Medtronic, Inc.

Computer Network Technology Corporation

Medtronic, in

Charles Randall Rogers

Craig L Schmidt

Donald R Merritt

Mukul Jain

Warren L Starkebaum

Scott A Sarkinen

Raymond F McMullen

Christopher Ambri

Keith Alan Miesel

James M Olsen

Steven T Deininger

Scott L Kalpin

Michael J Baade

Irfan Z Ali

William J Mitchell

Nicholas R Whitehead

Katherine J Bach

John Michael Gray

Ronald L Mezera

George P Seifert

Curtis D Kinghorn

David D Differding

Naveed Alam

Steven D Byland

Dennis G Cope

Warren R Pratt

An implantable infusion device includes a voltage boost circuit configured to selectively generate an output voltage from a first voltage provided by a battery. The voltage boost circuit includes a signal generation circuit configured to generate control signals and a charge pump circuit configured to generate the output voltage in response to the control signals. In response to a request for a predetermined voltage, the signal generation circuit generates the control signals using a first profile for a first period of time, and generates the control signals using a second profile for a second period of time subsequent to the first period. The charge pump circuit increases the output voltage to (i) an intermediate voltage less than the predetermined voltage in response to the first profile of the control signals, and (ii) the predetermined voltage in response to the second profile of the control signals.

Implantable infusion device having selective voltage boost circuit with charge pump circuit for generating control signals using first and second profiles

An implantable infusion device includes a pump, a charge storage unit, and a charging circuit configured to supply current to the charge storage unit from a battery in preparation for actuating the pump. The implantable infusion device also includes a pump actuator circuit configured to actuate the pump using energy from the charge storage unit, and a voltage boost circuit configured to provide a boosted battery voltage generated from the battery. The charging circuit is configured to supply current to the charge storage unit from the voltage boost circuit instead of directly from the battery in response to (i) a comparison of a voltage of the battery with a predetermined threshold and (ii) a comparison of a voltage of the charge storage unit with the voltage of the battery.

Implantable infusion device having voltage boost circuit and selection circuit to alternately connect battery with charging circuit

A method of detecting a fault condition within an implantable medical pump comprises delivering therapeutic fluid using a medical pump comprising an actuation mechanism configured to be energized to provide a pump stroke, detecting a property associated with energizing the actuation mechanism, and determining whether the property associated with energizing the actuation mechanism indicates that a fault condition exists with the medical pump.

Implantable medical pump diagnostics

A radiopaque marker for inclusion within an implantable medical device (IMD) may comprise one or more radiopaque articles selected from a predetermined set of radiopaque articles. The one or more radiopaque articles may be carried by an object formed of or including, a desiccant. The predetermined set of radiopaque articles may undergo a single qualification process that approves the use of any combination of one or more of the articles as a radiopaque marker within an IMD. This allows a potentially-limitless number of markers to be made available based on a single qualification process. The radiopaque marker may serve to provide information such as the make, model, and feature set of the device.

Radiopaque markers for implantable medical devices

A power source longevity monitor is configured for an implantable medical device. An energy counter counts the amount of energy used by the implantable medical device. A voltage monitor monitors the voltage of the power source. A calculator predicts the power source longevity using the energy longevity estimate and the voltage longevity estimate.

System and method for monitoring power source longevity of an implantable medical device

The present invention includes systems and methods for detecting fluid flow into or out of a port chamber or a reservoir of an implantable medical device utilizing a pressure sensor. The system detects characteristic pressure profiles associated with fluid flowing into the medical device, out of the medical device, and also whether one or both of the port chamber or reservoir are substantially empty or substantially full. In addition, the present invention may generate a sensory cue to a clinician to indicate the fluid status.

Pressure based refill status monitor for implantable pumps

A system for monitoring an implantable medical device. The system includes an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device for delivering a therapeutic substance, along with a temperature sensor and an indicator device. The delivery device includes a housing maintaining a reservoir for containing the therapeutic substance. Further, the delivery device includes a fill port assembly having a port chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and including a septum fluidly sealing the chamber. The temperature sensor is associated with the fill port assembly. Finally, the indicator device is adapted to indicate presence of a needle within the port chamber based upon information from the temperature sensor.

Septum monitoring system and method for an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device

Power source longevity monitor for an implantable medical device. An energy counter counts the amount of energy used by the implantable medical device. An energy converter converts the energy used into an estimate of remaining power source longevity and generating an energy longevity estimate. A voltage monitor monitors the voltage of the power source. A voltage converter converts the voltage monitored by the voltage monitor into an estimate of remaining longevity of the power source and generating a voltage longevity estimate. A calculator is operatively coupled to the energy converter and to the voltage converter and predicts the power source longevity using the energy longevity estimate early in the useful life of the power source and using the voltage longevity estimate later in the useful life of the power source.

A medical device known as an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device is configured for implanting in humans to deliver a therapeutic substance such as pharmaceutical compositions, genetic materials, and biologics to treat a variety of medical conditions such as pain, spasticity, cancer, and many other conditions. The infusion device incorporates a stepper motor that controls the infusion flow rate during the service life of the device. The stepper motor is controlled by continuously varying electrical pulse parameters based on the continuously decreasing power source voltage during the service life of the substance delivery device. In particular the stepper motor electrical pulse parameters, especially duty cycle, are selected to efficiently compensate for decreasing battery voltage thereby optimizing the motor performance while maximizing the power source service life. The infusion device has a housing, a power source, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a therapeutic substance pump, and electronics. Many embodiments of the therapeutic substance delivery device with optimized pump motor drive and its methods of operation are possible.

Implantable infusion device with optimized peristaltic pump motor drive

A medical device known as an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device is configured for implanting in humans to deliver a therapeutic substance such as pharmaceutical compositions, genetic materials, and biologics to treat a variety of medical conditions such as pain, spastisity, cancer, and many other conditions. The infusion device embodiment has active longevity projection that more accurately predicts an elective replacement period for the infusion device to increase the infusion device's effective life, reduce the need for a clinician to perform static longevity forecasts for therapy changes, facilitate elective replacement scheduling for the convenience of the patient and clinician, and many other improvements. The infusion device has a housing, a power source, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a therapeutic substance pump, and electronics. Many embodiments of the therapeutic substance delivery device with active longevity projection and its methods of operation are possible.

Implantable therapeutic substance infusion device with active longevity projection

An implantable drug delivery device is provided with a passive flow control device is provided in the form of a valve which may assume two flow states. Flow control is achieved by duty cycling the valve using a control module which generates appropriate signals in response to an input telemetry signal corresponding to a desired flow rate. In another embodiment, a passively controlled bolus delivery device is provided to deliver a bolus of drug in addition to normal dosage.

Passive flow control devices for implantable pumps

Reservoir volume in a drug delivery device is sensed by providing a capacitor, the capacitance of which varies with bellows position or, alternatively, with the amount of propellant liquid absorbed in a dielectric material. In one embodiment, a capacitance is provided between a surface of the bellows, which acts as a first capacitor plate, and a conductive surface disposed proximate the bellows, which acts as a second capacitor plate. As the bellows moves from its extended full position to its collapsed empty position, the area of overlap, and therefore the capacitance between the first and second plates varies from a maximum value to a minimum value. In another embodiment, a variable capacitor is provided with an absorbent material. The absorbent material absorbs the liquid phase of the propellant in the pump housing and acts as a dielectric between two stationary conductive plates provided in the housing. The amount of liquid propellant absorbed in the absorbent material varies with the reservoir volume. When the reservoir is in its full, expanded position, more liquid propellant is absorbed in the absorbent material. When the reservoir is in its compressed empty position, more of the propellant exists as vapor within the pump housing and therefore less liquid propellant is absorbed in the absorbent material. The dielectric properties of the capacitor are therefore higher and the capacitance is therefore maximized when the reservoir is in its full, extended position. Conversely, the dielectric properties are lower and the capacitance minimized when the reservoir is in its compact, empty position.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Charles Randall Rogers