Implantable Device Port Usage for Automatic Lead Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices capable of both cardiac and neural stimulation often require different implantation procedures for each type of therapy, leading to inefficiencies and potential operational challenges when only one type of stimulation is initially enabled, necessitating time-consuming lead and sensor configuration determination by physicians.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enable the implantable medical device or external programming device to automatically determine the lead and sensor configuration through port usage, configuring programmable parameters accordingly, and displaying visual indications to prevent configuration of unsupported therapies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an implantable medical device is programmed with multiple therapy types (cardiac and neural stimulation), then the device can address diverse patient needs, but the configuration process becomes complex and time-consuming requiring physicians to manually determine lead and sensor configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the implantable medical device to automatically determine its own lead and sensor configuration by detecting port usage, eliminating the need for physicians to manually configure parameters. The device self-identifies which therapy types are supported based on physical connections, automatically enabling or disabling corresponding programmable parameters to prevent configuration of unsupported therapies.
Solution Approach 2:
The external device accelerates the configuration process by using port usage detection to rapidly determine lead configuration and automatically configure programmable parameters, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual physician determination of each parameter setting.
2Ease of manufacture
If a device capable of both cardiac and neural stimulation is implanted with leads for only one type of therapy, then the implantation procedure is simplified, but the programmable features related to the other therapy type remain active creating operational challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors port usage to detect which leads are actually connected to the device. Based on this feedback, the system automatically enables or disables programmable parameters corresponding to supported and unsupported therapy types, ensuring that only configurations matching the physical implantation are available for programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents configuration errors by disabling programmable parameters for therapy types that are not supported by the implanted leads before the physician can attempt to program them. This preliminary action eliminates the risk of configuring unsupported therapies.
3Measurement precision
If physicians manually determine lead and sensor configuration, then accurate therapy programming is achieved, but valuable patient time is wasted during the configuration process
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of physician determination with an automated electronic detection system that identifies lead configuration by monitoring port usage. This substitution maintains configuration accuracy while dramatically reducing the time required, as the electronic detection occurs automatically without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs configuration determination automatically during device initialization or connection, before the physician needs to program therapy parameters. This preliminary action eliminates the time-consuming manual determination step while ensuring accurate configuration is established in advance.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an example, configuring an implantable medical device by determining port usage can include, receiving a port data object, determining a lead configuration, configuring access to a programmable parameter, and displaying a visual indication of the lead configuration. The port data object can be received from the implantable medical device and can include data associated with a port of the implantable medical device capable of connecting to a lead. The determining a lead configuration can be based on the port data object. The configuring access to a programmable parameter can be based on the lead configuration of the implantable medical device.