INTERFACE FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAMMING

• US 20100010646A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Joglekar, Ajinkya M., Goetz, Steven M., Drew, Touby A., Shen, Jiaying, Alme, Sarah B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An implantable medical device is capable of delivering therapeutic output to a patient. A controller, programmable by a medical professional, is operatively coupled to the implantable medical device to, in part, program the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient. The controller has an interface allowing the medical professional to graphically select an amount of the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient in at least one of a series of discrete timer intervals. The graphic selection may be aided by the use of a light pen or other pointing device to sketch the infusion pattern. Computer programs using algorithms may be utilized to translate the information inputted through the light pen into an infusion program.

Claims

1. A method for programming a therapy delivery schedule comprising:

providing a programmer with a graphical user interface;

drawing with a pointing device on the graphical user interface one or more figures representing the desired therapy schedule; and

translating the figures into a therapy delivery schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein translating the figures further comprises analyzing the figures using a computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface is a touch screen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein drawing with a pointing device includes drawing with one or more of a mouse, light pen, stylus, joystick, or trackball.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein translating the figures further comprises assigning proportional delivery rates and durations based on the size of the drawn figures.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the therapy delivery schedule.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein drawing with a pointing device further comprises using a digitizing tablet to enter the figures.

8. A programmer for an implantable medical device capable of delivery therapeutic output to a patient comprising:

an interface through which a user may graphically sketch one or more portions of an infusion program using a pointing device, the sketched infusion program including at least one dosage amount scheduled to run over a desired time duration, both the dosage amount and the time duration created by the shape and location of the sketch; and

a computer operably connected to the interface to interpret the sketch.

9. The programmer of claim 8 wherein the graphical user interface allows the user to select one or more portions of the infusion program using the pointing device to allow for modification of the same.

10. The programmer of claim 8 wherein the graphical user interface device is one or more of a light pen, a stylus, or a mouse.

11. The programmer of claim 8 wherein the programmer is a handheld device.

13. The programmer of claim 8 further including a remote device operably attached to the programmer for communication with the implantable medical device.

14. A method of creating an infusion program using a controller, comprising:

presenting an interface that includes a graphical drawing tablet, wherein the graphical drawing tablet includes one axis for time and one axis for dosage rate;

inputting a pattern using a pointing device to indicate the desired dosage and time; and

editing the pattern.

12. The programmer of claim 18 wherein the programmer includes a personal computer interface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein presenting an interface with a graphical drawing tablet includes providing a touch screen.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein inputting a dosage pattern further comprises touching the screen with a pointing device to make the pattern.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein inputting a dosage pattern using a pointing device includes drawing with one or more of a mouse, light pen, stylus, joystick, or trackball.

18. The method of claim 14 inputting includes modifying an already existing therapy schedule.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein inputting a pattern further comprises using a digitizing tablet to enter the dosage pattern

20. The method of claim 14 wherein editing the pattern further comprises analyzing the pattern with a computer to interpret the pattern.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein analyzing the pattern with a computer further comprises translating the figures by assigning proportional delivery rates and durations based on the size of the drawn figures.

22. A method for editing a therapy delivery schedule comprising:

providing a programmer with a graphical user interface;

displaying on the graphical user interface one or more figures representing the desired therapy schedule, each figure representing a therapy dosage;

selecting one or more of the figures representing one or more dosages; and

editing with a pointing device the selected figures whereby expanding or contracting the figures along a first axis increases or decreases the duration of the dosage and expanding or contracting the figures along a second axis increases or decreases the rate of delivery of the dosage.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the graphical user interface is a touch screen.

24. The method of claim 22 editing with a pointing device includes expanding or contracting the figures with one or more of a mouse, light pen, stylus, joystick, or trackball.

25. A programmer for an implantable medical device capable of delivery therapeutic output to a patient comprising:

an interface through which one or more portions of an infusion program are graphically displayed as one or more figures, each figure graphically representing the dosage rate and the dosage duration by the size and shape of the figure; and

a pointing device for selecting one or more figures whereby expanding or contracting the figures along a first axis increases or decreases the duration of the dosage and expanding or contracting the figures along a second axis increases or decreases the rate of delivery of the dosage.