Automatic lead functionality testing

• US 20060265025A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Lee, Michael T., Torgerson, Nathan A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,118,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3706 Pacemaker parameters stimulation threshold A61N1/371

Abstract

Techniques for performing lead functionality tests, e.g., lead impedance tests, for implantable electrical leads are described. In some of the described embodiments, an implantable medical device determines whether a patient is in a target activity state, e.g., an activity state in which lead impedance testing will be unobtrusive, such as when a patient is asleep, or capture information of particular interest, such as when the patient is active, in a particular posture, or changing postures. The implantable medical device performs the lead functionality test based on this determination. Additionally, in some embodiments, the implantable medical device may group a plurality of measurements for a single lead functionality test into a plurality of sessions, and perform the measurement sessions interleaved with delivery of therapeutic stimulation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether a patient is within a target activity state based on a physiological sensor signal; and

automatically performing a lead functionality test for at least one electrical lead implanted within the patient when the patient is within the target activity state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a patient is within a target activity state based on a physiological sensor signal comprises determining whether the patient is within the target activity state based on an accelerometer signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a patient is within a target activity state based on a physiological sensor signal comprises periodically monitoring the physiological sensor signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a patient is within a target activity state comprises determining whether the patient is sleeping based on the physiological sensor signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a patient is within a target activity state comprises determining whether the patient is within a target posture or changing postures based on the physiological sensor signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically performing a lead functionality test comprises automatically measuring an impedance associated with the lead.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the lead functionality test comprises:

iteratively combining a plurality of electrodes that includes electrodes carried by the electrical lead; and

measuring an electrical parameter for each of the combinations of electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein measuring an electrical parameter for each of the combinations of electrodes comprises measuring an impedance for each of the combinations of electrodes.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein measuring an electrical parameter for each of the combinations comprises measuring the electrical parameter for each of the combinations over a plurality of sessions, each of the sessions including at least one of the combinations, the method further comprising delivering therapeutic stimulation to the patient via the lead between each of the sessions.

10. A system comprising:

at least one electrical lead implanted within a patient;

a physiological sensor that generates a physiological sensor signal; and

a processor that determines whether the patient is within a target activity state based on the physiological sensor signal, and initiates performance of a lead functionality test for the lead when the patient is within the target activity state.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the physiological sensor comprises an accelerometer.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a memory to store a schedule, wherein the processor periodically monitors the physiological sensor signal.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines whether the patient is sleeping based on the physiological sensor signal.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines whether the patient is within a target posture or changing postures based on the physiological sensor signal.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor controls performance of the lead functionality test by controlling measurement of at least one impedance associated with the electrical lead.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor controls performance of the lead functionality test by iteratively combining a plurality of electrodes that includes electrodes carried by the electrical lead, and controlling measurement of an electrical parameter for each of the combinations of electrodes.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor controls measurement of an impedance each of the combinations of electrodes

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor controls measurement of the electrical parameter for each of the combinations over a plurality of sessions, each of the sessions including measurement for at least one of the combinations, and controls delivery of therapeutic stimulation to the patient via the lead between each of the sessions.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising an implantable medical device coupled to the lead that includes the processor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation via the lead.

21. A system comprising:

means for determining whether a patient is within a target activity state based on a physiological sensor signal; and

means for performing a lead functionality test for at least one electrical lead implanted within the patient when the patient is within the target activity state.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for determining whether the patient is within the target activity state based on the physiological sensor signal comprises means for determining whether the patient is asleep based on the physiological sensor signal.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for determining whether the patient is within the target activity state based on the physiological sensor signal comprises means for determining whether the patient is within a target posture and changing postures based on the physiological sensor signal.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for performing a lead functionality test comprises means for measuring at least one impedance associated with the lead.