Remote Neurostimulation Programming Using Multi-Dimensional Patient Features

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable medical devices require in-person programming due to the need for close contact, limiting remote patient care and increasing healthcare delivery costs.

Innovation Solution

A digital health network architecture enabling secure, remote neurostimulation therapy through multi-dimensional patient feature representation using AI and ML, allowing clinicians to program implantable devices via secure telehealth sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If in-person programming is used to ensure secure communication with implantable devices, then security against third-party access is improved, but accessibility to care and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidaccessibility to care
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external device as an intermediary between the implantable medical device and the programming interface. This external device establishes secure communication with the implantable device through telemetry circuits, while providing a user-friendly interface for patients and clinicians. The external device acts as a trusted mediator that maintains security protocols while enabling remote programming and monitoring capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If in-person programming is required for device optimization, then communication security is improved, but healthcare delivery costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidhealthcare delivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables patients to perform self-service programming and monitoring of their implantable devices through the external device and user interface. Patients can adjust therapy parameters, review device status, and communicate with clinicians remotely without requiring in-person visits. This self-service capability maintains secure communication through the established telemetry and authentication protocols while dramatically reducing healthcare delivery costs and time consumption by eliminating the need for frequent clinic visits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If remote communication is enabled to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but vulnerability to third-party access increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote accessibilityVSAvoidthird-party access risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements preliminary authentication and authorization actions before enabling remote communication. The external device establishes secure credentials and encryption keys in advance through controlled programming sessions. Authentication protocols are pre-configured to verify the identity of users and devices before allowing communication. This preliminary action ensures that remote accessibility is granted only to authorized parties, thereby maintaining security while enabling convenient remote operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms through bidirectional communication between the external device and implantable device. The implantable device provides feedback on its status, therapy delivery, and detected anomalies to the external device. This real-time feedback enables the system to monitor for unauthorized access attempts and respond appropriately by alerting clinicians or adjusting security parameters, thus maintaining security while enabling remote operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4419190B1Systems for providing neurostimulation therapy using multi-dimensional patient features
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 ADVANCED NEUROMODULATION SYSTEMS INC
  • EP4419190B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4419190B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4419190B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for providing neurostimulation therapy using multi-dimensional patient features. The multi-dimensional patient features may include features in respective frequency bands for selected cortical sites from EEG localization data. Additionally or alternatively, the multi-dimensional patient features may include features from patient physiological data or other patient activity data. The multi-dimensional feature data may be compared against AI/ML models of patient and/or healthy population members. Closed-loop therapy adjustments may be applied to a respective patient's neurostimulation therapy using the multi-dimensional patient feature analysis.