Defibrillator with implantable medical device detection

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for using an external defibrillator to detect a presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient, and providing therapy to the patient through communication between the external defibrillator and the IMD. An external defibrillator provides prompts to a user of the external defibrillator to determine the presence of an IMD implanted within the patient. For example, the external defibrillator may prompt the user to visually inspect the patient's chest for signs that an IMD was implanted, such as a scar or raised portion of skin near the patient's clavicles. As another example, the external defibrillator may prompt the user to place a detection device on the patient's chest. The detection device may be coupled to the external defibrillator, and may employ a magnet to initiate telemetry by the IMD to detect the presence of the IMD.

1 . An external defibrillator comprising: 
 a defibrillation therapy generator;    electrodes coupled to the defibrillation therapy generator; and    a user interface that presents one or more prompts to a user of the external defibrillator to detect presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient.    
     
     
         2 . The external defibrillator of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface presents a prompt requesting that the user examine an area of the body of the patient for evidence of presence of an IMD in the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The external defibrillator of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface presents: 
 a first prompt requesting that the user examine a chest of the patient for a scar near clavicles of the patient;    a second prompt requesting that the user examine the chest of the patient for a raised portion of skin near the clavicles of the patient;    a third prompt requesting that the user place a detection device on the chest of the patient near the clavicles of the patient; and    a fourth prompt requesting that the user place the electrodes on the patient's chest based on the location of the IMD.    
     
     
         4 . The external defibrillator of  claim 1 , wherein the prompts include at least one of audible prompts or visual prompts, the external defibrillator including a device to present at least one of the audible prompts or visual prompts.  
     
     
         5 . The external defibrillator of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface provides a medium for user input indicating that the user has detected presence of the IMD.  
     
     
         6 . The external defibrillator of  claim 1 , further comprising a detection device that detects presence of the IMD, wherein the detection device is configured to trigger initiation of telemetry by the IMD and detect the presence of the IMD based on reception of one or more telemetry signals from the IMD.  
     
     
         7 . The external defibrillator of  claim 6 , further comprising a processor that receives information from the IMD via the telemetry signals, wherein the processor controls the therapy generator to deliver therapy to the patient based on the received information.  
     
     
         8 . The external defibrillator of  claim 7 , wherein the received information includes electrogram information, electrocardiogram information, and IMD event information.  
     
     
         9 . A method comprising generating one or more prompts to a user of an external defibrillator to detect presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising presenting a prompt requesting that the user examine an area of the body of the patient for evidence of presence of the IMD in the patient.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising generating: 
 a first prompt requesting that the user examine a chest of the patient for a scar near clavicles of the patient;    a second prompt requesting that the user examine the chest of the patient for a raised portion of skin near the clavicles of the patient;    a third prompt requesting that the user place a detection device of the external defibrillator on the chest of the patient near the clavicles of the patient; and    a fourth prompt requesting that the user place electrodes of the external defibrillator on the patient's chest based on the location of the IMD.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein generating one or more prompts includes generating at least one of audible prompts or visual prompts.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein detecting presence of an IMD in the patient comprises triggering initiation of telemetry by the IMD and detecting the presence of the IMD based on reception of one or more telemetry signals from the IMD.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 receiving information from the IMD via the telemetry signals; and    delivering therapy to the patient based on the received information.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received information includes electrogram information, electrocardiogram information, and IMD event information.  
     
     
         16 . An external-defibrillator comprising: 
 a defibrillation therapy generator;    electrodes coupled to the defibrillation therapy generator; and    a detection device that detects presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient.    
     
     
         17 . The external defibrillator of  claim 16 , further comprising an output medium that indicates presence of the IMD.  
     
     
         18 . The external defibrillator of  claim 17 , wherein the output medium provides at least one of a visual indication or an audible indication of presence of the IMD.  
     
     
         19 . The external defibrillator of  claim 16 , wherein the detection device is configured to trigger initiation of telemetry by the IMD and detect the presence of the IMD based on reception of one or more telemetry signals from the IMD.  
     
     
         20 . The external defibrillator of  claim 16 , wherein the detection device includes a magnet to trigger initiation of telemetry by the IMD.  
     
     
         21 . The external defibrillator of  claim 20 , further comprising a processor that receives information from the IMD via the telemetry signals, wherein the processor controls the therapy generator to deliver therapy to the patient based on the received information.  
     
     
         22 . The external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the received information includes electrogram information, electrocardiogram information, and IMD event information.  
     
     
         23 . The external defibrillator of  claim 22 , wherein the received information comprises patient information and IMD information.  
     
     
         24 . A method comprising: 
 detecting presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient via a detection device associated with an external defibrillator; and    indicating presence of the IMD to a user of the external defibrillator.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein indicating the presence of the IMD comprises indicating the presence of the IMD via at least one of an audible indication or a visual indication.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 placing the detection device near the IMD, wherein the detection device includes a magnet to trigger initiation of telemetry by the IMD; and    communicating with the IMD via a telemetry device, wherein the telemetry device is integrated with the detection device.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 receiving information from the IMD via the telemetry device; and    delivering therapy to the patient based on the received information.    
     
     
         28 . The external defibrillator of  claim 27 , wherein the received information includes electrogram information, electrocardiogram information, and IMD event information.