Implantable Device Configuration via Patient Performance Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices with complex configuration profiles require periodic reconfigurations to adapt to changing patient needs, but existing systems lack efficient methods for primary care physicians to manage and adjust these devices effectively due to their complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow primary care physicians to access and adjust implantable medical devices by selecting from preconfigured parameter sets based on clinical targets, using an access key to activate specific settings, and monitoring patient performance to optimize therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects, enabling dynamic configuration and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If implantable medical devices include many programmable parameters to adapt to changing patient needs, then the device's adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases making it difficult for primary care physicians to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex device configuration into multiple pre-configured parameter sets (first parameter set, second parameter set, etc.), each representing a complete functional configuration. Instead of managing hundreds of individual parameters, physicians select from these segmented sets, dramatically reducing the complexity of device management while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple complete parameter sets before clinical use. Each parameter set is prepared in advance with specific configurations for different clinical scenarios, allowing physicians to simply select the appropriate pre-configured set rather than manually adjusting numerous parameters during patient care.
2Reliability
If the device provides comprehensive parameter adjustment capabilities, then the therapeutic effect improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the large number of parameters to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the comprehensive parameter adjustment capability into discrete, manageable parameter sets. Each set contains a complete configuration for a specific therapeutic scenario, allowing physicians to achieve reliable therapeutic effects by simply selecting the appropriate segmented set rather than manually configuring numerous individual parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the parameter set selection interface) between the physician and the complex device parameters. This intermediary presents simplified options (first parameter set, second parameter set, etc.) that map to comprehensive underlying configurations, making the device easy to operate while maintaining full therapeutic capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device allows frequent reconfigurations to meet changing patient needs, then the adaptability improves, but the time required for configuration adjustments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple parameter sets in advance, each optimized for different clinical scenarios. When patient needs change, the physician simply selects a different pre-configured set rather than performing time-consuming manual adjustments, enabling rapid reconfiguration while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic switching between different parameter sets based on changing patient needs. The system is designed to allow rapid transitions between pre-configured sets, making the reconfiguration process dynamic and responsive to clinical changes without requiring extensive time investment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device includes numerous programmable features for complex configurations, then the device's functionality improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the correct configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex configuration space into discrete, identifiable parameter sets. Each set represents a complete, verified configuration for a specific functional scenario. This segmentation makes it easier to detect and verify the correct configuration by simply identifying which pre-configured set is active, rather than checking numerous individual parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies or representations of the complex device state through the parameter set selection interface. Instead of requiring physicians to understand and verify hundreds of individual parameters, the system provides a simplified copy (the selected parameter set identifier) that represents the complete device configuration, making verification straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for tying management of an implantable medical device to the activities of a primary care physician are described, including access control, simplified parameter optimization, support for tuning a device in response to the effects of other treatments in parallel, and support for helping a primary physician and a patient work together to tune device configuration to the activity and performance needs of the patient. In some embodiments, a medical device is self-configuring in a device parameter domain, based on inputs provided in a patient performance domain. The self-configuring of the medical device is based, for example, on an automatically applied transformation of inputs derived from patient performance domain observations into changes in the configuration of the medical device which affect technical parameters of its operation.