Pressure based refill status monitor for implantable pumps
First Claim
1. A method for calculating a fill status of a reservoir in an implantable medical device during a procedure to refill the reservoir, the method comprising:
- determining a rate of change of the pressure as fluid is added to the reservoir via a fill port assembly in communication with the reservoir;
determining a fluid flow rate into the reservoir based on the rate of change of the pressure;
determining a total volume of fluid added to the reservoir by integrating the fluid flow rate over the time when fluid is added in which the pressure is sensed using the pressure sensor; and
combining the total volume of fluid added to the reservoir with a known starting volume of fluid in the reservoir to determine a volume of fluid in the reservoir during the refill procedure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes systems and methods for detecting fluid flow into or out of a port chamber or a reservoir of an implantable medical device utilizing a pressure sensor and calculating the fluid status of the reservoir. The system detects characteristic pressure profiles associated with fluid flowing into the medical device, out of the medical device, and also whether one or both of the port chamber or reservoir are substantially empty or substantially full. In addition, the present invention may generate a sensory cue to a clinician to indicate the fluid status.
31 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for calculating a fill status of a reservoir in an implantable medical device during a procedure to refill the reservoir, the method comprising:
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determining a rate of change of the pressure as fluid is added to the reservoir via a fill port assembly in communication with the reservoir; determining a fluid flow rate into the reservoir based on the rate of change of the pressure; determining a total volume of fluid added to the reservoir by integrating the fluid flow rate over the time when fluid is added in which the pressure is sensed using the pressure sensor; and combining the total volume of fluid added to the reservoir with a known starting volume of fluid in the reservoir to determine a volume of fluid in the reservoir during the refill procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for displaying a fluid status of a reservoir of an implantable medical device during a procedure to refill the reservoir, comprising:
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determining a rate of change of the pressure as fluid is added to the reservoir via a fill port assembly in communication with the reservoir; determining a fluid flow rate into the reservoir based on the rate of change; determining a total volume of fluid added to the reservoir by integrating the fluid flow rate over a time when fluid is added in which the pressure is sensed using the pressure sensor; combining the total volume of fluid added to the reservoir with a known starting volume of fluid in the reservoir to determine a volume of fluid in the reservoir during the refill procedure; and displaying the determined volume of fluid in the reservoir on a programmer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification