Prognostic opportunities and limitations in implantable medical devices

Abstract

Many types of implantable medical devices provide life-sustaining therapy for patients and are, therefore, designed for high levels of reliability. New concepts and approaches in prognostics and health management of systems may enable improved opportunities for ensuring continuity of life-sustaining therapies by providing adequate response time to handle emerging issues prior to adverse clinical impacts. Due to numerous competing constraints in implantable medical devices, a range of considerations can be taken into account when it comes to prognostic sensors, logic, and responses as part of a risk management approach.