Patent ID: 6714806
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
A system for use in monitoring an implantable medical device (IMD) within a body, comprising:a first circuit to couple to the IMD to measure an indication of impedance of a portion of the body proximate a predetermined portion of the IMD; an audio circuit coupled to the first circuit to generate an audible signal representative of the measured impedance; a display monitor coupled to the first circuit to provide an indication of the measured impedance; and a processing circuit coupled to receive a signal indicative of the impedance of the portion of the body, and to provide status indicative of the IMD based on the received signal to the display monitor to create a virtual image of the IMD in the body, wherein the IMD is a lead that includes a fixation mechanism, and wherein the processing circuit includes means for generating status indicative of the extent of contact between a predetermined portion of the lead and the body and further includes means for generating status descriptive of the fixation mechanism.