Device programmer with enclosed imaging capability

• US 20040230248A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Daum, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Methods and electronic tools for imaging a chest region of a patient and communicating with a heart stimulation device used by the patient are disclosed. The electronic tool may include a communications device for two-way data transmission of signals encoded with information to and from the heart stimulation device. The tool may also include an imaging device for radiating energy onto the chest of the patient and receiving energy as it is reflected from the chest region to produce an image signal. The tool may include a display screen for showing an image of the chest area and/or the information received from the heart stimulation device. The tool may also include a processor for formulating and/or analyzing information sent to and/or received from the heart stimulation device. One method of using the electronic tool includes analyzing the image signal and/or received information to provide instructions to the heart stimulation device.

Claims

1. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:

an imaging device that radiates energy onto the chest region and that detects energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal;

a communication device that receives a first signal with encoded information from the heart stimulation device; and

at least one processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the image signal or analyzes the information encoded on the first signal to formulate an instruction for the heart stimulation device.

2. The electronic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a display screen that is communicatively linked to the imaging device and that displays a representation of the image signal or a representation of the encoded signals .

3. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the processor communicates with the imaging device to analyze the image signal and formulate a first signal that is sent to the heart stimulation device.

4. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the encoded signals include a first signal that is received from the heart stimulation device by the communication device, the processor that communicates with the communication device is configured to analyze the first signal and to formulate a second signal, wherein the communication device sends the second signal to the heart stimulation device.

5. The electronic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one display screen in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one display screen displays a representation of the image signal or displays information from the first signal sent from or received by the communication device.

6. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the first signal is sent by the communications device, the electronic tool further comprising:

an input device for receiving input information from a user, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the information received by the input device to formulate the information encoded on the first signal.

7. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises an ultrasound transducer array that radiates and receives ultrasound energy.

8. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the communications device comprises a wire loop that radiates and receives magnetic signals.

9. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes an RF antenna that transmits and receives RF signals.

10. The electronic tool of claim 1, wherein the heart stimulation device has electrical leads located in the patient'"'"'s chest area that reflect energy radiated by the imaging device and wherein the imaging device detects the energy reflected by the electrical leads to produce an image signal that causes the electrical leads to appear on the display screen.

11. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:

means for generating an image of the chest region;

means transmitting information to the heart stimulation device.

12. The electronic tool of claim 11, wherein the means for generating an image comprises a display screen for providing a representation of an image signal to a user and an input device for receiving information input by a user that is encoded onto the first signal.

13. The electronic tool of claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting encoded information transmits encoded information as an RF signal.

14. The electronic tool of claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting information comprises a means for bidirectional communication of RF signals.

15. A method of programming a heart stimulation device of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

generating, with an imaging device, an image signal representative of an image of an area around the heart;

receiving a first signal transmitted by the heart stimulation device;

analyzing, with a processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and a communications device, the first signal to measure a response of the heart; and

producing, with the processing device and in response to the measured response, a second signal encoding instructions for varying one or more stimulation parameters of the heart stimulation device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of communicating the second signal to the heart stimulation device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of displaying a representation of the image signal and a representation of the first signal on a display screen.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of positioning leads of the heart stimulation device within the heart, wherein the image signal and the response extracted from the first signal indicate the position of the leads, and wherein the instructions encoded by the second signal are based upon the position of the leads.