Co-location of emitters and detectors and method of operation

• US 8,275,435 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kuhn, Jonathan L., Roberts, Jonathan P., Ries, Andrew J., Reinke, James D., Jelen, Jeffrey M., Ecker, Robert M., Davis, Timothy J., Cinbis, Can, Anderson, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/690,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600323-325, 600331-333, 600/339, 600/341, 607/22
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An implantable medical device having an optical sensor selects the function of modular opto-electronic assemblies included in the optical sensor. Each assembly is provided with at least one light emitting device and at least one light detecting device. A device controller coupled to the optical sensor controls the function of each the assemblies. The controller executes a sensor performance test and selects at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test. The controller selects at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to a result of the performance test.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

an optical sensor to generate a signal responsive to a physiological condition, the optical sensor comprising a plurality of modular assemblies, each assembly comprising at least one light emitting device co-located with at least one light detecting device; and

a controller coupled to the optical sensor and controlling the function of each the plurality of modular assemblies, the controller executing a sensor performance test and selecting at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test, the controller selecting at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to the result of the performance test.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of assemblies comprises a plurality of light emitting devices emitting light at separate wavelengths.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a physiological sensor, the controller receiving a signal from the physiological sensor and executing at least a portion of the performance test in response to the received signal.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller predicts a need to operate the optical sensor at a future time in response to the received signal.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller determines a patient condition in response to the physiological signal and determines a baseline signal for the optical sensor corresponding to a patient condition.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller enables the at least one light detecting device in each of a plurality of the sensor assemblies during the performance test, simultaneously enables the at least one light emitting device, measures a signal from each of the selected light detecting devices, and determines if the selected light emitting device and the co-located selected light detecting device are operating in response to the detected signals.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the controller enables the at least one light detecting device in each of a plurality of the sensor assemblies, disabling all of the light emitting devices in the optical sensor, and measures an ambient light signal from each of the enabled light detecting devices.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller selects the light detecting assembly in response to the ambient light signal measurements.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the controller receives a signal from a test light detecting device, sequentially enables each of a plurality of light emitting devices not co-located with the test light detecting device and determined to be operating during the performance test, and compares a signal generated by the test light detecting device to an acceptable signal range,

wherein the controller selects the light emitting assembly and the light detecting assembly in response to the comparison to the acceptable signal range.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller simultaneously enables at least two of the plurality of light emitting devices determined to be operating during the performance test in response to the light detecting device signal not falling within the acceptable signal range during enabling of a single one of the plurality of light emitting devices.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller determines a peak-to-peak amplitude of the light detecting device signal and selects the light emitting assembly and the light detecting assembly in response to the peak-to-peak amplitude.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller selects at least two of the plurality of assemblies to alternate as light emitting assemblies.

13. A method for use in an implantable medical device having an optical sensor comprising a plurality of modular assemblies, each assembly comprising at least one light emitting device co-located with at least one light detecting device, the method comprising:

executing an optical sensor performance test;

selecting at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test; and

selecting at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to the result of the performance test.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein executing the performance test comprises:

enabling the at least one light detecting device in each of a plurality of the sensor assemblies;

simultaneously enabling the at least one light emitting device;

detecting a signal from each of the enabled light detecting devices; and

determining if the light emitting device and the light detecting device co-located with the light emitting device are operating in response to the detected signals.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein executing the performance test further comprises:

enabling the at least one light detecting device in each of a plurality of the sensor assemblies;

disabling all of the light emitting devices in the optical sensor; and

measuring an ambient light signal from each of the enabled light detecting devices.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the selecting the light detecting assembly in response to the ambient light signal measurements.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting at least two of the plurality of assemblies to alternate as light emitting assemblies.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a test light detecting device;

sequentially enabling each of a plurality of light emitting devices not co-located with the test light detecting device and determined to be operating during the performance test;

comparing a signal generated by the test light detecting device to an acceptable signal range; and

selecting the light emitting assembly and the light detecting assembly at least in part in response to the comparison to the acceptable signal range.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising enabling at least two of the plurality of light emitting devices determined to be operable during the performance test in response to the light detecting device signal not falling within the acceptable signal range during enabling of a single one of the plurality of light emitting devices.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining a peak-to-peak amplitude of the light detecting device signal; and

selecting the light emitting assembly and the light detecting assembly in response to the peak-to-peak amplitude.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

sensing a physiological signal;

executing at least a portion of the performance test in response to the sensed physiological signal.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising predicting a need to operate the optical sensor at a future time in response to the physiological signal.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining a patient condition in response to the physiological signal and determining a baseline signal for the optical sensor corresponding to the patient condition.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions which when implemented in an implantable medical device having an optical sensor comprising a plurality of modular assemblies, each assembly comprising at least one light emitting device co-located with at least one light detecting device cause the device to:

execute an optical sensor performance test;

select at least one of the plurality of assemblies to operate as a light emitting assembly in response to a result of the performance test; and

select at least one other of the plurality of optical sensor assemblies to operate as a light detecting assembly in response to the result of the performance test.