Methods and apapratus for manually suspending intrathoracic impedance fluid status measurements

Abstract

The capability to suspend a patient alert relating to a monitored physiologic parameters addresses a need to selectively shut off a patient-alert signal or signals during the time a patient is being treated for an excursion in the parameter. Of course, in general a signal call attention to a patient's a potentially deleterious status or condition for which they should seek medical attention. Once a chronically-implanted monitoring device has detected or provided information about the parameter relative to a desired value, trend, or range and a clinician has been notified and intervened the alert signal is temporarily disabled for a predetermined period. That is, once the notification occurs and alert has served its purpose, the alert mechanism is selectively deactivated while the patient ostensibly begins to gradually correct the monitored physiologic parameter under a caregiver's direction and control. After which time, the alert will reactivate.

1 . An apparatus for selectively deactivating a notification function in an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
 means for monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient;   means for determining when the physiologic parameter one of exceeds a threshold and departs from a desired range;   means for energizing a notification function to the patient responsive to one of the parameter exceeding the threshold and departing from the desired range; and   means for preventing, for a preset period of time subsequent to the patient receiving one of a corrective and a palliative therapy under guidance of a clinician, energization of the notification function responsive to one of the parameter exceeding the threshold and departing from the desired range for a during the preset period of time.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiologic parameter comprises one of an intra-thoracic fluid parameter and a blood pressure parameter. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the notification function provides one of an audible sound and a tactile sensation to the patient. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for displaying the physiologic parameter and an indication of the status of the notification function on an external device programming unit. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for continuing to monitor the physiologic parameter of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the notification function includes wirelessly broadcasting a notification to an external receiver. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions for carrying out a method of selectively deactivating a notification function in an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
 instructions for monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient;   instructions for determining when the physiologic parameter one of exceeds a threshold and departs from a desired range;   instructions for energizing a notification function to the patient responsive to one of the parameter exceeding the threshold and departing from the desired range; and   instructions for preventing, during a preset period of time subsequent to the patient receiving one of a corrective and a palliative therapy under guidance of a clinician, energization of the notification function responsive to one of the parameter exceeding the threshold and departing from the desired range during the preset period of time.   
     
     
         8 . A medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the physiologic parameter comprises one of an intra-thoracic fluid parameter and a blood pressure parameter. 
     
     
         9 . A medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the notification function provides one of an audible sound and a tactile sensation to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . A medium according to  claim 7 , further comprising instructions for displaying the physiologic parameter and an indication of the status of the notification function on an external device programming unit. 
     
     
         11 . A medium according to  claim 7 , further comprising instructions for continuing to monitor the physiologic parameter of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . A medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the notification function includes wirelessly broadcasting a notification to an external receiver.