External Programmer Coordinates Multiple IMDs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current implantable medical device systems face challenges in coordinating the operation of multiple devices implanted in a patient, leading to redundant functions and potential conflicts, which can compromise optimal patient safety and functionality.

Innovation Solution

An external programmer system that determines the active membership of implanted medical devices, establishes programmable parameters, and transmits these values to ensure coordinated operation among multiple IMDs, reducing redundant functions and enhancing overall system efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple IMDs are implanted in a patient to monitor conditions and deliver therapies, then the functionality and coverage of medical monitoring and therapy delivery is improved, but the system complexity and coordination difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the multi-IMD coordination function into distinct components: an external programmer that identifies active IMDs, determines system membership, and establishes programmable parameters. Each IMD operates semi-independently with defined roles (primary, secondary, tertiary), allowing individual device functionality while maintaining system-wide coordination through structured parameter management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple IMDs are implanted to provide comprehensive monitoring and therapy, then the therapeutic coverage and monitoring capability is improved, but redundant functions and potential conflicts arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic coverageVSAvoidpatient safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system assigns different operational characteristics and parameter sets to different IMDs based on their specific roles and locations. Each IMD is programmed with role-specific parameters (primary, secondary, or tertiary device settings) that tailor its behavior to its function within the system, reducing redundant operations while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The external programmer establishes programmable parameters that create coordinated feedback loops among multiple IMDs. The system monitors the operational status of each device and adjusts parameters to prevent conflicts, ensuring that therapy delivery and monitoring functions are synchronized across all implanted devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If each IMD operates independently with full functionality, then the individual device capability is improved, but the overall system efficiency decreases due to redundant operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual device capabilityVSAvoidsystem efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The external programmer serves as a universal control interface that manages multiple IMDs with different capabilities. It establishes a unified set of programmable parameters that adapt to the specific combination of devices present, allowing each IMD to contribute its unique functionality while operating within a coordinated system framework that eliminates redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9468772B2Multi-device implantable medical device system and programming methods

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

An external medical device is capable of bidirectional wireless communication with multiple implantable medical devices (IMDs). The external medical device is configured to determine an active membership of an IMD system present in a patient, establish programmable parameters for the IMD system based on the active membership, and transmit values for the established programmable parameters to the active membership.