Systems and methods for operating an implantable medical device

Abstract

A system and/or method to control operation of an implantable medical device in response to a monitored gravity vector.

1 . A care system comprising:
 an implantable sensor configured for implantation into a patient and to generate information indicative of a gravity vector;   an implantable medical device (IMD) for delivering stimulation therapy to the patient; and   a monitoring module for monitoring the gravity vector over time.   
     
     
         2 . The care system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a therapy module for prompting operation of the IMD in delivering stimulation therapy, the therapy module programmed to perform at least one therapy regimen in which stimulation therapy is delivered to the patient at a predetermined level;   wherein the system is programmed to, during performance of the at least one therapy regimen:
 compare the monitored gravity vector with a threshold, and 
 based upon the comparison, prompt performance of an operational mode in which the stimulation therapy delivered to the patient is ramped down from the predetermined level to a ramped down level. 
   
     
     
         3 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the operational mode once the monitored gravity vector has maintained a designated relationship with respect to the threshold for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the operational mode based, at least in part, upon a change in the monitored gravity vector that exceeds a threshold magnitude. 
     
     
         5 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the operational mode based, at least in part, upon the monitored gravity vector falling within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         6 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the ramped down level is a pause in delivery of any stimulation therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the operational mode further includes the stimulation therapy delivered to the patient being ramped up from the ramped down level to the predetermined level based, at least in part, upon a comparison of the monitored gravity vector with a predetermined range. 
     
     
         8 . The care system of  claim 7 , wherein the system is programmed to initiate ramping up of the stimulation therapy delivered to the patient from the ramped down level to the predetermined level once the monitored gravity vector has remained within the predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to automatically initiate the operational mode without referencing a determined posture of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to automatically initiate the operational mode based solely on the monitored gravity vector. 
     
     
         11 . The care system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the operational mode further based upon detected motion of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The care system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a therapy module for prompting operation of the IMD in delivering stimulation therapy, the therapy module programmed to perform at least one therapy regimen in which stimulation therapy is delivered to the patient at a predetermined level;   wherein the system is programmed to:
 compare the monitored gravity vector with a threshold, and 
 based upon the comparison, prompt performance of the at least one therapy regimen. 
   
     
     
         13 . The care system of  claim 12 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the at least one therapy regimen once the monitored gravity vector has maintained a designated relationship with respect to the threshold for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The care system of  claim 12 , wherein the prompted performance of the at least one therapy regimen includes ramping the stimulation therapy delivered to the patient from zero stimulation to the predetermined level. 
     
     
         15 . The care system of  claim 12 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the at least one therapy regimen further based upon detected motion of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The care system of  claim 15 , wherein the system is programmed to prompt performance of the at least one therapy regimen based upon the detected motion of the patient indicating no or minimal movements over a defined time period. 
     
     
         17 . The care system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is programmed to assign at least one gravity vector orientation relative to the implantable sensor with at least one operational mode. 
     
     
         18 . The care system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is programmed to activate delivery of therapy during a defined time period when no or minimal motion by the patient is detected and the monitored gravity vector is within a predetermined range. 
     
     
         19 . The care system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is programmed to make changes in a stimulation therapy delivered to the patient based on repeating changes in the monitored gravity vector. 
     
     
         20 . The care system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is programmed to not determine a current posture of the patient.