Method and apparatus for communication between a handheld programmer and an implantable medical device

Abstract

Systems and methods for telemetric communication between a handheld programmer and an implantable medical device are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a user-friendly, color, touch-sensitive screen that allows the user to visually observe and control the handheld's operation. The handheld further comprises an internal and / or external analytical means to provide robust analytical capabilities. Some embodiments of a system disclosed herein can be configured as a component of an Advanced Patient Management System that helps better monitor, predict and manage chronic diseases.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 835,043, filed Apr. 29, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present device relates generally to implantable medical devices and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an external device that can communicate with an implantable device to monitor and control its operation.BACKGROUND[0003]When functioning properly, the human heart maintains its own intrinsic rhythm based on physiologically-generated electrical impulses. It is capable of pumping adequate blood throughout the body's circulatory system. Each complete cycle of drawing blood into the heart and expelling it is referred to as a cardiac cycle.[0004]However, some people have abnormal cardiac rhythms, referred to as cardiac arrhythmias. Such arrhythmias result in diminished blood circulation. Arrhythmias can occur in the upper chambers of the heart—the atria, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]To improve user access, the programmer includes a touch-sensitive screen and a color display to accept input or display information. The programmer may also include a compatible cradle. In addition, the programmer can store information and is analytically robust enough to display information in real time traces from the device and also communicate current parameter settings.

[0026]In yet another embodiment, the handheld communicates with the implantable medical device using RF technology. The use of RF technology allows longer-range communication between the handheld and the medical device.

[0027]Preferably, the handheld comprises a color, touch-sensitive screen that allows the user to visually observe and control the handheld's operation. The screen in this embodiment may include a liquid crystal display or any other type of color display known in the art to provide touch-screen functionality.

Problems solved by technology

Such arrhythmias result in diminished blood circulation.

However, ventricular arrhythmias present the most serious health risk as they can lead to rapid death from the lack of circulation.

These inefficient or too rapid heartbeats reduce the pumping efficiency of the heart and thereby diminish blood circulation.

Normally, patients have to schedule periodic and frequent visits with a clinician to have the device checked and may require surgery if an anomaly is detected.

The '449 patent does not disclose a touch-sensitive, color screen as a display option or the ability to communicate with other sensors adapted to monitor other physiological parameters.

However, the '132 patent does not disclose a use of the hand-held communication device beyond its compatibility with an atrial defibrillator.

Consequently, the '132 patent does not disclose or teach a hand-held external programmer with robust command and interrogation capabilities.

However, as shown in FIG. 2 of the patent, user input keys 19, 20, 21, and 22 are limited to pre-programmed uplink and downlink operations and are generally incapable of providing robust input or device interrogation means.

However, the '496 patent does not discuss the programmer as a device with robust analytical capabilities accessible by the clinician or patient.

However, the application does not teach or disclose the use of the communication device as a component of a network of devices or a robust analytical tool capable of displaying device parameters and functions for access and modification by the patient or a clinician.

The application does not teach or disclose a communication unit that can program an IMD without the need for a wireless phone or PDA to bridge communication between the IMD and a remote computer system or health care provider.

The '478 application does not teach or disclose a hand-held programmer that supplants the need for a PDM data bridge.

None of these references discloses or teaches the functionality of a programmer in the size of a handheld device.

In fact, the programmers in the prior art act primarily as repeaters, but are not adapted to process telemetry data and present such data in a user-friendly format.

In addition, existing programmers are bulky and not very portable.

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