Detection of possible failure of capacitive elements in an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the stimulation provided to an electrode by a voltage regulator of a device implanted within a patient, the regulator including a first capacitor associated with a voltage input, the method comprising:
- (a) associating at least one additional capacitor to the voltage input of the regulator to compensate for a reduced battery voltage;
(b) receiving a power transfer signal from an external power source;
(c) increasing the battery voltage with the received power transfer signal; and
(d) disassociating at least one of the associated capacitor from the voltage input of the regulator to compensate for the increased battery voltage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for monitoring capacitive elements of an implantable medical device system for device failure and responding thereto. A therapy measurement block monitors a charge value across one or more capacitive elements. If the charge value falls outside a prescribed range, indicating possible failure in the capacitive element, the system removes from service the capacitive element and its associated regulator, notifies the implantable neuro stimulator of the failure and/or takes appropriate corrective measures.
71 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the stimulation provided to an electrode by a voltage regulator of a device implanted within a patient, the regulator including a first capacitor associated with a voltage input, the method comprising:
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(a) associating at least one additional capacitor to the voltage input of the regulator to compensate for a reduced battery voltage; (b) receiving a power transfer signal from an external power source; (c) increasing the battery voltage with the received power transfer signal; and (d) disassociating at least one of the associated capacitor from the voltage input of the regulator to compensate for the increased battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An implanted medical device, comprising:
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a battery; a regulator module capable of providing stimulation energy to at least one electrode, the regulator module including at least one capacitor associated with a voltage input; a capacitive element between the regulator module and the at least one electrode capable of maintaining a charge balance during electrical stimulation; and a therapy measurement device receiving charge information for the capacitive element and configured to determine whether the capacitive element is malfunctioning based on the charge information, the therapy measurement device configured to perform the steps of; (a) associating at least one additional capacitor to the voltage input of the regulator module to compensate for a reduced battery voltage; (b) determining that the battery voltage is increased; and (c) disassociating at least one of the associated capacitor from the voltage input of the regulator module to compensate for the increased battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An implanted medical device, comprising:
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a battery; a regulator module capable of providing stimulation energy to at least one electrode, the regulator module including at least one capacitor associated with a voltage input; a capacitive element between the regulator module and the at least one electrode capable of maintaining a charge balance during electrical stimulation; and a controller configured to receive charge information for the capacitive element and configured to determine whether the capacitive element is malfunctioning based on the charge information, the controller further configured to associate additional capacitive elements with the voltage input of the regulator module in response to reductions in battery voltage and further configured to disassociate at least one of the associated capacitive element from the voltage input of the regulator module in response to increases in the battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An implanted medical device, comprising:
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a battery; a regulator module capable of providing stimulation energy to at least one electrode, the regulator module including at least one capacitor associated with a voltage input; a capacitive element between the regulator module and the at least one electrode capable of maintaining a charge balance during electrical stimulation; and a means for receiving charge information for the capacitive element and determining whether the capacitive element is malfunctioning based on the charge information; a means for associating at least one additional capacitor to the voltage input of the regulator module to compensate for a reduced battery voltage; a means for determining that the battery voltage is increased, wherein the means for associating includes a means for disassociating at least one of the associated capacitor from the voltage input of the regulator module to compensate for the increased battery voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification