Synchronization and calibration of clocks for a medical device and calibrated clock

• US 7,079,977 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Werder, Jonathan C., Frei, Mark G., Osorio, Ivan, Bhavaraju, Naresh C., Peters, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, John H.
• Application Number:
  US10/687,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 702176-178, 600/439, 600/544, 600/545, 600/610, 607/3, 607/5, 607/27, 607/30, 607/32, 607/45, 607/60, 607/62, 607/116, 708/322, 381/56, 128/419
• US Class Current: 702/176
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/00 Synchronisation radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Apparatus and method support the synchronization and calibration of a plurality of clocks in a medical device system that may provide treatment to a patient with a nervous system disorder. The plurality of clocks, which may be located at different components of the medical device system, includes a first clock and a second clock. The second clock may be synchronized to a first clock by disabling a run mode operation and setting the second clock to a selected time. When a reference time of the first clock approximately equals the selected time, the second clock enables the run mode operation. Additionally, a drift time that is indicative of a time difference between the first clock and the second clock is determined. If the drift time is greater than a predetermined amount, an indication to resynchronize the first and second clocks is provided.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a plurality of clocks, the plurality of clocks comprising a first clock and a second clock, the method comprising:

(a) disabling a run time mode;

(b) receiving a selected time associated with the second clock, the selected time different than a reference time that is associated with the first clock, wherein at least one of the first clock or the second clock is associated with a medical device system;

(c) determining when the reference time equals the selected time;

(d) setting the second clock to the selected time, in response to (c); and

(e) enabling the run time mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second clock is no associated with the medical device system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first clock is associated with the medical device system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises:

(i) setting the second clock by a component of the medical device system that is coupled to the second clock.

5. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 4.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clocks comprises a third clock, further comprising:

(f) receiving the selected time that is associated with the third clock; and

(g) setting the third clock to the selected time, in response to (c).

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 6.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device system provides monitoring or treatment for a nervous system disorder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the nervous system disorder is selected from the group consisting of a disorder of a central nervous system, a disorder of a peripheral nervous system, a mental health disorder, and a psychiatric disorder.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nervous system disorder is selected from the group consisting of epilepsy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, essential, tremor, dystonia, multiple sclerosis (MS), anxiety, a mood disorder, a sleep disorder, obesity, and anorexia.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the nervous system disorder is epilepsy.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises:

(i) sending a command that is associated with the first clock;

(ii) determining a delay time between the first clock and the second clock; and

(iii) adjusting the selected time using the delay time.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 12.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises:

(i) sending a command that is associated with the first clock;

(ii) determining a delay time between the first clock and the second clock; and

(iii) storing the delay time.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 14.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected time is greater than the reference time.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving a command to enable the run mode operation, the command being indicative that the selected time approximately equals the reference clock.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 17.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device system is selected from the group consisting of a hybrid system, and an implanted system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first clock is associated with a monitoring equipment that monitors the patient.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second clock is associated with a bedside device that is coupled to a medical implanted device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(i) determining that the reference time approximately equals the selected time by utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) clock reference.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein (a)–

(e) are performed if a time difference between the first clock and the second clock exceeds a predetermined limit.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein (a)–

(e) are performed periodically at a prespecified interval.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(i) determining that the reference time approximately equals the selected time by utilizing an atomic clock reference.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein (a)–

(e) are performed if a time difference between the first clock and the second clock exceeds a predetermined limit.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein (a)–

(e) are performed periodically at a prespecified interval.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(i) determining that the reference time approximately equals the selected time by utilizing a time reference through a wireless communications connection.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(i) determining that the reference time approximately equals the selected time by utilizing a time reference through an Internet connection.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(i) receiving an indication from a user that the reference time approximately equals the selected time.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving a current time from the second clock;

(g) subtracting the current time from the reference time in order to determine a time difference; and

(h) if the time difference is greater than a first predetermined amount, resynchronizing the first and second clocks.

32. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 31.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the first clock and the second clock are located in different time zones.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises:

(i) adjusting the second clock in accordance with a time transition between standard time and daylight savings time.

35. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

36. A system for synchronizing a plurality of clocks in a medical device system, the medical device system providing treatment to a patient with a nervous system disorder, the plurality of clocks comprising a first clock and a second clock, the system comprising:

a user interface;

a communications interface that is coupled to the second clock;

a memory; and

a processor that is connected to the user interface in order to receive an instruction from a user, the processor connected to the memory and configured to instructs the second clock through the communications interface, the processor further configured to perform;

(a) receiving a selected time associated with the second clock, the selected time different than a reference time that is associated with the first clock; and

(b) setting the second clock to the selected time so as to synchronize the first and second clock.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) clock reference, and wherein the processor is configured to further perform:

(c) determining that the reference time approximately equals the first selected time by utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) clock reference.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising an atomic clock reference, and wherein the processor is configured to further perform:

(c) determining that the reference time approximately equals the first selected time by utilizing the atomic clock reference.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processor is configured to further perform:

(c) receiving an indication from the user through the user interface that the reference time approximately equals the selected time.

40. A method for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a selected time in a programmer, the programmer associated with the first clock;

(b) setting the first clock to the selected time; and

(c) providing a control message to the second clock from the programmer, the second clock associated with a medical device, wherein the providing of the control message synchronizes the time on the first clock and the second clock.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein (b) and (c) are not performed simultaneously.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving a signal from a Global Positioning System reference.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving a signal from a control line, the control line coupling the programmer to a second medical device.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving a signal from an Internet connection.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving a signal from a wireless communication connection.

46. A method for synchronizing a first clock, a second clock and a third clock, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a selected time in a programmer from a first medical device, the programmer associated with the first clock and the first medical device associated with the second clock;

(b) setting the first clock to the selected time; and

(c) providing a control message to the third clock from the programmer the third clock associated with a second medical device, wherein the providing of the control message synchronizes the time on the first clock, the second clock and the third clock.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving the selected time via a signal over a control line.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving the selected time via a signal from an Internet connection.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein (a) comprises:

(i) receiving the selected time via a signal from a wireless connection.