Programmer for an implantable cardiac stimulating device

• US 5,716,382 A
• Filed: 08/02/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snell, Jeffery D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/510,365
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/59
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

This invention provides a therapy decision support system and method for guiding physicians and medical technicians in optimizing a set of adjustable parameters that define the operating characteristics of implantable cardiac stimulating devices. The invention also provides an implantable cardiac stimulating device programmer which can furnish therapy decision support as well as telemetric data retrieval and telemetric programming capabilities.

Claims

1. A decision support system for providing guidance in programming an implantable cardiac stimulating device, the decision support system interactively coupled to the implantable cardiac stimulating device for interactive use by an operator, comprising:

a storage unit containing at least one decision rule set defining rules for deriving operating parameters for one or more types of implantable cardiac stimulating devices;

rule engine means for selecting, from said plurality of rule sets, a rule set corresponding to a type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed, and for conducting an interactive session with an operator, defined in accordance with said rules of said selected rule set through which programming information is acquired, the programming information being used by said rule engine means to determine an appropriate operating condition for said implantable cardiac stimulating device; and

input and output means for enabling said rule engine means to acquire said programming information during said interactive session and for displaying said operating condition determined by said rule engine means.

2. The decision support system of claim 1 further comprising a patient/device database storage means for storing medical information pertaining to patients and to said plurality of types of implantable cardiac stimulating devices.

3. The decision support system of claim 2, including means for providing access by said rule engine means to said patient/device database and to thereby use said medical information to select said rule set corresponding to said type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed.

4. The decision support system of claim 2, including means for storing said rule sets in said patient/device database storage unit.

5. The decision support system of claim 1 further comprising means for providing to the input and output means citations to medical literature which support said operating condition determined by said rule engine means.

6. The decision support system of claim 5, wherein input and output means includes means for displays such citations.

7. The decision support system of claim 1, wherein said rule engine means comprises a microprocessor.

8. The decision support system of claim 1, wherein said storage means stores said rule sets as decision trees.

9. The decision support system of claim 1, wherein said storage means stores said rule sets as deduction-oriented, antecedent-consequent rules.

10. The decision support system of claim 1, wherein said input/output means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, and a screen with a light pen to enable said rule engine to acquire said programming information.

11. The decision support system of claim 1, wherein said input/output means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a display monitor, a printer, and a touch-sensitive screen to enable said rule engine to present said operating condition.

12. A method for providing decision support in programming an implantable cardiac stimulating device, utilizing a decision support system interactively coupled to the implantable cardiac stimulation device for interactive use by an operator, the support system including a storage unit containing at least one decision rule set defining rules for deriving operating parameters for one or more types of implantable cardiac stimulating devices, comprising the steps of:

obtaining medical information pertaining to a patient, and to a type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed;

selecting a rule set, corresponding to said type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed, from a plurality of rule sets stored in the storage unit;

conducting an interactive session with an operator defined in accordance with rules of said selected rule set for providing programming information;

displaying said programming information; and

utilizing said displayed programming information to determine an appropriate operating condition for said implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said obtaining step comprises obtaining said medical information, at least partially, from a patient/device database.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of providing citations to medical literature which support said operating condition.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of telemetrically programming said implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed in accordance with said operating condition.

16. An implantable cardiac stimulating device programmer that provides decision support in programming of an implantable cardiac stimulating device, the programmer interactively coupled to the implantable cardiac stimulation device for interactive use by an operator, said programmer comprising:

a storage unit containing one or more rule sets defining rules for deriving operating parameters for at least one type of implantable cardiac stimulating device;

rule engine means for selecting from said rule sets, a rule set corresponding to a type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed, and which conducts an interactive session with an operator defined in accordance with said rules of said selected rule set through which programming information is acquired, the programming information being used by said rule engine unit to determine an appropriate operating condition for said implantable cardiac stimulating device;

input/output means for enabling said rule engine means to acquire said programming information during said interactive session and for presenting said operating condition determined by said rule engine unit; and

telemetry means for communicating said operating condition to said implantable cardiac stimulating device.

17. The programmer of claim 16 further comprising a patient/device database for storing medical information pertaining to patients and to said types of implantable cardiac stimulating devices.

18. The programmer of claim 17, including means for providing access by said rule engine means to said patient/device database and to thereby use said medical information to select said rule set corresponding to said type of implantable cardiac stimulating device being programmed.

19. The programmer of claim 17, including means for storing said rule sets in said patient/device database.

20. The programmer of claim 16 further comprising means for providing citations to medical literature which support said operating condition determined by said rule engine means.

21. The programmer of claim 16, wherein said input/output means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a touch sensitive screen, and a screen with a light pen to enable said rule engine means to acquire said programming information.

22. The programmer of claim 16, wherein said input/output means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a display monitor, printer, and a touch sensitive screen to enable said rule engine to present said operating condition.