Remote programming of implantable medical devices

• US 20070078497A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vandanacker, John
• Application Number:
  US11/242,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078497A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

A method for remotely programming a medical device, comprising storing a stratification of a plurality of remotely programmable parameters in a plurality of tiers; storing an authorization level for a user wherein the authorization level corresponds to at least one of the remotely programmable parameter tiers; storing a programmed parameter value entered by the user; verifying that the authorization level of the user corresponds to the remotely programmable parameter tier associated with the stored programmed parameter value; and transferring the stored programmable parameter value to the medical device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely programming a medical device, comprising:

storing a stratification of a plurality of remotely programmable parameters in a plurality of tiers;

storing an authorization level for a user wherein the authorization level corresponds to at least one of the remotely programmable parameter tiers;

storing a programmed parameter value entered by the user;

verifying that the authorization level of the user corresponds to the remotely programmable parameter tier corresponding to the stored programmed parameter value; and

transferring the stored programmable parameter value to the medical device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the stratification of the plurality of remotely programmable parameters in the plurality of tiers corresponds to a patient risk level.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein storing a programmed parameter value further includes storing a user-entered notation.

4. The method according to claim 1 further including updating a remote programming log after transferring the stored programmable parameter value.

5. The method according to claim 1 further including:

storing a user authorized patient list; and

verifying a patient having the medical device is included in the user authorized patient list.

6. The method according to claim 1 further including verifying a safety requirement for the stored programmed parameter value.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein verifying the safety requirement includes verifying the patient is under medical supervision.

8. A medical device system, comprising:

an electronic data storage medium for storing a plurality of remotely programmable parameters stratified in a plurality of tiers and for storing an authorization level for a user corresponding to at least one of the plurality of tiers;

a centralized programming instrument operative to store programmed values entered by a user and for verifying the authorization level of the user;

an external medical device adapted to receive the stored programmed values from the centralized programming instrument; and

an implantable medical device adapted to receive the stored programmed values from the external medical device.

9. The medical device system according to claim 8 wherein the centralized programming instrument is implemented on a server as a web-based programming instrument.

10. A remote patient management system, comprising:

means for storing a stratified tier level corresponding to a programmable parameter;

means for verifying authorization of a user for adjusting the programmable parameter; and

means for transmitting a user-entered programmable parameter value to an implantable medical device.

11. The system according to claim 10 further including means for storing a programming notation entered by the user corresponding to the user-entered programmable parameter.

12. The system according to claim 10 further including means for storing a remote programming log.

13. The system according to claim 10 further including means for verifying a safety requirement corresponding to a stored stratified tier level.

14. A computer-readable medium for storing a set of instructions which when implemented in a remote patient management system cause the system to:

store a stratification of a plurality of remotely programmable parameters in a plurality of tiers;

store an authorization level for a user wherein the authorization level corresponds to at least one of the remotely programmable parameter tiers;

store a programmed parameter value entered by the user;

verify that the authorization level of the user corresponds to the remotely programmable parameter tier associated with the stored programmed parameter value; and

transfer the stored programmable parameter value to the medical device.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 14 which further causes the system to store a user-entered programming notation.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 14 which further causes the system to update a remote programming log after transferring the stored programmable parameter value.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 14 which further causes the system to:

store a user authorized patient list; and

verify a patient having the medical device is included in the user authorized patient list.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 14 which further causes the system to verify a safety requirement for the stored programmed parameter value.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18 which further causes the system to verify the patient is under medical supervision.