Patent ID: 8014867

Claim:
An implantable medical device, comprising: a sensor for sensing an MRI electromagnetic field; a communication interface operable to receive communication signals from an external device, wherein the communication signals comprise a command to switch the implantable medical device from a non-MRI mode, in which the sensor is inactive, to an MRI mode, in which the sensor is active; a processor in electrical communication with the communication interface and the sensor, the processor being operable to switch the implantable medical device from the non-MRI mode to the MRI mode upon receiving the command from the external device, wherein in the MRI mode the processor switches from a first operation mode to a second operation mode upon sensing the MRI electromagnetic field and in the non-MRI mode the processor remains in the first operation mode in the presence of the MRI electromagnetic field; and a timer operable to measure a time period from when the processor switches the implantable medical device to the MRI mode; wherein the processor is in electrical communication with the timer and is further operable to switch the implantable medical device from the second operation mode back to the first operation mode when the measured time period reaches a predetermined time period.