Medical Device Programmer Therapy Data Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices for delivering therapy, such as electrical stimulation and drug delivery, face challenges in efficiently presenting and managing therapy data to clinicians and patients, making it difficult to evaluate therapy efficacy and adjust parameters effectively, especially in response to changes in patient posture and activity levels.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows users to select and present subsets of therapy data on a programmer, using a processor to display therapy factors like posture state, electrode impedance, and patient feedback, enabling users to evaluate and adjust therapy parameters efficiently, with automatic adjustments based on detected posture states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If complete therapy data sets are presented to users, then comprehensive information is available for evaluation, but information overload occurs making it difficult to comprehend and evaluate therapy efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of therapy informationVSAvoidease of therapy evaluation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complete therapy data set into multiple subsets organized by different categories (e.g., time periods, activity levels, therapy parameters). Users can select specific subsets relevant to their evaluation needs rather than viewing all data at once. This segmentation reduces information overload while maintaining access to comprehensive data when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic data presentation where the displayed therapy information adapts based on user selections and preferences. The system allows users to dynamically filter, sort, and reorganize data subsets according to their specific evaluation needs, transforming static comprehensive data into a dynamic, user-tailored information display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of therapy parameters is required, then precise control over therapy delivery is achieved, but time consumption and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precision over therapyVSAvoidtime for therapy adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic therapy adjustment mechanisms that respond to detected changes in patient posture and activity levels. The system monitors physiological parameters and autonomously modifies therapy parameters without requiring manual user intervention, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining precise control through algorithmic decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback loops where therapy delivery is continuously monitored and adjusted based on real-time patient responses and physiological data. This closed-loop system automatically refines therapy parameters based on measured outcomes, reducing the need for manual adjustments while maintaining precise therapeutic control through continuous optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2521981B1Presentation of information associated with medical device therapy
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP2521981B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2521981B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2521981B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This disclosure is related to techniques for presenting therapy factors related to medical device therapy in a manner that allows a user, such as a patient or a clinician, to receive, comprehend and evaluate information relating to therapy delivered by the medical device efficiently. In one aspect, a method comprises obtaining a data set corresponding to a therapy factor associated with delivery of a medical therapy to a patient with a medical system including an implantable medical device, receiving a user selection associated with a subset of the data set, the subset of the data set including less than all the information relating to the therapy factor in the data set, and presenting a representation, corresponding to the subset of the data set, of the therapy factor on a display of a programmer.