Compressed patient narrative storage in and full text reconstruction from implantable medical devices

• US 5,693,076 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kaemmerer, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US08/585,222
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 607/59, 607/32, 607/60, 607/30, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A system and method of operation thereof for storing patient related data within an implanted medical device and retrieving and regenerating the patient related data using a generative grammar and graphic user-interface software in a programmer having uplink and downlink telemetry capabilities. A generative grammar resident in the programmer is selected, and it prompts a physician or other user to enter patient specific variables by selecting menu choices or making data entries in data entry fields which generated by grammar rules while constructing a textual narrative report about the patient in a human language. Simultaneously, in the programmer, a digital patient related data bit string is assembled that identifies the generative grammar and encodes the choices and values as they are entered by the physician. Also simultaneously, internal computer records of the patient related data are stored in computer memory. The generative grammar invokes text and menus or data entry fields for the continuing narrative that depend upon the preceding narrative in a grammatically correct manner. When the narrative is completed, the simultaneously generated bit string is stored in the implanted medical device using conventional downlink telemetry. The stored bit string may be telemetered out on command and decoded to identify the generative grammar and then to use the generative grammar to regenerate the textual narrative in either the original human language or in an alternative human language for which a corresponding generative grammar exists in the programmer.

Claims

1. In a system for storing patient related data within an implanted medical device implanted in an ambulatory patient and for regenerating the patient related information with an external programmer of the type comprising a medical device telemetry transceiver in the implanted medical device operable in a downlink telemetry mode for receiving patient related data bit strings and operable in an uplink telemetry mode for transmitting patient related data bit strings and memory locations in the implanted medical device for storing patient related data bit strings transmitted in downlink telemetry to the implanted medical device telemetry transceiver, a method of composing and storing textual narrative patient related data in such memory locations employing such an external programmer capable of initiating said uplink and downlink telemetry comprising the steps of:

storing a generative grammar defining a finite set of variables, and a set of grammar rules from which a textual narrative of patient related data can be generated by appropriate selections of choices from menus and values of variables;

encoding selections of choices from menus and values from variables as a patient related data bit string; and

operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said downlink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said downlink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver for receipt and storage in said implanted medical device memory locations.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

recording an identification code of the generative grammar with the patient related data bit string.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signalling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said uplink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said programmer telemetry transceiver for receipt thereby; and

identifying said generative grammar from said identification code; and

regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the identified generative grammar and the patient related data bit string.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

regenerating selected patient data in tabular format from said patient related data bit string.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said regenerating step further comprises:

regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the patient related data bit string in any selected human language for which there exists a formal generative grammar that is correlated to the original formal generative grammar used to enter and store the patient related data.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said uplink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said programmer telemetry transceiver for receipt thereby; and

regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the identified generative grammar and the patient related data bit string.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

regenerating selected patient data in tabular format from said patient related data bit string.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said regenerating step further comprises:

regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the patient related data bit string in any selected human language for which there exists a formal generative grammar that is correlated to the original formal generative grammar used to enter and store the patient related data.

9. A system for storing patient related data within an implanted medical device implanted in an ambulatory patient and for regenerating the patient related information with an external programmer comprising:

in the implanted medical device;

an implanted medical device telemetry transceiver operable in a downlink telemetry mode for receiving patient related data bit strings and operable in an uplink telemetry mode for transmitting patient related data bit strings; and

memory locations for storing patient related data bit strings transmitted in downlink telemetry to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver; and

in the external programmer;

means for storing a generative grammar defining a finite set of variables, and a set of grammar rules from which a textual narrative of patient related data can be generated by appropriate selections of variables in an external programmer memory;

means for encoding selections of patient related variables as a patient related data bit string; and

means for operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said downlink telemetry mode for signalling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said downlink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver for receipt and storage in said implanted medical device memory locations.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for recording an identification code of the grammar with the patient related data bit string.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said uplink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said programmer telemetry transceiver for receipt thereby;

means for identifying said generative grammar from said identification code; and

means for regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the identified generative grammar and the patient related data bit string.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

means for regenerating selected patient data in tabular format from said patient related data bit string.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said regenerating means further comprises:

means for regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the patient related data bit string in any selected human language for which there exists a formal generative grammar that is correlated to the original formal generative grammar used to enter and store the patient related data.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for operating said programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signalling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said uplink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said programmer telemetry transceiver for receipt thereby; and

means for regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the identified generative grammar and the patient related data bit string.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for regenerating selected patient data in tabular format from said patient related data bit string.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said regenerating means further comprises:

means for regenerating said textual narrative patient related data from the patient related data bit suing in any selected human language for which there exists a formal generative grammar that is correlated to the original formal generative grammar used to enter and store the patient related data.

17. A system for storing patient related data within an implanted medical device implanted in an ambulatory patient and for regenerating the patient related information with an external programmer comprising:

in the implanted medical device;

an implanted medical device telemetry transceiver operable in a downlink telemetry mode for receiving patient related data bit strings and operable in an uplink telemetry mode for transmitting patient related data bit strings; and

memory locations for storing patient related data bit strings transmitted in downlink telemetry to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver; and

in the external programmer;

programmer memory for storing a generative grammar defining a finite set of variables, including menu choices and data entry fields, and a set of grammar rules from which a textual narrative of patient related data can be generated by appropriate selections of menu choices and data entries;

means for applying said stored generative grammar and initiating the generation of a narrative of patient related data;

display means for successively displaying the menu choices and data entry fields for selection and entry by the user in compliance with the generative grammar rules and in dependence on the selections made by the user;

means for entering the selection of menu choices and data entries;

means for encoding the selections of menu choices and the data entries as a patient related bit string; and

a programmer telemetry transceiver operable in said downlink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said downlink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver for receipt and storage in said implanted medical device memory locations.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said external programmer further comprises:

means for constructing internal computer records of the patient related data as the selections and entries are made by the user.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said external programmer further comprises:

means for operating said external programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to retrieve and transmit stored patient related data bit strings in said uplink telemetry mode and for receiving transmitted patient related data bit strings; and

means for regenerating the textual narrative from the received patient related data bit string employing the internal computer records in conjunction with the generative grammar to make appropriate selections of menu choices and data entries using information retrieved from the internal computer records.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said external programmer further comprises:

means for operating said external programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode for signalling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to retrieve and transmit stored patient related data bit strings in said uplink telemetry mode and for receiving transmitted patient related data bit strings; and

means for regenerating the textual narrative from the received patient related data bit suing employing the internal computer records in conjunction with the generative grammar to make appropriate selections of menu choices and data entries using information retrieved from the internal computer records.

21. A method for storing patient related textual narrative within an implanted medical device and for regenerating the patient related textual narrative with an external programmer, employing:

an implanted medical device comprising a telemetry transceiver operable in a downlink telemetry mode for receiving patient related data bit strings and operable in an uplink telemetry mode for transmitting patient related data bit strings and memory for storing patient related data bit strings transmitted in downlink telemetry to the implanted medical device telemetry transceiver; and

a programmer comprising a telemetry transceiver operable in said downlink telemetry mode and in said uplink telemetry mode, a memory, a display means for displaying menu choices, an input means for accepting selections of menu choices and data entries and a processor means for encoding menu selections as patient related bit strings;

the method comprising the steps of;

storing a generative grammar defining a finite set of variables, including menu choices and data entry fields, and a set of grammar rules from which a textual narrative of patient related data can be generated by appropriate selections of menu choices and data entries in the programmer memory;

initiating the generation of a narrative of patient related data;

successively displaying the menu choices and data entry fields for selection and entry by the user in compliance with the generative grammar rules and in dependence on the selections made by the user;

accepting the selection of menu choices and data entries made by a user;

encoding the selections of menu choices and the data entries as a patient related bit string; and

operating the programmer telemetry transceiver in said downlink telemetry mode for signaling said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to operate in said downlink telemetry mode and for transmitting said patient related data bit strings to said implanted medical device telemetry transceiver for receipt and storage in said implanted medical device memory locations.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

constructing internal computer records in the programmer memory of the patient related data as the selections and entries are made by the user.

23. The method claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

operating the programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode to signal the implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to retrieve and transmit stored patient related data bit strings in said uplink telemetry mode and to receive transmitted patient related data bit strings; and

operating the programmer processor to regenerate the textual narrative from the received patient related data bit string by employing the internal computer records in conjunction with the generative grammar.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

operating the programmer telemetry transceiver in said uplink telemetry mode to signal the implanted medical device telemetry transceiver to retrieve and transmit stored patient related data bit strings in said uplink telemetry mode and to receive transmitted patient related data bit strings; and

operating the programmer processor to regenerate the textual narrative from the received patient related data bit string by employing the generative grammar.