Alert system and method for an implantable medical device

• US 20060017576A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McAdams, Sean B., Masoud, Javaid, Willenbring, James E., Gordon, Paul G., Hooper, Dean A., Vitense, Holly S., Ball, James J., Vandnacker, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

An alert system for alerting a clinician to an occurrence of an event detected by an implantable medical device includes a monitor and a patient management network. The implantable medical device includes a means for detecting the occurrence of the event and initiating a wireless transmission of data related to the event. The monitor is configured to receive the wireless transmission of data and transfer the data. The patient management network is configured to receive the data and store the data on a data storage device. The patient management network includes a web presentation service for creating a website from the data stored on the data storage device, the website configured to alert the clinician to the occurrence of the event.

Claims

1. An alert system for alerting a clinician to an occurrence of an event detected by an implantable medical device, the alert system comprising:

means associated with the implantable medical device for detecting the occurrence of the event and initiating a wireless transmission of data related to the event;

means for receiving the wireless transmission of data and transferring the data; and

a patient management network for receiving the data and storing the data on a data storage device, wherein the patient management network includes a presentation service for creating a website from the data stored on the data storage device, the website configured to provide data related to the occurrence of the event to the clinician.

2. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a patient alert system for alerting the patient to the occurrence of the event.

3. The alert system of claim 2, wherein the patient alert system comprises a speaker.

4. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the wireless transmission of data comprises a monitor.

5. The alert system of claim 4, wherein the monitor further comprises a patient alert system for alerting the patient to the occurrence of the event.

6. The alert system of claim 4, wherein the monitor transfers the data to the patient management device over a private network.

7. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises memory for storing clinician-selectable alert settings.

8. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the patient management network further comprises a means for alerting the clinician to the occurrence of the event.

9. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the patient management network further comprises a call center having an operator for alerting the clinician to the occurrence of the event.

10. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the event is related to a therapy delivery.

11. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the event is related to an arrhythmia.

12. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the event is related to heart failure.

13. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the event is related to system integrity.

14. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the event related to ischemia.

15. A method of alerting a clinician to the occurrence of an event within a patient, the method comprising:

detecting the occurrence of the event with an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device being implanted within the patient;

wirelessly transmitting an alert signal from the implantable medical device to alert the clinician to the occurrence of the event;

determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated; and

alerting a patient to the occurrence of the event if it is determined that the alert signal was not successfully communicated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated comprises determining whether the alert signal was received by a monitor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated comprises determining whether an interrogation of the implantable medical device by a monitor was completed.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated comprises determining whether a patient management network received the alert signal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated comprises determining whether the clinician has acknowledged receipt of the alert from a patient management network.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the alert signal was successfully communicated comprises determining whether the clinician has received data related to the patient after being alerted by a patient management network.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein attempting to wirelessly transmit an alert signal comprises wirelessly transmitting an alert signal to a monitor, the method further comprising:

receiving the alert signal with the monitor such that the attempt to wirelessly transmit the alert signal is successful;

performing a wireless interrogation of the implantable medical device to wirelessly transfer data from the implantable medical device to the monitor;

transferring the data from the monitor to a patient management network;

storing the data on the patient management network; and

creating a web page from the stored data to alert the clinician to the occurrence of the event.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising creating a second web page from the stored data to provide supplemental information to the patient related to the event.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein transferring the data from the monitor to the patient management network comprises:

transferring the data over a telephone line to a private network; and

transferring the data over the private network to the patient management network.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to a therapy delivery.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to an arrhythmia.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to heart failure.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to system integrity.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to ischemia.

29. A method of alerting to the occurrence of an event detected by an implantable medical device, the method comprising:

storing clinician-selected alert settings within the implantable medical device, the clinician-selected alert settings defining who should be informed upon the occurrence of the event;

detecting the occurrence of the event; and

sending a first alert signal based upon the clinician-selected alert settings to alert to the occurrence of the event.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

storing clinician-selected backup alert settings which define who should be informed upon the occurrence of the event if the alert based upon clinician-selected alert settings is unsuccessful; and

sending a second alert signal based upon the clinician-selected backup alert settings to alert to the occurrence of the event.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein storing clinician-selected alert settings comprises:

utilizing a web client to access a clinician website;

selecting the clinician-selected alert settings using an input device;

saving the clinician-selected alert settings on the patient management network;

transferring the clinician-selected alert settings from the patient management network to a monitor; and

wirelessly transmitting the clinician-selected alert settings from the monitor to the implantable medical device.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to a therapy delivery.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to an arrhythmia.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to heart failure.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to system integrity.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event relating to ischemia.

37. A method of alerting to the occurrence of an event detected by an implantable medical device, the method comprising:

storing clinician-selected alert settings within a patient management network, the clinician-selected alert settings defining a set of events in which the clinician should be alerted;

detecting the occurrence of the event with the implantable medical device;

sending an alert signal to the patient management network; and

alerting the clinician to the occurrence of the event if the event is included in the set of events in which the clinician should be alerted.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event related to a therapy delivery.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event related to an arrhythmia.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event related to heart failure.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event related to system integrity.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein detecting the occurrence of the event comprises detecting the occurrence of an event related to ischemia.

43. An implantable medical device comprising:

a control processor for detecting an occurrence of an event and providing an alert signal from among a first and a second alert signals based upon clinician-selectable alert settings;

a patient alert system to receive the first alert signal from the control processor and alert a patient to the occurrence of an event; and

a telemetry system to receive the second alert signal and wirelessly transmit data upon the occurrence of an event.

44. The implantable medical device of claim 43, further comprising memory for storing the clinician-selectable alert settings.

45. The implantable medical device of claim 43, the telemetry system further comprising:

an antenna;

a receiver circuit for receiving data from the antenna;

a transmitter circuit for transmitting data with the antenna; and

a telemetry processor for controlling the receiver to receive data and;

controlling the transmitter to transmit data.

46. The implantable medical device of claim 43, wherein the event is related to a therapy delivery.

47. The implantable medical device of claim 43, wherein the event is related to an arrhythmia.

48. The implantable medical device of claim 43, wherein the event is related to heart failure.

49. The implantable medical device of claim 43, wherein the event is related to system integrity.

50. The implantable medical device of claim 43, wherein the event is related to ischemia.