Automated impedance measurement of an implantable medical device

• US 8,036,737 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hartmann, James M., Barnhorst, Jordan A., Goetz, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foreman; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/253,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309, 600/310, 600/547, 607/8, 607/28, 607/115, 607/116, 607/117
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to automatic impedance measurements between one or more electrodes in a set of electrodes that may be associated with a lead of an implanted device. A voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the two electrodes may be made. The voltage measurement may be used to determine the impedance between the two electrodes. The impedance measurement may be made for each possible pair of electrodes in the set of electrodes. The impedance measurements may be displayed to a clinician on a user interface.

Claims

1. A method for automating impedance measurements associated with an implanted device, the method comprising:

(a) automatically determining an electrode set connected to the implanted device;

(b) configuring a parameter of a stimulation pulse of the implanted device;

(c) performing a plurality of measurement processes with the stimulation pulse in order to determine a plurality of impedance values corresponding to substantially all pairs of the determined electrode set, wherein the electrode set comprises at least four electrodes; and

(d) automatically processing the plurality of impedance values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set comprises at least five electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) restoring an original value of the parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) measuring a current value associated with substantially all pairs of the set of at least four electrodes, and crosschecking the current value to at least one impedance value.

5. A method for automating impedance measurements associated with an implanted device having a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes, the method comprising:

(a) measuring a plurality of impedance values with a stimulation pulse for substantially all the pairs of electrodes in the first set of electrodes, the measuring including;

(i) automatically determining the service type and settings of the implanted device; and

(ii) turning off the electrodes not included in the pair of electrodes being measured;

(b) processing the plurality of impedance values; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for the second set of electrodes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing in (b) comprises:

storing the plurality of impedance values; and

(ii) measuring a current value corresponding to substantially all the pairs of electrodes in the first set of electrodes and crosschecking the current value to at least one impedance value.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of electrodes comprises at least five electrodes.

8. A method for automating impedance measurements by an external device in communication with an implanted device, the method comprising:

(a) automatically determining an electrode set connected to the implanted device;

(b) configuring a parameter of a stimulation pulse of the implanted device;

(c) performing a measurement process with the stimulation pulse in order to determine an impedance value associated with at least one electrode of the determined electrode set, wherein (b) is repeated for each of the at least one electrodes of the determined electrode set associated with a lead;

(d) automatically processing the impedance value; and

(e) restoring an original value of the parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing in (d) comprises:

displaying the impedance values on a user interface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the processing in (d) comprises:

(i) storing the impedance values.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the measurement process in (c) comprises:

(i) instructing the implanted device to perform a measurement that is associated with the at least one electrode; and

(ii) calculating the impedance value utilizing the measurement.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the measurement process in (c) further comprises:

(iii) instructing the implanted device to activate a second lead; and

(iv) repeating (i) and (ii) for each pair of electrodes that is associated with the second lead.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) interrogating the implanted device to determine an implanted device type.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) instructing the implanted device to measure a value of current associated with the at least one electrodes; and

(g) processing the value of current.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein an amplitude of a stimulation pulse is essentially zero between a repetition of (c).

16. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to automate impedance measurements associated with an implanted device, the instructions performing the steps of:

(a) configuring a parameter of a stimulation pulse of the implanted device;

(b) performing a measurement process with the stimulation pulse in order to determine an impedance value corresponding to at least one electrode; and

(c) measuring a current value associated with the at least one electrode and crosschecking the current value to the impedance value.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least eight electrodes.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the performing in (b) comprises:

(i) instructing the implanted device to perform a measurement that is associated with the at least one electrode, the at least one electrode contained on a lead; and

(ii) calculating the impedance value utilizing the measurement.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the determining in (c) comprises:

(i) instructing the implanted device to measure at least one value of current of the at least one electrode; and

(ii) processing the at least one value of current.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least eight electrodes.

21. A method in a computer system for displaying information in order to automate impedance measurements associated with an implanted device, the method comprising:

(a) displaying an identification of at least one electrode;

(b) displaying a value of impedance that is associated with the at least one electrode;

(c) measuring a current value associated with the at least one electrode; and

(d) displaying the current value.