Systems and methods for operating an implantable device for medical procedures

• US 8,150,516 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Levine, Paul A., Ostrow, Eliot L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIELAND, ROBERT N
• Application Number:
  US12/332,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 600/423, 604/500, 607/2, 607/11, 607/30, 607/31, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3688 configured for switching the pacing mode, e.g. from AAI to DDD
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

When a medical procedure is performed on a patient in whom an implantable medical device is implanted, the medical procedure may have undesired effects on the medical device, such as triggering a response that initiates therapy by the device that is unnecessary and potentially dangerous to the patient. Systems and methods may facilitate performing of such medical procedures on such patients by temporarily reprogramming the medical device, monitoring for one or more detectable characteristics associated with the medical procedure to be performed, and restoring normal programming of the device based on detection and/or lack of detection of the detectable characteristic(s).

Claims

1. A method for operating a medical device for facilitating a medical procedure, the medical device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

storing at least one current operating parameter of the device in a storage element of the device;

setting at least one interim operating parameter for the device;

monitoring for at least one detectable characteristic of a medical procedure to be performed on the patient; and

based upon completion of a time-out following the last detection of the at least one detectable characteristic, retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the at least one detectable characteristic based on the medical procedure to be performed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying the medical procedure to be performed to the device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the device automatically determines the at least one detectable characteristic to monitor based on the identified medical procedure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the device provides a list of medical procedures and identifying the medical procedure to be performed comprises selecting a procedure from the list.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the device automatically determines the at least one detectable characteristic to monitor based on the selected procedure.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one interim operating parameter is set based on the medical procedure to be performed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device automatically retrieves the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replaces the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter based upon detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter occurs at a predetermined elapsed time after detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter occurs at the predetermined elapsed time after a last detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device performs the monitoring.

12. A method for operating a medical device for facilitating a medical procedure, the medical device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

storing at least one current operating parameter of the device in a storage element of the device;

setting at least one interim operating parameter for the device;

setting a first period of time;

during the first set period of time, monitoring for at least one detectable characteristic of a medical procedure to be performed on the patient; and

when the at least one detectable characteristic is not detected during the first set period of time, retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

setting a second period of time; and

when the at least one detectable characteristic is detected during the first set period of time, retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter at the second set period of time after detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein when the at least one detectable characteristic is detected during the first set period of time, retrieving the at least one operating parameter from the storage element and replacing the at least one interim operating parameter with the retrieved at least one operating parameter at the second set period of time after a last detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

15. A method for operating a medical device for facilitating a medical procedure, the medical device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

altering at least one operating parameter of the device from a pre-procedure setting;

monitoring for at least one detectable characteristic of a medical procedure to be performed on the patient; and

returning the at least one operating parameter to the pre-procedure setting at a predetermined elapsed time after a last detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising identifying the medical procedure to be performed on the patient to the device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one operating parameter is altered based on the identified medical procedure.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the device automatically returns the at least one operating parameter to the pre-procedure setting based on detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein returning the at least one operating parameter to the pre-procedure setting occurs at a predetermined elapsed time after detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein returning the at least one operating parameter to the pre-procedure setting occurs at the predetermined elapsed time after a last detection of the at least one detectable characteristic.