METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE LEAD-RELATED CONDITIONS FOR FAULT TOLERANCE ENHANCEMENTS

• US 20130109939A1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Spear, Thomas H., Germanson, Nancy M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,232,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3706 Pacemaker parameters stimulation threshold A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3937 Monitoring output parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

The disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus providing detection mechanism for lead-related conditions, including transient behaviors, on a conductive pathway of a medical electrical lead. In one example, a sense path arbitration module identifies a lead-related condition associated with a conductive pathway based on signal processing to identify transients emerging from a propagated signal. The sense path arbitration module may evaluate a plurality of conductive pathways of the medical electrical lead and arbitrates propagation of a sensed signal that is transmitted through the plurality of lead conductors based on the evaluation. Therapy delivery functions utilizing the medical electrical lead may also be controlled in response to the signal processing and identification of the lead-related condition on a conductive pathway.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead system, comprising:

an electrode;

a plurality of conductors coupled to the electrode;

a sense path arbiter coupled to the plurality of conductors, wherein the sense path arbiter evaluates a plurality of conductive pathways each conductive pathway being defined by the plurality of conductors and in response to the evaluation selects one of the plurality of conductors for transmission of a signal sensed by the electrode; and

a plurality of containment modules each coupled along a length of a respective one of the plurality of conductors between the electrode and the sense path arbiter.

2. The medical electrical lead system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of containment modules is coupled in a series configuration along the length of the plurality of conductors.

3. The medical electrical lead system of claim 1, wherein the evaluation of the conductive pathway comprises analyzing a signal propagated though the respective conductor to detect a transient.

4. The medical electrical lead system of claim 1, wherein the transient containment element is configured to permit the electrical signal propagation in a first direction.

5. An implantable medical system, comprising:

a sensing element;

a sense circuitry; and

a medical electrical lead coupled at a distal end to the sensing element, the lead having;

a first and second containment module each coupled to the sensing element;

a plurality of conductors coupled to the first and second containment module, respectively;

a sense path arbiter coupled to the plurality of conductors, wherein the sense path arbiter evaluates a plurality of conductive pathways defined by the plurality of conductors, respectively, and in response to the evaluation couples a proximal end of one of the plurality of conductors to the sense circuitry for propagation of an electrical signal from the electrode.

6. The implantable medical system of claim 5, wherein the sense path arbiter is configured to monitor an electrical property of the plurality of conductors.

7. The implantable medical system of claim 5, wherein the sensing element is an electrode.

8. The implantable medical system of claim 5, wherein the sensing element is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, and an oxygen sensor.

9. The implantable medical system of claim 5, wherein the sense path arbiter is configured to detect transient characteristics of a signal on the plurality of conductors.

10. A method of detecting a lead-related condition on a medical electrical lead comprising:

monitoring signals transmitted through a plurality of conductors coupled to a given electrode of the lead;

evaluating the signals for each of the conductors to detect an electrical property indicative of the lead-related condition;

employing an arbitration scheme to select one of the conductors for propagation of a signal sensed by the electrode based on the evaluation; and

coupling the selected conductor to sensing circuitry of an implantable medical device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the evaluation comprises comparing a voltage level of the signal for each of the plurality of conductors to a threshold level to detect a deviation from the threshold level.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising filtering the conductive pathway to permit transmission of signals having a target frequency.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising analyzing monitored signals having a frequency other than the target frequency to obtain an electrical property.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the analyzing comprises performing a pattern analysis of the monitored signals having a frequency other than the target frequency to obtain an electrical property.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising classifying the lead-related condition based on a frequency range of the monitored signal.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the evaluation further comprises identifying a leading indicator of a lead-related condition based on identifying a deviation of the monitored signal from a threshold signal.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold signal is dynamically adjustable as a function of the results of the evaluation.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the evaluation further comprises identifying a leading indicator of a lead-related condition based on comparing the received signal to a template signal.