Patent ID: 8090445

Claim:
A method for operating a system for controlling delivery of a therapy by an implantable drug delivery medical device susceptible to malfunctioning during exposure to at least one of a magnetic field or a Radio Frequency field, the method comprising the steps of: detecting exposure of the implantable device to the at least one of the magnetic field or the Radio Frequency field using a sensing device; when the at least one field being detected exceeds a corresponding predetermined threshold level, generating an input signal at a microcontroller; and automatically triggering, in response to the generated input signal, (i) a safety mode enabling a predetermined safety mode operation during which the implantable medical device ceases performance of all therapy without ceasing all operation of the implantable medical device, and (ii) after expiration of a predetermined safety mode time interval when the at least one field being detected falls below its corresponding predetermined threshold level or a predetermined period of time elapses, a self testing mode enabling a predetermined self testing operation to verify proper operation of the implantable medical device.