Clinical Programmer Graphical Interface for Power Consumption Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clinical programmers for implantable devices like neurostimulators lack visually intuitive displays to show how adjustments in program parameters affect power consumption and recharge intervals, making it difficult to optimize settings for efficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A graphical interface on a clinical programmer that displays power consumption in a color-coded format, allowing users to visualize and manipulate programming parameters such as voltage amplitude, frequency, and pulse width, using a three-dimensional surface representation, with tactile feedback and automatic calculations for energy consumption and remaining service time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional programming interfaces are used for IPG programming, then the device can be programmed with various parameters, but the interface does not provide visual feedback on how parameter changes affect power consumption and recharge-intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The programming interface displays real-time visual feedback showing how changes in programming parameters (frequency, amplitude, pulse width) affect power consumption and recharge-intervals. This allows the user to immediately see the consequences of parameter adjustments without needing to calculate or estimate power impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface uses color-coded displays to represent different power consumption levels, making it visually intuitive to understand the impact of parameter changes. Different colors indicate different recharge-interval requirements, enabling quick visual assessment of power consumption implications.
2Reliability
If multiple programming parameters are adjusted to optimize therapy, then better therapeutic outcomes can be achieved, but it becomes difficult to monitor and optimize power consumption simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The programming interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows adjustment of therapeutic parameters (frequency, amplitude, pulse width) while also monitoring and optimizing power consumption and recharge-intervals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate analysis of power implications.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical user interface acts as an intermediary that translates complex relationships between multiple programming parameters and their impact on power consumption into simple visual representations. This mediator makes the complex interdependencies manageable and intuitive.
3Measurement precision
If detailed power consumption calculations are performed for each parameter setting, then accurate recharge-interval information can be provided, but the programming process becomes more complex and less user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual calculation and estimation methods with automated computational calculations of power consumption. The processor automatically calculates power requirements and recharge-intervals based on the selected programming parameters, eliminating the need for manual computation while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The programming interface automatically performs power consumption calculations and displays the results without requiring the user to manually compute or estimate power requirements. The system serves itself by automatically providing accurate power consumption information alongside parameter adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
Accepts inputs via an input device and displays resulting power consumption for example in a color-coded format that enables a doctor or other programmer to observe how changes in one programming parameter affects power consumption. This enables the apparatus to accept input values and display the resulting power consumption that would occur if the input values were programmed into an implantable device in an intuitive graphical manner. In one or more embodiments programming parameters associated with power consumption may be set for electrical stimulation pulses, namely the voltage amplitude, the frequency of pulses per unit time and the pulse width of the pulses in units of time.