DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AN AFTERCARE APPOINTMENT FOR THE SUPPLY OF AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20090112290A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotronik SE & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG (Biotronik SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Osche, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a service unit (30) having an interface (54) for receiving data from a personal medical device, an analysis unit (52) connected to the interface (54) for analyzing data received from the personal medical device (10), and an aftercare appointment determination unit (54) for determining a particular next aftercare appointment at least on the basis of data received from a particular personal medical device (10).

Claims

1. A service unit (30) having:

a. an interface (54) for receiving data from a personal medical device (10),

b. an analysis unit (52) for analyzing data received from the personal medical device (10), the analysis unit being connected to the interface (54),

c. an aftercare appointment determination unit (50) connected at least indirectly to the analysis unit (52) and/or the interface (54), wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) determines a next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of data received from the personal medical device (10).

2. The service unit (30) of claim 1 wherein the data received from the personal medical device (10) include one or more of:

a. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the personal medical device (10), and

b. data representing the operational integrity of the personal medical device (10)

3. The service unit (30) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the service unit (30) is in communication with a memory (58) containing at least one preceding aftercare appointment, and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) also determines the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of the date of the preceding aftercare appointment.

4. The service unit (30) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the service unit (30) is in communication with a user input unit (40), and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) also determines the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of user inputs received from the user input unit (40).

5. The service unit (30) of claim 4 wherein the service unit (30), after determining a next aftercare appointment by the aftercare appointment determination unit (50):

a. displays the next aftercare appointment to a user, and

b. accepts a user input indicative of acceptance or rejection of the displayed aftercare appointment.

6. The service unit (30) of claim 5 wherein the service unit (30), upon acceptance of a user input indicative of rejection of the displayed aftercare appointment, collects and stores a user input of a user-determined aftercare appointment.

7. The service unit (30) of claim 6 wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit (50):

a. analyzes deviations between stored user-determined aftercare appointments in relation to aftercare appointments determined by the aftercare appointment determination unit (50), and

b. determines the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of the deviations.

8. The service unit (30) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) automatically determines several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

b. the service unit (30);

(1) displays the several alternative aftercare appointments, and

(2) accepts a user input indicative of;

i. acceptance of one of the displayed aftercare appointments, or

ii. rejection of all of the displayed aftercare appointments, at a user input unit (40).

9. The service unit (30) of claim 1 wherein the personal medical device (10) is an implantable electrostimulation device.

10. The service unit (30) of claim 9 wherein the implantable electrostimulation device is a cardiac pacemaker and/or a cardioverter/defibrillator.

11. A method of determining an aftercare appointment for a patient bearing an implantable electrostimulation device, the method including the steps of:

a. receiving data from an implantable electrostimulation device (10) at an interface (54),

b. determining the next aftercare appointment within an aftercare appointment determination unit (50), the next aftercare appointment being determined at least partially on the basis of data received from the implantable electrostimulation device (10).

c. displaying the next aftercare appointment to the patient, and

d. accepting at a user input unit (40) patient input indicative of the patient'"'"'s acceptance or rejection of the displayed next aftercare appointment.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data received from the implantable electrostimulation device (10) include one or more of:

a. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the implantable electrostimulation device (10), and

b. data representing the operational integrity of the implantable electrostimulation device (10)

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a. the service unit (30) is in communication with a memory (58) containing at least one preceding aftercare appointment, and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) also determines the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of the date of the preceding aftercare appointment.

14. The method of claim 11 further including the step of collecting and storing a user input of a user-determined aftercare appointment if the patient input is indicative of the patient'"'"'s rejection of the displayed next aftercare appointment.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit (50):

a. analyzes deviations between stored user-determined aftercare appointments in relation to next aftercare appointments determined by the after-care appointment determination unit (50), and

b. determines the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of the deviations.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a. the aftercare appointment determination unit (50) automatically determines several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

b. the service unit (30);

(1) displays the several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

(2) accepts a user input indicative of;

i. acceptance of one of the displayed next aftercare appointments, or

ii. rejection of all of the displayed next aftercare appointments, at a user input unit (40).

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the data from the implantable electrostimulation device (10) is wirelessly transmitted from the implantable electrostimulation device (10).

18. A method of determining an aftercare appointment for a patient bearing an implantable electrostimulation device, the method including the steps of:

a. receiving data wirelessly transmitted from an implantable electrostimulation device (10) at a service unit (30),

b. determining within the service unit (30) the next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of;

(1) data received from the implantable electrostimulation device (10), the data including one or more of;

i. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the implantable electrostimulation device (10), and

ii. data representing the operational integrity of the implantable electrostimulation device (10);

(2) data received from the patient, the data being indicative of the patient'"'"'s desired scheduling of the next aftercare appointment; and

(3) data received from the patient'"'"'s physician, the data being indicative of the physician'"'"'s availability;

c. providing the determined next aftercare appointment to the patient.