Alarm testing and backup for implanted medical devices with vibration alerts

• US 8,457,725 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angel Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angel Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., John, Michael Sasha, Harwood, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US13/633,275
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 600508-527, 607/2, 607115-116
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/33 specially adapted for cooperation with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An implanted device which includes a vibrator having a drive motor and a drive circuit. An accelerometer is connected to the vibrator and senses alarm test data related to the displacement of the vibrator. A power source provides electricity to the implanted device and a processor is configured for bi-directional wireless communication. The processor is configured for receiving a command from an external device for performance of an alarm test and the processor analyzes the alarm test data for generating test results.

Claims

1. An implanted device comprising:

a vibrator, the vibrator including a drive motor and a drive circuit;

an accelerometer coupled to said vibrator and configured for sensing alarm test data related to movement of the vibrator;

a power source for providing electricity to the implanted device;

a processor configured for bi-directional wireless communication, the processor configured to;

receive a command from an external device to perform an alarm test;

perform the alarm test and analyze the alarm test data in order to generate alarm test results, and,

communicate the alarm test results to the external device.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the sensed alarm test data are reflective of the speed of rotation.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the sensed alarm test data are reflective of the amplitude of vibration.

4. The system of claim 1, in which the alarm test results indicate either a pass or fail status.

5. The system of claim 1, in which the alarm test results contain measurements of the alarm test data.

6. The system of claim 1, in which the alarm test results contain summaries of measurements of the alarm test data.

7. The system of claim 1, in which the external device is a patient programmer.

8. The system of claim 1, in which the external device is an external alarm system device.

9. The system of claim 1, in which the external device is a device to provide communication between the implanted device and a remotely located computer or service.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a characteristic of electricity that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive in order to adjust vibration, the adjusting occurring according to a characteristic of the alarm test results.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a characteristic of electricity that is received by the drive circuit, the characteristic being a drive voltage pattern that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive and promote vibration to occur at a selected amplitude.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a characteristic of electricity that is received by the drive circuit, the characteristic being a time duration of the drive voltage that is provided to the drive circuit to adjust the drive and promote vibration to occur at a selected amplitude.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the external device is further configured to receive and process an alarm test result sent by the implanted device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide electrical stimulation of a patient'"'"'s heart.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide electrical monitoring of a patient'"'"'s heart.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide monitoring a signal related to a medical condition of a patient.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide monitoring a signal related to a medical condition of a patient'"'"'s brain.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide drug to a patient.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to permit a patient to initiate an alarm test operation using an external device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to permit a care giver to initiate an alarm test operation using an external device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to permit alarm test parameters to be programmably adjusted according to signals received from the external device.