Medical device interface system and method

• US 20050010258A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bynum, Tala L., Lindh, Par, Gilkerson, James O., Callahan, David, Kalgren, James, Koshiol, Allan T., Peterson, Les Norman, Dieterle, Paula, Schwartz, Mark Joseph, Nauman, Dorothy Marie, Persen, Kenneth H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A medical device programmer graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface provides a programmer user with a method of automatically adjusting parameters to be programmed to a medical device in direct response to a user modifying related parameters that are to be programmed to the medical device. The programming interface implements the method in response to the programmer user'"'"'s use of slide controllers on the programmer display screen to adjust parameters. In response to the on screen parameter changes implemented by the user via slide controller movement, the programmer automatically adjusts related parameters on the display screen by moving slide controllers for related parameters. This automatic adjustment by the programmer graphically illustrates to the user the automatic adjustments being made to the related parameters. The automatic adjustment also graphically illustrates the relationship between parameters being adjusted by the programmer user and the related parameters that are automatically adjusted by the programmer. In response to on screen parameter changes, the system graphically illustrates the parameter values that are changed and those that are programmed to the medical device and those that would cause unsafe condition in the medical device if programmed. The method also prevents the programming to the medical device the parameters that would cause an unsafe condition.

Claims

1. A method for displaying, setting and automatically adjusting rate thresholds of an implantable pacemaker using a programmer device, the programmer device having a display screen for displaying rate thresholds in graphical images along with the rate threshold parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

a. adjusting a first rate threshold parameter by selecting and moving a first rate threshold parameter slide controller;

b. processing said first rate threshold parameter adjustment; and

c. generating an automatic adjustment to a related rate threshold parameter related to said first rate threshold parameter by causing automatic movement of a related rate threshold parameter slide controller in response to said processing of said first rate threshold parameter.

2. A method for setting, adjusting and visualizing device timing behavior of an implantable pacemaker using a programmer device, the programmer device having a display screen for displaying device timing in graphical images along with device timing parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

a. generating and displaying a graphical representation of a timing interval associated with device timing;

b. adjusting a device timing parameter associated with a timing interval by selecting and moving a first device timing parameter slide controller;

c. processing said adjustment of said device timing parameter; and

d. generating and displaying a graphical representation of an adjusted timing interval on said display screen.

3. A system for programming an implantable medical device, wherein the system comprises:

a. a communications component adapted to transfer data between the system and the medical device, said component being further adapted to sense data;

b. a programmer adapted analyze data, including transferred and sensed data;

c. a printer adapted to print data; and

d. a graphical user interface further comprising a configurable display screen.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system comprises a portable system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the communications component is adapted to communicate telemetrically.

6. The communications component of claim 5, wherein the communications component comprises and hand held wand.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the printer comprises a strip chart recorder.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a stylus.