Method and apparatus for facilitating patient alert in implantable medical devices

• US 20060064136A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wang, Li
• Application Number:
  US10/947,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An implantable medical device system capable of generating a patient alert message for display on an external patient communicator is provided. The patient alert message notifies the patient that a patient alert condition has been detected; indicates what type of alert condition was detected, and instructs the patient regarding what action should be taken. The patient alert message may additionally provide an indication of the severity of the patient alert condition. The IMD system includes an IMD capable of sensing signals for detecting multiple patient alert conditions and generating a patient alert signal. The IMD system further includes an external patient communicator capable of receiving patient alert data from the IMD. Upon receipt of the patient alert data, the patient communicator displays a patient alert message including patient instructions which typically indicate appropriate medical personnel contact information.

Claims

1. A method for use in an implantable medical device system, comprising:

storing a number of predefined patient alert conditions and corresponding patient instructions;

sensing signals to detect the predefined patient alert conditions;

transmitting a patient alert signal to an external device upon detecting a predefined patient alert condition; and

displaying a patient alert message on the external device to communicate the patient alert condition detected and corresponding patient instructions to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the patient instructions include medical personnel contact information.

3. The method of claim 1 further including displaying an indication of the urgency of the detected patient alert condition.

4. The method of claim 1 further including transmitting a communication to a medical care provider, emergency responder or other third party.

5. The method of claim 1 further including transmitting patient alert data to a centralized database used for remote patient monitoring.

6. The method of claim 1 further including generating a sensory patient alarm upon detecting a patient alert condition to notify the patient that a patient alert signal is ready for transmission to the external device.

7. An implantable medical device system, comprising:

one or more sensors for monitoring signals used in detecting a plurality of predefined patient alert conditions;

an operating system included in an implantable medical device for detecting the plurality of predefined patient alert conditions based on the sensor signals and for generating a patient alert signal upon detecting a patient alert condition;

wireless communication circuitry for transferring the patient alert signal from the implantable medical device to an external device;

a memory for storing a set of patient instructions corresponding to each of the plurality of predefined patient alert conditions; and

a display included in the external device for displaying a patient alert message in response to the external device receiving the patient alert signal wherein the patient alert message includes an indication of the detected patient alert condition and the corresponding patient instructions.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the external device is a home monitor or programmer.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the wireless communication circuitry is a long-range telemetry system that enables transfer of the patient alert signal from the implantable medical device to the external device without patient intervention.

10. The system of claim 7 further including a sensory patient alarm unit for notifying the patient of a pending or already transferred patient alert signal.

11. An implantable medical device system, comprising:

means for sensing signals for detecting a plurality of predefined patient alert conditions;

means for storing patient instructions corresponding to each of the predefined patient alert conditions;

means for generating a patient alert signal upon detecting a patient alert condition;

means for transferring the patient alert signal to an external display means wherein the external display means generates a patient alert message in response to the patient alert signal, the patient alert message including the patient alert condition detected and corresponding patient instructions.

12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when implemented in an implantable medical device system cause the system to:

detect a plurality of predefined patient alert conditions;

generate a patient alert signal upon detecting a predefined patient alert condition;

display a patient alert message in response to the patient alert signal wherein the message includes an indication of the detected patient alert condition and corresponding patient instructions.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the patient alert message further includes an indication of the urgency of the detected patient alert condition.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further causing the system to generate a sensory patient alarm upon detecting a patient alert condition.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further causing the system to automatically transfer patient alert data to a central database.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further causing the system to automatically transmit a communication to medical personnel, an emergency responder, or other third party.

17. An external medical device, comprising:

wireless communication circuitry for receiving a patient alert signal from an implantable medical device;

an operating system for generating a patient alert message in response to receiving the patient alert signal; and

a display for displaying the patient alert message.

18. The external device of claim 17 further including a speaker for broadcasting audible sounds to alert a patient of the presence of a patient alert message.

19. The external medical device of claim 17 wherein the patient alert message display includes patient instructions.

20. The external device of claim 19 wherein the patient instructions include medical personnel contact information.

21. The external device of claim 17 further including a communication link to a central database for transferring patient alert data to the central database.

22. The external device of claim 17 further including memory for storing information to be displayed in the patient alert message.

23. The external device of claim 22 wherein the memory is programmable.

24. The external device of claim 23 wherein the memory is programmable using a centralized programming system.

25. The external device of claim 17 further including a communication module for transmitting a telephone or electronic communication in response to a patient alert signal.

26. The external device of claim 17 further including a user interface.

27. The external device of claim 17 wherein the device is adapted to be worn by a patient.

28. The external device of claim 27 further including a global positioning module for use in locating the global position of a patient.