Portable programmer for providing patient status information

• US 20070123786A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Grandjean, Pierre, Kjellstrom, Barbro, Vicini, Ilaria
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

A method and apparatus concerning the retrieval and storage of status information obtained from patients having implantable medical devices (IMDs). When patients are having episodes during which symptoms are experienced relating to their medical condition, the collection of the patient'"'"'s status information can be helpful to the patient'"'"'s physician for diagnostic purposes. Telemetered signals recorded by the IMD can be transmitted from the IMD to a programmer. Such programmer is portable and sized so as to be carried by the patient. As such, mechanisms added to such programmers for use in retrieving and storing patient status information can provide more convenience for patients.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a patient'"'"'s well being, the system comprising:

a medical device implanted in a patient, the device having circuitry for storing signals collected from the patient; and

a patient portable programmer, the programmer having first circuitry for communicating with the medical device wherein the signals stored by the medical device can be telemetered to the programmer upon interrogation by the programmer, the programmer having second circuitry for receiving and storing status information from the patient regarding a condition being experienced by the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises an implantable heart monitor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more medical machines implanted in the patient, wherein the medical device is in communication with at least one of the one or more medical machines.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the signals comprise physiological information from one or more of the medical device and the medical machines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer comprises an external pressure reference monitor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer is operatively coupled to an implement worn by the patient.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the implement includes a mechanism that the programmer is integrated with.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second circuitry is adapted for receiving and storing patient voice data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second circuitry comprises a microphone and voice recording circuitry.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second circuitry is adapted for receiving and storing data input by patient.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second circuitry comprises a keypad with a plurality of keys, wherein each key is denoted with a different symptom that the patient may experience.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises one or more symptoms.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the symptoms comprise one or more of shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, and extreme tiredness.

14. A programmer for capturing status information from a patient with an implantable medical device during episodes in which the patient experiences symptoms comprising:

a housing adapted to be carried by a patient;

first circuitry within the housing for communicating with an implantable medical device implanted within the patient, wherein signals stored by the implantable medical device can be telemetered to the first circuitry upon interrogation by the first circuitry;

second circuitry for receiving status information from the patient regarding a condition being experienced by the patient; and

memory for storing the signals and the status information.

15. A method of capturing status information from a patient with an implantable medical device during episodes in which the patient experiences symptoms, comprising:

placing a programmer within a transmitting distance of a medical device implanted in a patient to trigger the medical device when the patient experiences a symptom;

transmitting signals collected by the medical device to the programmer;

providing status information by the patient to the programmer; and

storing the signals and the status information by the programmer in a memory of the programmer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting and storing steps are provided following a subsequent placement of the programmer within a transmitting distance of the medical device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of transmitting the signals and status information by the programmer to at least one of an information remote monitor, a remote server, and a remote clinical/physician center.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing status information step comprises the patient describing symptoms.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the patient speaks into a microphone on the programmer.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the patient depresses any of a plurality of keys on the programmer, wherein each key is labeled with a unique symptom.