Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device

• US 20060085040A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: VanDanacker, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for remotely programming a medical device that includes generating a remote monitoring schedule; establishing a communication link between a centralized programming instrument and an external medical device; and transferring the remote monitoring schedule to the external medical device via the communication link. The remote monitoring schedule is transmitted to an implantable medical device via an established telemetry link between the implantable medical device and the external medical device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule;

establishing a communication link between a centralized programming instrument and an external medical device; and

transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule to the external medical device via the communication link.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the external medical device and an implantable medical device; and

programming the remote follow-up interrogation schedule in the implantable medical device.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes storing scheduling data input by a user.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes one of adjusting an interrogation session frequency, adjusting an interrogation session time of day, selecting data to be retrieved during a remote follow up interrogation session, adding a new interrogation session to a previous remote follow-up interrogation schedule, and canceling a previously scheduled interrogation session.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote monitoring schedule includes displaying a calendar to a user.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising updating a remote programming log after transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule.

7. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes storing scheduling data input by a user.

8. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes one of adjusting an interrogation session frequency, adjusting an interrogation session time of day, selecting data to be retrieved during a remote follow up interrogation session, adding a new interrogation session to a previous remote follow-up interrogation schedule, and canceling a previously scheduled interrogation session.

9. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote monitoring schedule includes displaying a calendar to a user.

10. The method according to claim 2 further comprising updating a remote programming log after transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule.

11. A medical device system, comprising:

a centralized programming device to generate and store an updated remote monitoring schedule;

an external medical device adapted to receive the updated remote monitoring schedule from the centralized programming instrument along a first communication interface; and

an implantable medical device adapted to receive the updated remote monitoring schedule from the external medical device along a second communication interface and adjust a monitoring schedule of the implantable medical device in response to the received updated remote monitoring schedule.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a user interface to input data to the centralized programming device associated with the generating the updated remote monitoring schedule by the centralized programming device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the input data includes one of interrogation session frequency, interrogation session time of day, data to be retrieved during a remote follow up interrogation session, a new interrogation session to a previous remote follow-up interrogation schedule, and commands associated with canceling a previously scheduled interrogation session.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the input data corresponds to a command for an interrogation schedule change in response to one of a physiological parameter and a parameter associated with the implantable medical device.