REPLACEMENT INDICATOR TIMER FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20070150018A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2003
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Betzold, Robert, Busacker, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,252,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion

Abstract

A system and method is provided for reliably indicating that an implantable medical device is in need of replacement. An implantable medical device includes a battery and a replacement indicator timer. The battery provides power to the implantable medical device. The replacement indicator timer counts a replacement time period to a determined replacement date for the implantable medical device. The replacement indicator timer starts the counting when an operational characteristic of the battery reaches a selected value.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, the implantable medical device comprising:

a) a battery, the battery providing power to the implantable medical device;

b) a replacement indicator timer, the replacement indicator timer counting a replacement time period to a determined replacement date for the implantable medical device, the replacement indicator timer starting the counting when an operational characteristic of the battery reaches a selected value.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement time period is at least six months.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement time period is between nine and twelve months.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement time period is determined by a clinician.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the selected value of the operational characteristic of the battery is at least in part determined by an operational parameter of the implantable medical device.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5 wherein the operational parameter of the implantable medical device comprises power consumption of the implantable medical device.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device communicates a status of the replacement indicator timer to a clinician during a communication procedure.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device goes into a lower power mode when the determined replacement date is reached if the implantable medical device has not been communicated with during the replacement time period.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device does not go into a lower power mode when the determined replacement date is reached if the implantable medical device has been communicated with during the replacement time period.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein a clinician can selectively determine whether the implantable medical device goes into a lower power mode when the determined replacement date is reached.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement indicator timer varies a counting rate when an operation of the implantable medical device is modified by a clinician.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement time period is varied when an operation of the implantable medical device is modified by a clinician.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the operational characteristic of the battery includes battery impedance.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the operational characteristic of the battery includes an output voltage.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the replacement time period and the determined replacement date are selected to provide a reserve to allow the implantable medical device to continue to operate past the determined replacement date with a defined level of confidence.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device comprises an implantable pulse generator.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device comprises a cardiac defibrillator.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device comprises a cardiac resynchronization device.

19. A method for providing notice to a clinician of a removal date for an implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring an operational characteristic of a battery in the implantable medical device during operation of the implantable medical device;

b) starting a replacement indicator timer in the implantable medical device when the operational characteristic of the battery reaches a selected value;

c) counting through a replacement time period with the replacement indicator timer to a determined replacement date; and

d) communicating a status of the replacement indicator timer to the clinician.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the replacement time period is at least six months.