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US 8,335,563 B2Granted
MRI detector for implantable medical device
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorNicholas J. Stessman
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Abstract
An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured to alter its behavior when core saturation is detected such as by entering an MRI mode that may include cessation of therapy, fixed-rate bradycardia pacing, and/or disablement of tachyarrhythmia therapy.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- an implantable medical device, further comprising:
- an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core;
- wherein the inductive switching regulator alternately stores and discharges energy in the inductor in a power conversion cycle;
- a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core of the inductive switching regulator indicating the presence of a magnetic field by monitoring the power conversion cycle;
- and,
- circuitry for producing a core saturation signal when core saturation is detected.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating an implantable medical device incorporating an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core;
- operating the inductive switching regulator to alternately store and discharge energy in the inductor in a power conversion cycle;
- detecting saturation in the inductor core of the inductive switching regulator indicating the presence of a magnetic field by monitoring the power conversion cycle;
- and,
- producing a core saturation signal when core saturation is detected.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.