SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLINICIAN CONTROL OF STIMULATION SYSTEMS

• US 20160129270A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Urinary Solutions, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Urinary Solutions, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bennett, Maria E., Coburn, James, Pack, Danny R., Strother, Robert B., Thrope, Geoffrey B., Rundle, Kenneth P., Rubin, Stuart F., Mrva, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,293,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Systems and methods for programming and logging medical device and patient data are provided. The systems include a handheld device, which is capable of communicating with a medical device, and a base station, which provides connectivity for the handheld device to accomplish various functions such as recharging, programming, data back-up and data entry. The methods comprise the steps of detecting a medical device, obtaining and recording information from the medical device. Additionally, medical device parameters may be modified and the recorded information may be archived for future reference.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A system comprising:

an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen; and

a housing that is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device, the housing being configured to encase a communications module configured to communicate with both an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and with the off-the-shelf handheld device,

wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses a communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier that is associated with the IPG,

wherein the communication protocol comprises one of a standard communication protocol or a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG,

wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and

wherein the communications module is configured to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the communication protocol, the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications module is configured to communicate wirelessly with the IPG while the communications module is up to six feet away from the IPG.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a base station configured to receive the off-the-shelf handheld device, the base station being further configured to provide power to the off-the-shelf handheld device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device comprises a user interface that is configured to allow a user to control the base station.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the base station comprises at least one port configured to provide the off-the-shelf handheld device with connectivity to at least one external device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the display screen of the off-the-shelf handheld device is a touch screen.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device includes at least one serial communications port, and wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to communicate with the communications module via the at least one serial communications port.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one serial communications port comprises a Universal Serial Bus port.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a database configured to store patient data,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to at least one of (1) provide user access to the patient data stored in the database or (2) allow storing of information from the IPG in the database.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the database is accessible by the off-the-shelf handheld device via a network.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier associated with the IPG comprises one of an electronic signature or a device serial number associated with the IPG.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications module is configured to determine whether the IPG is within a scannable range and to establish a wireless communications link with the IPG prior to receiving the plurality of stimulus parameters from the IPG.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications module is further configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, compliance data that includes recharge history information associated with the IPG.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein one or more of the plurality of stimulus parameters are associated with a pulse amplitude, a pulse duration, or a pulse frequency.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is further configured to display one or more recommended stimulus parameters associated with the plurality of stimulus parameters received from the IPG.

29. The system of claim 14, wherein the system includes the IPG.

30. The system of claim 14, wherein the housing is attachable to the off-the-shelf handheld device.

31. A system comprising:

an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen;

an implantable pulse generator (IPG); and

a housing that is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device, the housing being configured to encase a communications module configured to communicate with both the IPG and with the off-the-shelf handheld device,

wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses a communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier that is associated with the IPG,

wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and

wherein the communications module is configured to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the communication protocol, the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication protocol comprises one of a standard communication protocol or a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the communications module is configured to communicate wirelessly with the IPG while the communications module is up to six feet away from the IPG.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a base station configured to receive the off-the-shelf handheld device, the base station being further configured to provide power to the off-the-shelf handheld device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device comprises a user interface that is configured to allow a user to control the base station.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the base station comprises at least one port configured to provide the off-the-shelf handheld device with connectivity to at least one external device.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the display screen of the off-the-shelf handheld device is a touch screen.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device includes at least one serial communications port, and wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to communicate with the communications module via the at least one serial communications port.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one serial communications port comprises a Universal Serial Bus port.

40. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a database configured to store patient data,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to at least one of (1) provide user access to the patient data stored in the database or (2) allow storing of information from the IPG in the database.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the database is accessible by the off-the-shelf handheld device via a network.

42. The system of claim 31, wherein the unique identifier associated with the IPG comprises one of an electronic signature or a device serial number associated with the IPG.

43. The system of claim 31, wherein the communications module is configured to determine whether the IPG is within a scannable range and to establish a wireless communications link with the IPG prior to receiving the plurality of stimulus parameters from the IPG.

44. The system of claim 31, wherein the communications module is further configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, compliance data that includes recharge history information associated with the IPG.

45. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the plurality of stimulus parameters are associated with a pulse amplitude, a pulse duration, or a pulse frequency.

46. The system of claim 31, wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is further configured to display one or more recommended stimulus parameters associated with the plurality of stimulus parameters received from the IPG.

47. The system of claim 31, wherein the housing is attachable to the off-the-shelf handheld device.

48. A method comprising:

sending at least a first communication between a communications module and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) using a communication protocol, wherein the communications module is included in a housing that is configured to encase the communications module, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses the communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier that is associated with the IPG, and wherein the communication protocol comprises one of a standard communication protocol or a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG; and

sending at least a second communication between the communications module and an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen, wherein the housing of the communications module is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device,

wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and

wherein the communications module is configured to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the communication protocol, the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter.

49. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a system to:

send at least a first communication between a communications module and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) using a communication protocol, wherein the communications module is included in a housing that is configured to encase the communications module, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses the communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier that is associated with the IPG, and wherein the communication protocol comprises one of a standard communication protocol or a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG; and

send at least a second communication between the communications module and an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen, wherein the housing of the communications module is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device,

wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG,

wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and

wherein the communications module is configured to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the communication protocol, the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter.