Method and apparatus for preventing excessive power drain from an implantable device

• US 7,720,545 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Propato, Claudio
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko; George R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, ANDREW L
• Application Number:
  US11/551,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling interrogation of an implantable device such as a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter, or a defibrillator utilizing an external device in a home environment. The method controls how frequently a patient can retrieve status information from the implantable device based on a time period elapsed since a last interrogation and a power level of a battery.

Claims

1. A method for controlling interrogation of an implantable device utilizing an external device, the method comprising:

receiving a request for information at an implantable device through a wireless communication link established between the implantable device and an external device;

determining, at the implantable device, whether a threshold period of time has elapsed since receiving a last request for the information from the implantable device in response to said receiving;

allowing, at the implantable device, the interrogation process to proceed based on the time lapsed since the last request received;

transmitting information from the implantable device to the external device; and

preventing transmission of the information when the threshold period of time has not elapsed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting information includes reading the information from a memory location within the implantable device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the threshold period of time has elapsed is performed by the implantable device.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprises dynamically adjusting the threshold period based on a battery power.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of physiological information, programmable information, timing information, and a battery condition.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprises preventing transmission of the information when a battery power level is less than a threshold battery value.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the implantable device constitutes at least one of a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and a defibrillator.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing, in memory of the implantable device, at least one of a time and date of when data is transmitted from the implantable device, a number of total interrogations performed, and a time and date of each interrogation.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining operation is performed by a monitoring module in the implantable device after receiving a request for information from the external device.

10. A method for controlling interrogation of an implantable device utilizing an external device, the method comprising:

receiving a request for information at an implantable device through a wireless communication link established between the implantable device and an external device;

determining, at the implantable device, whether a threshold period of time has elapsed since receiving a last request for the information from the implantable device in response to said receiving;

allowing, at the implantable device, the interrogation process to proceed based on the time lapsed since the last request received;

transmitting information from the implantable device to the external device;

checking and recording a battery condition; and

as the battery condition decreases, extending the threshold period of time that is to elapse before accepting a new request for information.