DYNAMIC BATTERY MANAGEMENT IN AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE

• US 20080097544A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kalgren, James, Gandhi, Rajesh Krishan, Linder, William J., Lyden, Michael J., Stessman, Nicholas J., Kelly, Jonathan H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

One aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for dynamic battery management in implantable medical devices. An embodiment of the system includes two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery. The embodiment also includes a controller connected to the measuring devices. The controller is adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed. According to various embodiments, at least one of the measuring devices includes a coulometer. At least one of the measuring devices includes a capacity-by-voltage device, according to an embodiment. The system further includes a display in communication with the controller in various embodiments. The display is adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery;

a controller connected to the measuring devices, the controller adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed; and

a display in communication with the controller, the display adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the depiction of battery longevity includes a semicircular gauge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the depiction of battery longevity includes a graph.

4. A method, comprising:

measuring battery capacity consumed in an implantable device using two or more measuring devices; and

combining the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein measuring battery capacity using measuring devices includes measuring battery capacity using a coulometer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein measuring battery capacity consumed using a coulometer includes measuring battery capacity continuously.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein measuring battery capacity consumed using a coulometer includes reporting battery capacity daily.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein measuring battery capacity consumed includes measuring battery capacity in units of Ampere-hours (Ahr).

9. A method for measuring capacity consumed for a battery in an implantable medical device, comprising:

during a first time period, measuring battery capacity consumed using a coulometer;

during a second time period, capacity-blending measurements from the coulometer and measurements of battery capacity consumed using a capacity-by-voltage device; and

during a third time period, measuring battery capacity consumed using the capacity-by-voltage device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first time period begins at the beginning of life of the battery and ends when the battery has 50% capacity consumed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second time period begins when the battery has 50% capacity consumed and ends when the battery has 75% capacity consumed.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the third time period begins when the battery has 75% capacity consumed and ends when the battery capacity expires.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein capacity-blending measurements from the coulometer and the capacity-by-voltage device includes computing a weighted average of the measurements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein computing a weighted average includes computing a linear weighted average.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein measuring battery capacity consumed using the capacity-by-voltage device includes using a look-up table.

16. A method, comprising:

sensing remaining battery capacity for an implantable device;

calculating battery longevity based on sensed capacity; and

displaying battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the battery in the form of a semi-circular gauge.

17. The method of claims 16, wherein sensing remaining battery capacity includes using a coulometer to measure capacity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

calculating power consumption rate based on successive coulometer readings; and

displaying power consumption rate.

19. The method of claims 16, wherein sensing remaining battery capacity includes using a capacity-by-voltage device and a coulometer to measure capacity.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

calculating battery life phase from sensed capacity.