Communications system for an implantable device and a drug dispenser

• US 20060206067A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ferek-Petric, Bozidar
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data

Abstract

A system for monitoring drug dispensation and drug effects on physiological signals or implantable medical device (IMD) performance is provided. The system includes a drug dispenser adapted for telemetric communication with an IMD, an IMD capable of acquiring time-based physiological or device performance data, and a programmer/monitor for receiving and displaying IMD-acquired data and drug dispensation data. The system may further include a patient activator for transmitting signals indicative of symptoms experienced by a patient associated with a side-effect caused by a drug or a condition for which the drug has been prescribed to treat. In an associated method, a drug dispensation signal is generated upon activation of the drug dispenser. IMD-acquired data, drug dispensation data, and patient symptom data are retrieved by a programmer/monitor. IMD-acquired data is combined with or grouped according to drug dispensation data and displayed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

dispensing a drug from a drug dispenser;

transmitting drug dispensation data to an implantable medical device in response to the drug dispensation; and

storing the drug dispensation data with data acquired by the implantable medical device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drug dispensation data comprises any of the type of a drug type and a drug dosage.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data corresponding to the type of drug dispensed is indicative of the color of the drug dispensed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the drug dispensation data comprises a time and date at which the drug dispensation occurred.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the drug dispensation data and the data acquired by the implantable medical device to a programmer/monitor;

combining the drug dispensation data with selected implantable medical device acquired data that is responsive to the drug dispensed; and

displaying the combined drug dispensation and implantable medical device acquired data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the combined drug dispensation and implantable medical device acquired data comprises displaying a time-based graph of the selected implantable medical device acquired data and a symbol or notation indicative of a time of the drug dispensation.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the symbol or notation indicative of the time of the drug dispensation is displayed in a color corresponding to the color of the drug dispensed.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the combined drug dispensation and implantable medical device acquired data includes grouping the selected implantable medical device acquired data according to any of the type of drug dispensed and the dosage of the drug dispensed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the drug dispensed is an anti-arrhythmia drug.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data acquired by the implantable medical device is a frequency of a delivered therapy.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data acquired by the implantable medical device is a response to a delivered therapy.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the response to the delivered therapy is a rate of cardiac pacing capture success.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the data acquired by the implantable medical device includes a physiological signal that is representative of a hemodynamic variable.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data acquired by the implantable medical device is a signal indicative of lung wetness.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the implantable medical device is any of a cardiac stimulation device, a neurostimulator, and a drug pump.

16. The method of claim 1 further including:

transmitting patient symptom data to the implantable medical device; and

storing the patient symptom data with the data acquired by the implantable medical device.

17. The method of claim 16 further including:

transmitting the stored patient symptom data and the data acquired by the implantable medical device to a programmer/monitor; and

displaying the data acquired by the implantable medical device; and

displaying an indication of a time and date of the patient symptom occurrence relative to the displayed implantable medical device acquired data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the indication is displayed in a color corresponding to the color of the drug dispensed.

19. A method, comprising:

dispensing a drug from a drug dispenser;

transmitting drug dispensation data to a programmer/monitor;

transmitting data acquired by an implantable medical device to the programmer/monitor; and

displaying the drug dispensation data and the data acquired by the implantable medical device.

20. A system, comprising:

an implantable medical device capable of acquiring time-based data;

a drug dispenser adapted for telemetric communication with the implantable medical device for transferring drug dispensation data to the implantable medical device;

a memory for storing the drug dispensation data and the time-based data acquired by the medical device;

a programmer/monitor adapted for telemetric communication with the implantable medical device for receiving the drug dispensation data and the implantable medical device acquired data; and

a display for displaying the implantable medical device acquired data and the drug dispensation data.