Multi-modal operation of a medical device system

• US 20040138517A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Frei, Mark G., Osorio, Ivan, Graves, Nina M., Rise, Mark T., Schaffner, Scott F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/00 Magnetotherapy

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods support multi-modal operation of a medical device system for a nervous system disorder. The medical device system comprises an implanted component and an external component and supports a first feature and a second feature that are associated with the treatment therapy. The medical device system supports both features when the implanted component and the external component are coupled. If the external component is decoupled, the implanted component continues to support the first feature. Moreover, the embodiment may support a plurality of features during a treatment interval. Another aspect of the invention allows for modularly expanding a medical device system in order to add a feature that enhances existing functionality or that provides additional functionality. In an embodiment, a module that is associated with an external component of the medical device system supports the added feature.

Claims

1. A multi-modal medical device system that provides treatment therapy for a nervous system disorder, comprising:

an implanted component that applies the treatment therapy and that supports a first feature associated with the treatment therapy;

a first external component that shares data with the implanted component and that supports a second feature associated with the treatment therapy in accordance with the data; and

a first communications channel that is optionally coupled to the implanted component and the external component, the data being transported over the communications channel, wherein the multi-modal medical device system continues to operate with the first feature when the external component is decoupled from the communications channel.

2. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, further comprising:

a programmer that directly communicates with the implanted component through the external component over the first communications channel in order to support a third feature.

3. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, further comprising:

a programmer that indirectly communicates with the implanted component through the first external component in order to support a third feature.

4. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, wherein the first communications channel comprises a telemetry channel.

5. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 4, further comprising:

a relaying module that enhances a signal on the telemetry channel from the first external component to the implanted component.

6. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, wherein the implanted device comprises a memory that stores the data that is transported over the first communications channel.

7. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, wherein the first external component comprises an interface that couples to a triggering device and wherein an activation of the triggering device is indicative of a relevant event that affects at least one of the features.

8. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, wherein the first external component comprises an interface that couples to a second communications channel, and wherein the first external component sends messaging over the second communications channel that is indicative of at least a portion of the data.

9. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, wherein the first external component comprises:

a module that supports another feature when the first external component is coupled to the implanted component through the first communications channel, the other feature being associated with the treatment therapy.

10. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 1, further comprising another external component that is coupled to the first external component, wherein the other external component comprises a module that supports another feature when the other external component is coupled to the first external component and when the first external component is coupled to the implanted component, the other feature being associated with the treatment therapy.

11. A multi-modal medical device system that provides treatment therapy for a nervous system disorder, comprising:

an implanted component that applies the treatment therapy and that supports a first feature, the first feature being associated with the treatment therapy;

an external component that shares data with the implanted component, the external component comprising a first module that supports another feature when the external component is coupled to the implanted component, the other feature being associated with the treatment therapy; and

a communications channel that couples the implanted component with the external component, the data being transported over the communications channel.

12. The multi-modal medical device system of claim 11, wherein the external component further comprises an additional module that supports an additional feature when the external component is coupled to the implanted component.

13. A method for a treatment of a nervous system disorder with a medical device system with a medical device system, comprising:

(a) applying a treatment therapy to a patient for the nervous system disorder;

(b) supporting a first feature with an implanted component, the first feature being associated with the treatment therapy;

(c) exchanging data between the implanted component and an external component; and

(d) if the external component and the implanted component are coupled, supporting a second feature with the external component in accordance with the data, the second feature being associated with the treatment therapy.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(e) if the external component and the implanted component are decoupled, continuing to operate the medical device system with the first feature.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first feature corresponds to an open-loop treatment therapy and the second feature corresponds to a closed-loop treatment therapy.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the data comprises neurological data, wherein the first feature corresponds a basic loop recording capability, and wherein the second feature corresponds to an enhanced loop recording capability.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein (b) comprises storing the neurological data by the implanted component, and wherein (d) comprises retrieving the neurological data from the implanted component and storing the neurological data by the external component.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein (b) comprises storing the neurological data by the implanted component, and wherein (d) comprises retrieving the neurological data from the implanted component and sending the neurological data to an external site by the external component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein (d) further comprises:

communicating with a health care professional about the neurological data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data further comprises location information, the location information being indicative of a location of the patient.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(e) determining if the implanted component and the external component are decoupled.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein (e) comprises:

(i) monitoring whether communications with the external component is maintained;

(ii) if the communications has been disrupted for a predetermined time interval, presuming that the external component is decoupled.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising

(e) if the external component and the implanted component are coupled, simultaneously supporting a third feature and the second feature with the external component in accordance with the data.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical device system comprises a hybrid system.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical device system comprises an external system.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the nervous system disorder is selected from the group consisting of a disorder of a central nervous system, a disorder of a peripheral nervous system, a mental health disorder, and a psychiatric disorder.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the nervous system disorder is selected from the group consisting of epilepsy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, multiple sclerosis (MS), anxiety, a mood disorder, a sleep disorder, obesity, and anorexia.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein the treatment therapy is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, drug infusion, and brain temperature control.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein the treatment therapy is provided to a location of a body selected from the group consisting of a brain, a vagal nerve, a spinal cord, and a peripheral nerve.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein the first feature corresponds to an open-loop treatment therapy and wherein the second feature corresponds to an incremental treatment therapy.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data comprises neurological data, the method further comprising:

(e) monitoring the neurological data

(e) triggering a delivery of the incremental treatment therapy in response to (e).

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the incremental treatment therapy comprises

an application of a pharmaceutical agent.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the incremental treatment therapy further comprises an application of electrical stimulation.

34. The method of claim 13, wherein the data comprises neurological data and wherein the second feature supports an alarm in response to the neurological data, the neurological data being indicative of an impending medical condition.

35. The method of claim 13, wherein the second feature enhances a functionality, the functionality being supported by the first feature.

36. The method of claim 13, wherein the second feature supports another functionality than a first functionality that is supported by the first feature.

37. A method for a treatment of a nervous system disorder with a medical device system with a medical device system, comprising:

(a) applying a treatment therapy to a patient for the nervous system disorder;

(b) supporting an open-loop mode of the treatment therapy with an implanted component;

(c) exchanging neurological data between the implanted component and an external component;

(d) if the external component and the implanted component are coupled, supporting a closed-loop mode with the external component in accordance with the neurological data; and

(e) if the external component and the implanted component are decoupled, continuing to operate the medical device system with the open-loop mode of the treatment therapy.