Power supply monitoring for an implantable device

• US 8,086,310 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Armstrong, Randolph K., Guzman, Albert W., Nguyen, Huan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US12/785,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 607 4- 5, 607/27, 607/29
• US Class Current: 607/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for projecting an end of service (EOS) and/or an elective replacement indication (ERI) of a component in an implantable device and for determining an impedance experienced by a lead associated with the implantable device. An active charge depletion of an implantable device is determined. An inactive charge depletion of the implantable device is determined. A time period until an end of service (EOS) and/or elective replacement indication (ERI) of a power supply associated with the IMD based upon the active charge depletion, the inactive charge depletion, and the initial and final (EOS) battery charges, is determined. Furthermore, to determine the impedance described above, a substantially constant current signal is provided through a first terminal and a second terminal of the lead. A voltage across the first and second terminals is measured. An impedance across the first and second terminals is determined based upon the constant current signal and the measured voltage.

Claims

1. A method for determining the remaining useful life of an energy storage device in an implantable medical device, said energy storage device having a total available electrical charge that may be obtained from said energy storage device, said method comprising:

determining an active charge depletion of the implantable medical device;

determining an inactive charge depletion of said implantable medical device; and

determining a time period until an end of service of the energy storage device based upon said active charge depletion, said inactive charge depletion, and said total available charge, wherein determining an active charge depletion of an implantable medical device further comprises determining a charge depleted during a previous stimulation performed by said implantable device and determining an active current usage rate for a future stimulation to be performed by said implantable device, wherein determining an active current usage rate for a future stimulation to be performed by said implantable medical device further comprises correlating a first predetermined current usage rate with a first stimulation performed by said implantable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein correlating said first predetermined current usage rate with said first stimulation performed by said implantable device further comprises calibrating said first predetermined current usage rate based upon at least one stimulation parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein correlating said first predetermined current usage rate with said first stimulation performed by said implantable device further comprises calibrating said first predetermined current usage rate based upon a lead impedance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an active current usage rate for a future stimulation to be performed by said implantable medical device further comprises correlating a second predetermined current usage rate with a second stimulation performed by said implantable device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein correlating said second predetermined current usage rate with said second stimulation performed by said implantable device further comprises calibrating said second predetermined current usage rate based upon at least one stimulation parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said energy storage device comprises a battery.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service equals zero.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said end of service has already occurred.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an elective replacement indicator signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service is less than or equal to a predetermined period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined period is six months.

6. A method for determining the remaining useful life of an energy storage device in an implantable medical device, said energy storage device having a total available electrical charge that may be obtained from said energy storage device, said method comprising:

determining an active charge depletion of the implantable medical device;

determining an inactive charge depletion of said implantable medical device; and

determining a time period until an end of service of the energy storage device based upon said active charge depletion, said inactive charge depletion, and said total available charge, wherein determining an inactive charge depletion of an implantable medical device further comprises determining a charge depleted during a previous idle period of said implantable medical device.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein said energy storage device comprises a battery.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service equals zero.

16. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said end of service has already occurred.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating an elective replacement indicator signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service is less than or equal to a predetermined period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said predetermined period is six months.

7. A method for determining the remaining useful life of an energy storage device in an implantable medical device, said energy storage device having a total available electrical charge that may be obtained from said energy storage device, said method comprising:

determining an active charge depletion of the implantable medical device;

determining an inactive charge depletion of said implantable medical device; and

determining a time period until an end of service of the energy storage device based upon said active charge depletion, said inactive charge depletion, and said total available charge, wherein determining an inactive charge depletion of said implantable medical device further comprises determining an idle current usage rate for a future idle period of said implantable medical device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising calibrating said idle current usage rate for a previous idle time period.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein said energy storage device comprises a battery.

20. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service equals zero.

21. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating an end of service signal based upon a determination that said end of service has already occurred.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating an elective replacement indicator signal based upon a determination that said time period until said end of service is less than or equal to a predetermined period.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said predetermined period is six months.