# US 12,005,261 B2 · Programming of pairing and MRI modes in an implantable medical device system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,261 B2 - Document ID: US12005261B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/447,381 - Filed: 2021-09-10 - Published: 2022-03-31 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-30 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation - Applicants: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation - Inventors: Hannah Gallovic; Sridhar Kothandaraman; John Rivera; Chirag Shah; Joshua Uyeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005261B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/3718: {Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents} - A61N 1/37252: {Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data} - A61N 1/086: {Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads} - A61N 1/37217: {characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for use with Implantable Medical Devices (IMD) such as Implantable Stimulator Devices. The system includes a permanent magnet which can be used to reset the IMD (such as during an emergency) and to place the IMD in a pairing mode to establish communications with an external device. An external device paired to the IMD can be used to place the IMD in an MRI mode that renders the IMD safe during a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. In the event that the external device is unavailable to cause the IMD to exit the MRI mode, the bar magnet can also be used in the MRI mode to pair the IMD with another external device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising: using stimulation circuitry in the IMD to provide therapeutic stimulation to a patient at one or more electrodes of the IMD; wirelessly receiving at the IMD a first instruction, causing the IMD to enter a protective mode, wherein in the protective mode the IMD is enabled to execute one or more protective measures to protect the IMD from a first field produced by equipment; while in the protective mode, wirelessly receiving at the IMD a second instruction instruction, causing the IMD to enter a pairing mode, wherein the pairing mode enables the IMD to pair for communications with a first external device; while in the protective mode and the pairing mode, wirelessly receiving at the IMD, from the first external device, a third instruction, causing the IMD and the first external device to pair for communications; and while in the protective mode, wirelessly receiving at the IMD, from the first external device, a fourth instruction, causing the IMD to exit the protective mode and to continue providing the therapeutic stimulation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first instruction is wirelessly received at the IMD from a second external device paired for communications with the IMD, wherein the second external device is different from the first external device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second instruction comprises a second field comprising a first magnetic field. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first magnetic field is produced by an external magnet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first magnetic field comprises a DC magnetic field. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first magnetic field is effective to cause the IMD to enter the pairing mode when the first magnetic field is wirelessly received at the IMD for a first duration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first duration is between a minimum duration and a maximum duration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the minimum duration and the maximum duration are stored in the IMD. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first field comprises an AC magnetic field produced by the equipment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, while in the protective mode, wirelessly receiving at the IMD a fifth instruction from the equipment, causing the IMD to execute the one or more protective measures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the fifth instruction comprises a third field comprising a second magnetic field. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second magnetic field is produced by the equipment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second magnetic field comprises a DC magnetic field produced by a magnet in the equipment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second magnetic field is effective to cause the IMD to execute the one or more protective measures when the second magnetic field is wirelessly received at the IMD for a second duration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second magnetic field is effective to cause the IMD to stop executing the one or more protective measures when the second magnetic field is not wirelessly received at the IMD for a third duration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically broadcasting pairing data from the IMD when the IMB is in the pairing mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the protective mode comprises a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MM) mode, and wherein the equipment comprises an MM machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more protective measures comprise one or more of: disabling the stimulation circuitry; providing condition stimulation to the patient different from the therapeutic stimulation; increasing one or more voltages in the IMD; increasing a power supply voltage for the stimulation circuitry; or opening passive charge recovery switches in the stimulation circuitry. ### Claim 19 An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising: a plurality of electrodes; stimulation circuitry configured to provide therapeutic stimulation to a patient at one or more of the electrodes; and control circuitry configured to: receive a first instruction, causing the IMB to enter a protective mode, wherein in the protective mode the IMB is enabled to execute one or more protective measures to protect the IMD from a first field produced by equipment; while in the protective mode, receive a second instruction, causing the IMB to enter a pairing mode, wherein the pairing mode enables the IMD to pair for communications with a first external device; while in the protective mode and the pairing mode, receive, from the first external device, a third instruction, causing the IMD and the first external device to pair for communications; and while in the protective mode, receive, from the first external device, a fourth instruction, causing the IMD to exit the protective mode and to continue providing the therapeutic stimulation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The IMD of claim 19, wherein the one or more protective measures comprise one or more of: disabling the stimulation circuitry; providing condition stimulation to the patient different from the therapeutic stimulation; increasing one or more voltages in the IMD; increasing a power supply voltage for the stimulation circuitry; or opening passive charge recovery switches in the stimulation circuitry.