Therapy Knob Sensitivity Control for Patient-Learned Intensity Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices require frequent clinician intervention for intensity setting adjustments, which is time-consuming and inefficient for patients to adjust, and there is a need for patient-friendly control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an external programmer with a therapy knob that adjusts intensity settings based on efficacy and patient activity, allowing for sensitivity levels to be set dynamically, reducing the need for clinician intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sensitivity level is used for therapy knob adjustments, then the device is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to different patient activities and therapy efficacies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sensitivity adjustment where the sensitivity level of the therapy knob changes automatically based on detected patient activity levels. During high-activity periods, the sensitivity is reduced to prevent excessive intensity changes, while during low-activity periods, sensitivity is increased to allow finer adjustments. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the device versatile across different activities while maintaining operational simplicity for the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor patient activity levels and therapy efficacy, then automatically adjust the sensitivity level accordingly. The processor receives activity data from sensors, determines appropriate sensitivity levels, and applies them to the therapy knob functionality. This feedback loop enables adaptability to different patient states without requiring complex manual configuration.
2Reliability
If clinician manually adjusts intensity settings frequently, then therapy can be optimized, but it consumes significant clinician time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the medical device to automatically adjust therapy intensity settings based on patient-provided inputs and detected activity levels. The system serves itself by autonomously determining appropriate sensitivity levels and applying intensity adjustments without requiring continuous clinician intervention. This self-service capability maintains therapy optimization while eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external programmer as an intermediary device that facilitates communication between the patient and the implantable medical device. The external programmer captures patient inputs, transmits them to the IMD, and receives updated sensitivity levels and intensity settings. This intermediary enables patient-controlled adjustments with clinician-programmed parameters, reducing clinician time while maintaining therapy quality.
3Measurement precision
If high sensitivity is always used for therapy knob, then small patient inputs produce precise adjustments, but it causes large intensity changes during high activity that may be inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the sensitivity level based on patient activity detection. During high-activity periods when large intensity changes may be inappropriate, the system automatically reduces sensitivity so that patient inputs produce smaller, more conservative adjustments. During low-activity periods, sensitivity is increased to allow precise fine-tuning. This dynamic approach maintains measurement precision when needed while preventing harmful excessive changes during active states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sensitivity parameter of the therapy knob based on detected patient activity levels and therapy efficacy. The processor monitors activity data and adjusts the sensitivity parameter accordingly, transforming a static control parameter into a dynamic one that adapts to patient needs. This parameter change strategy ensures precise control during rest while limiting excessive changes during activity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for selecting a sensitivity level for adjusting an intensity setting for therapy provided to a patient includes one or more processors and one or more processors coupled to the memory. The one or more processors are configured to receive an indication of an input to adjust an intensity setting related to the therapy provided to the patient and determine a sensitivity level for adjustment of the intensity setting based on an efficacy of the therapy provided to the patient. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an updated intensity level for the intensity setting based on the sensitivity level and the input to adjust the intensity setting and output an instruction to cause a medical device to provide the therapy at the updated intensity level.