Visual Patient Identification for Medical Device Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic programmers for active implantable medical devices, such as neurostimulators, often fail to ensure that electrical stimulation therapy is correctly programmed to the right patient with the correct device, leading to potential errors due to unfamiliarity with the target patient and device.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic programmer with a communications module, memory storage, and computer processor that discovers nearby medical devices, extracts patient records, and displays visual identification information and unique device identifiers, allowing users to select the correct device for programming, while maintaining separate partitions for personal and stimulation program data to prevent data contamination and discourage reprocessing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electronic programmers are used to program medical devices, then programming capabilities are improved, but the risk of programming errors increases due to inability to verify patient-device matching
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the patient's photograph on the programmer interface during the programming process. This allows the healthcare professional to verify that they are programming the correct device for the correct patient, creating a feedback loop that prevents programming errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient's photograph serves as an intermediary visual element that mediates between the healthcare professional and the programming process. By introducing this visual identifier, the system enables verification of patient-device matching without complicating the programming interface.
2Ease of operation
If patient information is stored in medical devices, then data accessibility is improved, but data security and protection from unauthorized reprocessing worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by writing the patient's photograph and personal information to the device memory during the initial programming process. This pre-establishes visual and data linkage between patient and device, creating a barrier against unauthorized reprocessing before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual changes (displaying the patient's photograph) to indicate the status and ownership of the medical device. This visual identifier acts as a protective measure, making it immediately apparent when a device has been improperly reprocessed or is being programmed for the wrong patient.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure involves a medical system. The medical system includes a medical device configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient and store an electronic patient record that includes visual identification information of the patient. The medical system includes a clinician programmer configured to program the medical device. The clinician programmer includes a display screen. The clinician programmer includes a transceiver configured to conduct electronic communication with external devices. The clinician programmer includes a memory storage configured to store machine-readable code. The clinician programmer includes a computer processor configured to execute the machine-readable code to: establish an electronic communication with the medical device via the transceiver; and display the electronic patient record, including the visual identification information of the patient, on the display screen after the electronic communication has been established.