methods for extending the life of an implanted pulse generator battery are disclosed. A representative method for establishing charge parameters for a battery-powered implantable medical device includes receiving a patient-specific therapy signal parameter and, based at least in part on the patient-specific therapy signal parameter, determining a discharge rate for a battery of the implanted medical device. The method can further include determining a therapy run time, based at least in part on the discharge rate. The method can still further include determining at least one battery charging parameter, based at least in part on the run time.

Claims

1. A method for establishing charge parameters for a battery-powered implantable medical device, comprising:

receiving a patient-specific therapy signal parameter;

based at least in part on the patient-specific therapy signal parameter, determining a discharge rate for a battery of the implantable medical device;

based at least in part on the discharge rate, determining a therapy run time; and

based at least in part on the run time, determining at least one battery charging parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the process of receiving the at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter is performed by the implantable medical device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal amplitude.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal pulse width.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal duty cycle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes at least one of a therapy on time and a therapy off time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes an impedance of a circuit or element of a circuit used to deliver therapy to the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one charging characteristic, the at least one charging characteristic including at least one of a battery-specific battery characteristic or a patient-specific charging characteristic; and

wherein determining the run time includes determining the run time based at least in part on the at least one charging characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging interval.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging frequency.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging consistency.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the battery-specific battery characteristic includes an age of the battery.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the battery-specific battery characteristic includes at least one of a number of charging cycles undergone by the battery and an amount of charge delivered by the battery.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one charging parameter includes an end-of charge limit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the end-of-charge limit includes a voltage limit at which a constant current phase of a charging process ceases.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based at least in part on the discharge rate and the run time, determining at least one battery discharge parameter.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one battery discharge parameter includes a charge capacity limit below which a low charge indication is directed.

18. A method for establishing charge parameters for a battery-powered implantable medical device, comprising:

receiving, at the battery-powered implantable medical device, a patient-specific therapy signal amplitude value and a patient-specific therapy signal duty cycle value;

based on a therapy signal frequency value, a therapy pulse width and the patient-specific therapy signal amplitude and duty cycle, determining a discharge rate for a battery of the implantable medical device;

receiving, at the battery-powered implantable medical device, a battery-specific battery characteristic that includes at least one of a battery-specific battery capacity or a battery-specific number of prior charging cycles;

receiving, at the battery-powered implantable medical device, a patient-specific charging characteristic that includes a charging interval value based at least in part on multiple prior intervals between charging events for the battery;

based on the discharge rate, the battery characteristic, and the charging characteristic, determining a run time; and

based at least in part on the discharge rate and the run time, determining at least one battery charging parameter.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one battery charging parameter includes a voltage limit at which a constant current phase of a charging process ceases.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising recording the multiple prior intervals between charging events for the battery at the implantable pulse generator.

21. A method for programming a battery-powered implantable medical device, comprising:

programming the implantable medical device with instructions that, when executed;

receive at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter;

direct a patient therapy signal to a signal delivery device in accordance with the at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter;

based at least on the at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter, determine a discharge rate for a battery of the implantable medical device;

based at least in part on the discharge rate, determine a therapy run time; and

based at least in part on the run time, determine at least one battery charging parameter.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal amplitude.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal pulse width.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal duty cycle.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving at least one charging characteristic, the at least one charging characteristic including at least one of a battery-specific battery characteristic or a patient-specific charging characteristic; and

wherein determining the run time includes determining the run time based at least in part on the at least one charging characteristic.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging frequency.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging consistency.

28. An implantable medical device, comprising:

an implantable housing; and

a pulse generator carried by the housing, the pulse generator being programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter;

direct a patient therapy signal to a signal delivery device in accordance with the at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter;

based at least on the at least one patient-specific therapy signal parameter, determine a discharge rate for a battery of the implantable medical device;

based at least in part on the discharge rate, determine a therapy run time; and

based at least in part on the run time, determine at least one battery charging parameter.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal amplitude.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal pulse width.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the patient-specific therapy signal parameter includes a therapy signal duty cycle.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the pulse generator is programmed with instructions that, when executed:

receive at least one charging characteristic, the at least one charging characteristic including at least one of a battery-specific battery characteristic or a patient-specific charging characteristic; and

wherein determining the run time includes determining the run time based at least in part on the at least one charging characteristic.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging frequency.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the patient-specific charging characteristic includes a patient-specific charging consistency.

35. A method for charging a battery of an implantable medical device, comprising:

receiving an indication corresponding to an upcoming charging event that includes placing the battery in a storage state;

determining if a charge state of the battery is within a target charge range;

if the charge state is above the charge range, (a) automatically discharging the battery at least until the battery is at or within the charge range, or (b) automatically providing an indication that the battery is to be discharged prior to storage, or both (a) and (b); and

if the charge state is below the charge range, (c) automatically charging the battery at least until the battery is at or within the charge range, or (d) automatically providing an indication that the battery is to be charged, or both (c) and (d).

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the indication corresponding to the upcoming charging event includes an indication of a period of time for which the battery is to be stored.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing an indication that the battery is at or within the target charge range.

38. An implantable medical device, comprising:

an implantable housing;

a battery; and

a pulse generator carried by the housing and coupled to the battery, the pulse generator being programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive an indication corresponding to an upcoming charging event that includes placing the battery in a storage state;

determine if a charge state of the battery is within a target charge range;

if the charge state is above the charge range, (a) automatically provide an indication that the battery is to be discharged prior to storage, or (b) automatically discharge the battery at least until the battery is at or within the charge range, or both (a) and (b); and

if the charge state is below the charge range, (c) automatically provide an indication that the battery is to be charged, or (d) automatically charge the battery at least until the battery is at or within the charge range, or both (c) and (d).

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the pulse generator includes circuitry configured to generate a therapy signal, and wherein the system further comprises:

an interrupt device coupled between the circuitry and the battery, the interrupt device being configured to interrupt power from the battery to the circuitry after the charge state of the battery is determined, the interrupt device being configured to restore power from the battery to the circuitry in response to a charging event.