Baseline acquisition for infection monitoring

• US 7,766,862 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin T., Rondoni, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US12/023,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/65, 604 66- 67, 600/549
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16836 by sensing tissue properties at the infusion site, e.g. for detecting infiltration detecting tissue temperature for diagnostic purposes A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to an implantable medical device and monitoring the indicator of infection in proximity to the device. The method further includes determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the device. The determination as to whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection includes comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the baseline value.

Claims

1. A method performed by an implantable medical device, comprising:

obtaining via a sensor an initial baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to the implantable medical device;

monitoring the indicator of infection in proximity to the device via the sensor; and

determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection, wherein determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the initial baseline value;

receiving instructions from an external device to obtain an additional baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to the implantable medical device; and

obtaining the additional baseline value via the sensor operably coupled to the device following receipt of the instructions;

monitoring the indicator of infection in proximity to the device via the sensor; and

determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the device, wherein determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the additional baseline value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions received from the external device instruct the implantable device to obtain the additional baseline value at a predetermined time following implantation of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator of infection is temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an alert if the monitored indicator is determined to be indicative of infection.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when implemented cause an implantable medical device to:

obtain via a sensor an initial baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to the implantable medical device;

monitor the indicator of infection in proximity to the device via the sensor; and

determine whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection, wherein the determination comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the initial baseline value;

receive instructions from an external device to obtain an additional baseline value for an indicator of infection in proximity to the implantable medical device; and

obtain the additional baseline value via the sensor for an indicator of infection in proximity to the device;

monitor the indicator of infection in proximity to the device; and

determine whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the device, wherein the determination comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the additional baseline value.

6. An implantable medical device comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting an indicator of infection;

electronics operably coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor an infection in proximity to the device; and

a computer readable medium according to claim 5 readable and executable by the electronics.

7. A method performed by an implantable medical device, comprising:

monitoring an indicator of infection in proximity to the device via a sensor of an implantable medical device;

obtaining via the sensor an initial baseline value for the indicator of infection in proximity to the implantable medical device; and

determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection, wherein determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the initial baseline value;

determining whether a value associated with the monitored indicator is stable and setting the stable value as an additional baseline; and

determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection in proximity to the device, wherein determining whether the monitored indicator is indicative of infection comprises comparing a value associated with the monitored indicator to the additional baseline value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator of infection is temperature and determining whether a value associated with the monitored indicator is stable comprises determining whether the temperature has varied less than ±

1°

F. over 24 hours.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether a value associated with the monitored indicator is stable occurs at a predetermined time following implantation of the implantable device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving instructions from an external device to determine whether the value associated with the monitored indicator is stable.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an alert if the monitored indicator is determined to be indicative of infection.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when implemented cause an implantable medical device to carry out the method of claim 7.

13. An implantable medical device comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting an indicator of infection;

electronics operably coupled to the sensor and configured to monitor an infection in proximity to the device; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 readable and executable by the electronics.