External Programmer Group Management for Stimulation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with implantable medical devices delivering electrical stimulation therapy face challenges in managing multiple stimulation programs, including difficulty in remembering effective programs, navigating through numerous options, and efficiently evaluating program groups, which strains clinic resources and patient time.
Innovation Solution
An external programmer with a user interface that distinguishes between evaluated and unevaluated program groups, allowing patients to hide ineffective groups, mark effective ones, and sort lists to highlight unevaluated or effective groups, thereby simplifying the evaluation process and reducing the number of programs to navigate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patients evaluate all stimulation program options at the clinic, then comprehensive therapy evaluation is achieved, but clinic time and resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the program evaluation process into two phases: initial clinic-based evaluation of program groups by the clinician, and subsequent patient-based evaluation at home using an external programmer. This segmentation allows comprehensive evaluation to occur across multiple settings and time periods, reducing the time burden on clinic resources while maintaining evaluation completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The clinician performs preliminary evaluation and organization of program groups before the patient receives the devices. Program groups are pre-configured and prepared in advance, allowing the patient to later evaluate only specific groups rather than all individual programs, thereby reducing the overall evaluation time and resource requirements.
2Reliability
If patients browse through dozens of programs to evaluate therapy options, then thorough program assessment is achieved, but the evaluation process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Programs are organized into logical groups that can be evaluated as units rather than individual programs. The patient can evaluate entire groups at once using the external programmer, which reduces the number of evaluation steps from dozens of individual programs to a manageable number of groups, while still achieving thorough assessment of all therapy options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of evaluation by allowing patients to assess program groups in the comfort of their own homes using portable external programmers, rather than being confined to clinic-based evaluation. This dimensional shift in evaluation context enables more flexible and efficient program assessment without compromising thoroughness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all program groups are presented to the patient without distinction, then complete program options are available, but navigation becomes complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The external programmer uses visual indicators (such as different colors or icons) to distinguish between evaluated and unevaluated program groups. This visual coding system allows patients to quickly identify which groups have been assessed and which remain, simplifying navigation through the program options while maintaining access to all available programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The programmer interface segments the display into distinct categories of program groups (evaluated vs. unevaluated), making the overall program selection process more manageable. This segmentation helps patients navigate through dozens of programs by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable subsets with clear visual differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to manage multiple groups of stimulation programs that provide stimulation therapy. A physician may prepare a plurality of programs, arranged in groups that each focus on one area, that the patient may evaluate in an effort to determine if any programs provide efficacious therapy. Since the patient may be evaluating many groups by using a patient programmer, managing the groups may be difficult. The patient programmer may enable the patient to hide ineffective groups to minimize the number of groups available for therapy. In addition, the programmer may allow the patient to mark each group or program as effective or ineffective, to more easily manage groups and programs during stimulation therapy. In addition, the patient may unhide a group or program if the patient desires to reevaluate a formerly hidden option.