Patent · US Expired

Automated impedance measurement of an implantable medical device

US6978171B2 · kind B2 · utility

145Cited by
20References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 2002
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/36185
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention automates impedance measurements between pairs of electrodes that are associated with a lead of an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a communications module and a processor, in which the processor communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel. The processor instructs the implanted device to perform a voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the pair of electrodes. The implanted device sends the voltage measurement to the apparatus over the communications channel from which the apparatus determines the impedance between the pair of electrodes. The apparatus initiates an impedance measurement for each pair of electrodes along the lead. With a plurality of leads, the apparatus repeats the impedance measurements for electrode pairs of the other leads. The embodiment also supports measuring a current between pairs of electrodes. The impedance measurements and current measurements are displayed to a clinician on a user interface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.