초록 ▼

In a method and apparatus for determining the replacement time of an electric battery in an implantable medical device, the battery being a hybrid battery with a combination of at least two electrode materials, one of which having better properties for high current pulsing and the other of which bei

In a method and apparatus for determining the replacement time of an electric battery in an implantable medical device, the battery being a hybrid battery with a combination of at least two electrode materials, one of which having better properties for high current pulsing and the other of which being a high energy density material, an electrical pulse of a predetermined duration and predetermined amplitude is drawn from the battery. The pulse amplitude significantly exceeds a base current drawn from the battery. The difference between voltages measured across the battery terminals before the pulse is emitted and at an end of the pulse is determined. The battery replacement time is determined from the voltage difference according to a predetermined criterion.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim as my invention: 1. An implantable medical device comprising:a hybrid battery comprising a combination of at least two electrode materials, a first of said electrode materials having better properties for high current pulsing than a second of said materials, and said second of said materials

I claim as my invention: 1. An implantable medical device comprising:a hybrid battery comprising a combination of at least two electrode materials, a first of said electrode materials having better properties for high current pulsing than a second of said materials, and said second of said materials being a high energy density material;circuitry powered by said battery configured to interact with a living subject to administer electrical therapy to the subject;an apparatus that determines a replacement time of said battery by determining a base current that is drawn from the battery, and by drawing an electrical pulse of a predetermined duration and a predetermined amplitude from the battery, said pulse amplitude significantly exceeding said base current, automatically determining a difference between a first voltage measured between the battery terminals before emitting said pulse and a second voltage measured between the battery terminals at an end of the pulse, and automatically determining a replacement time for said battery from said voltage difference according to a predetermined criterion and triggering a battery replacement indicator when said time has been reached.