Systems and Methods for Indicating Aberrant Behavior Detected by an Implanted Medical Device

Abstract

Various systems and methods provide for intervening where aberrant heart and / or respiratory functionality is detected. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide a monitor capable of detecting the occurrence of various aberrant events, and in some cases for intervening in the event. In some cases, a pacemaker or some other medical device detects an abnormality, and an information signal indicating the detected abnormality is transmitted from the pacemaker to a bedside monitor or some other monitor associated with the patient. Based on the received information signal, the bedside monitor can deliver an appropriate therapy. Such a therapy can be, but are not limited to, the sounding of an audible alarm to awake the patient, and / or the programming of a medical device implanted in the patient. Further, in some cases, the detected aberrant behavior and / or events surrounding the aberrant behavior can be transmitted from the bedside monitor to a remote monitor. Information can be retrieved from the remote monitor by a clinician and used in real time, or at a later time to diagnose and / or treat the patient.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 837,851 filed on May 3, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 793,177 filed on Mar. 4, 2004, now abandoned, to which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is related to implantable medical devices, and in particular to a cardiac arrest and / or sleep apnea monitoring devices capable of detecting aberrant behavior and / or implementing corrective action in relation to a detected aberrant behavior.[0003]A large number of people suffer from obesity and / or heart disease. In these people, it is common to find heightened respiratory discomfort and shortness of breath during periods of sleep. In addition, these people often experience breathing characterized by rhythmic waxing and waning of the depth of respiration with regularl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

These systems effectively detect and intervene in aberrant behaviors, such as sleep apnea, by alerting patients or caregivers, facilitating real-time diagnosis, and dispatching emergency medical personnel, thereby reducing the risk of heart-related complications.

Problems solved by technology

In some cases, this telemetry ranges is very limited, and thus the receiver includes a sensor, such as, for example, a thin, small adhesive backed receiver to be applied to the skin of a patient in which the implantable medical device is deployed.

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