Determination of stimulation output capabilities throughout power source voltage range

• US 7,818,060 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Torgerson, Nathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland; Robert N
• Application Number:
  US12/362,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 363/60, 607/2, 607/29, 607/72, 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3782 producing a voltage above the power source level

Abstract

Techniques for determining whether a medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to a particular program throughout a useable voltage range of a power source of the medical device are described. According to some examples, the medical device charges a charge pump to a level sufficient to provide a stimulation output according to a stimulation program, determines a length of time that the charge pump charges at the present power source voltage level, and determines a time between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program. Whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program when the power source is at a power source voltage level lower than the present voltage level is determined based on the length of time the charge pump charges at the present voltage level of the power source and the time between stimulation pulses.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a length of time a charge pump charged at a present voltage level of a power source to reach a level of charge on the charge pump sufficient to provide a stimulation output according to a stimulation program;

determining a total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program; and

determining whether a medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at a voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level of the power source based on the length of time the charge pump charged at the present voltage level of the power source and the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge.

2. The method of claim 1,

further comprising determining a duty cycle of the charge pump at the present voltage level of the power source based on the length of time the charge pump charged and the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge,

wherein determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level comprises determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level based on the duty cycle.

3. The method of claim 2,

further comprising comparing the duty cycle to a threshold value,

wherein determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation comprises determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level of a power source based on the comparison.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a difference between the present voltage level and the lower voltage level; and

determining the threshold value based on the difference.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

accessing information regarding a change in a rate at which the charge pump accumulates charge as the power source depletes from the present voltage level to the lower voltage level; and

calculating a duty cycle of the charge pump at the lower voltage level of the power source based on the duty cycle of the charge pump at the present voltage level of the power source and the information regarding the change in the rate at which charge pump accumulates charge,

wherein determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation comprises determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower voltage level of the power source based on the duty cycle of the charge pump at the lower voltage level of the power source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level comprises determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level in response to receipt of the program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level comprises determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level in response to modification of the program.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication to a user of whether the medical device is able to deliver electrical stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level based on the determination.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein providing the indication comprises sending the indication to a programming device, wherein the programming device presents the indication to the user.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises an indication that the medical device is not able to deliver electrical stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source, and wherein the indication further comprises a minimum recharge frequency required for the program.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising resealing a gauge of a power source voltage level indicator based on the minimum recharge frequency required for the program.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises an indication that the medical device is not able to deliver electrical stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level, wherein the power source comprises a non-rechargeable power source, and wherein the indication further comprises a modified power source replacement schedule required for the program.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program comprises determining a time interval between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program comprises determining a time interval between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program and a pulse duration of one of the stimulation pulses of the stimulation program.

15. A medical device system comprising:

a medical device comprising;

a power source at a present power source voltage level, and

a signal generator that generates electrical stimulation, wherein the signal generator comprises a charge pump coupled to the power source; and

a processor that determines a length of time that the charge pump charged at the present power source voltage level to reach a level of charge on the charge pump sufficient to provide a stimulation output according to a stimulation program, determines a total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program, and determines whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at a voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level of the power source based on the length of time the charge pump charged at the present voltage level of the power source and the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor determines a duty cycle of the charge pump for the present voltage level of the power source based on the length of time the charge pump charges and the time between stimulation pulses, and determines whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the voltage level of the power source that is lower than the present voltage level based on the duty cycle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor compares the duty cycle to a threshold value, and determines whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the power source voltage level lower than the present voltage level of a power source based on the comparison.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor calculates a difference between the present power source voltage level and the lower power source voltage level, and determines the threshold value based on the difference.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor accesses information regarding a change in a rate at which the charge pump accumulates charge as the power source depletes from the present voltage level to the lower voltage level, calculates a duty cycle of the charge pump for the lower voltage level of the power source based on the duty cycle of the charge pump for the present voltage level of the power source and the information regarding the change in the rate at which charge pump accumulates charge, and determines whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level based on duty cycle of the charge pump at the lower voltage level of the power source.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor provides an indication via the transceiver of whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the indication comprises an indication that the medical device is not able to deliver electrical stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source, and wherein the indication further comprises a minimum recharge frequency required for the program.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor rescales a gauge of a power source voltage level indicator based on the minimum recharge frequency required for the program.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the indication comprises an indication that the medical device is not able to deliver electrical stimulation according to the program at the lower power source voltage level, wherein the power source comprises a non-rechargeable power source, and wherein the indication further comprises a modified power source replacement schedule required for the program.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising a transceiver, wherein the processor provides the indication to an external programming device via the transceiver.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the medical device comprises an implantable medical device.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the power source is rechargeable.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the lower power source voltage level comprises a minimum threshold voltage of the power source below which therapy delivery by the medical device will cease.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor comprises a processor of the medical device.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor determines the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program as a time interval between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor determines the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge during delivery of stimulation according to the stimulation program as a time interval between stimulation pulses of the stimulation program and a pulse duration of one of the stimulation pulses of the stimulation program.

32. A medical device system comprising:

means for determining a length of time a charge pump charged at a present voltage level of a power source to reach a level of charge on the charge pump sufficient to provide a stimulation output according to a stimulation program;

means for determining a total time interval available for the charge pump to charge; and

means for determining whether the medical device will be able to deliver stimulation according to the program at a power source voltage level lower than a present voltage level of a power source based on the length of time the charge pump charges at the present voltage level of the power source and the total time interval available for the charge pump to charge.