Method of operating implantable medical devices to prolong battery life
First Claim
1. A method for extending the battery life of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a cardiac rhythm management device having a stimulation pulse generator, a microprocessor-based controller adapted to receive input signals relating to depolarization of at least one cardiac chamber and for providing control signals to the stimulation pulse generator, at least one additional power consuming feature, and a battery power supply coupled to provide electrical energy to the stimulation pulse generator, the microprocessor-based controller and selectively to the additional power consuming feature;
b) implanting the cardiac rhythm management device in a patient;
c) sensing the patient'"'"'s heart rate;
d) determining when the sensed heart rate ceases to increase sufficiently to accommodate further increase in activity level by averaging the heart rate values where pacing initiates over a predetermined time interval during which patient activity level repeatedly varies between an at rest state and a moderately active state;
e) initiating execution of a programmed rate response algorithm by the microprocessor-based controller.
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Abstract
A method of conserving power and extending the life of a battery in an implantable rate-responsive cardiac rhythm management device. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a first physiologic sensor is used to enable a power consuming feature only when the first sensor produces an output falling within a predetermined range and subsequently disables the power consuming feature when the output of the first sensor falls back outside the predetermined range. The first sensor may measure heart rate, physical movement, posture or other parameters and the power consuming feature may comprise further physiologic sensors, a different mode of pacing or a combination thereof.
205 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for extending the battery life of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a cardiac rhythm management device having a stimulation pulse generator, a microprocessor-based controller adapted to receive input signals relating to depolarization of at least one cardiac chamber and for providing control signals to the stimulation pulse generator, at least one additional power consuming feature, and a battery power supply coupled to provide electrical energy to the stimulation pulse generator, the microprocessor-based controller and selectively to the additional power consuming feature; b) implanting the cardiac rhythm management device in a patient; c) sensing the patient'"'"'s heart rate; d) determining when the sensed heart rate ceases to increase sufficiently to accommodate further increase in activity level by averaging the heart rate values where pacing initiates over a predetermined time interval during which patient activity level repeatedly varies between an at rest state and a moderately active state; e) initiating execution of a programmed rate response algorithm by the microprocessor-based controller. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for extending the battery life of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a cardiac rhythm management device having a stimulation pulse generator, a microprocessor-based controller adapted to receive input signals relating to depolarization of at least one cardiac chamber and for providing control signals to the stimulation pulse generator, at least one additional power consuming feature, and a battery power supply coupled to provide electrical energy to the stimulation pulse generator, the microprocessor-based controller and selectively to the additional power consuming feature; b) implanting the cardiac rhythm management device in a patient; c) sensing a patient'"'"'s intrinsic heart rate that varies in relation to the level of a patient'"'"'s physical activity with a first physiologic sensor; d) determining whether or not the sensed physiologic parameter is within a predetermined range above a point where the intrinsic heart rate exhibits chronotropic incompetence; and e) enabling the at least one additional power consuming feature only if the sensed parameter is within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for extending the battery life of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a cardiac rhythm management device having a stimulation pulse generator, a microprocessor-based controller adapted to receive input signals relating to depolarization of at least one cardiac chamber and for providing control signals to the stimulation pulse generator, at least one additional power consuming feature comprising delivery of bi-ventricular pacing pulses by the stimulation pulse generator, and a battery power supply coupled to provide electrical energy to the stimulation pulse generator, the microprocessor-based controller and selectively to the additional power consuming feature; b) implanting the cardiac rhythm management device in a patient; c) sensing a first physiologic parameter that varies in relation to the level of a patient'"'"'s physical activity with a first physiologic sensor; d) determining whether the sensed physiologic parameter is within a predetermined range; and e) enabling the at least one additional power consuming feature only if the sensed parameter is within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for extending the battery life of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a cardiac rhythm management device having a stimulation pulse generator, a microprocessor-based controller adapted to receive input signals relating to depolarization of at least one cardiac chamber and for providing control signals to the stimulation pulse generator, a sleep apnea therapy device, and a battery power supply coupled to provide electrical energy to the stimulation pulse generator, the microprocessor-based controller and selectively to the sleep apnea therapy device; b) implanting the cardiac rhythm management device in a patient; c) sensing body motion that varies in relation to the level of a patient'"'"'s physical activity with a first physiologic sensor; d) determining whether the body motion is within a predetermined range; and e) enabling the sleep apnea therapy device only if the body motion is within said predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification