GUI coding for identification of displayable data quality from medical devices

• US 6,574,503 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ferek-Petric, Bozidar
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US09/841,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508, 600/509, 600/522, 600/523, 607/30, 607/32, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Disruptions and corruptions in displayable data are identified using various color codes and marker schemes. Specifically, clinical data communicated across one or more network connections is continuously monitored and evaluated for disruptions, continuity, integrity and accuracy. A color coding or similar method for highlighting and characterizing discontinuities are used to mark data or communication elements and displays that are suspect of channel disruption, corruption and other discrepancies.

Claims

1. A computer implemented software system to distinctively mark corruption, interruption and variations in a display of medical information obtained from a medical device via an instrument, the software system in combination with the medical device and the instrument comprising:

a network connection;

means for transferring data packets;

means for marking the data packets; and

means for displaying the medical information;

said network connection providing data communication between the medical device and the instrument;

wherein said means for displaying is incorporated in the instrument to display said data packets;

wherein said means for marking represents the corruption, interruption and variations in said data packets;

wherein said medical device is an implanted medical device collecting the medical information in a patient.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said network connection is in operable data communication between the medical device and the instrument.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said instrument is one of a programmer, a home monitor and a personal computer (PC).

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said data packets include user diagram protocol data packets.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for displaying includes a display screen.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for marking the data packets distinguishes between non-interrupted, unadulterated data packets and data packets that are suspect of interruptions and corruption.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for marking identifies interrupted or corrupt data packets by using line-size variations.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means for marking identifies interrupted or corrupt data packets by using different colors.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein the medical information is compared to stored data to determine the variations in medical condition of a patient.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the variations include one of a distinguishing color code and a marker.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein non-variations between the medical information and said stored data include one of a distinguishing color code and a marker.

12. A method for distinguishing data interruption, corruption and variation in a display of a medical information obtained from a medical device via an instrument, the method comprising:

providing a network connection;

transmitting medical information from the medical device to the instrument via said network connection;

distinguishing the data interruption, corruption and variation; and

displaying the data interruption, corruption and variation to alert a user about conditions of the data;

wherein the distinguishing aspect includes the use of markers;

wherein the use of markers includes line-size variations.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transmitting aspect includes the use of a wireless transmission system.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the use of markers includes various colors.

15. A medical information system integrated with at least one implanted medical device (IMD) and an instrument to identify and display data corruption;

variance, abnormalities and network connecting integrity, the system comprising;

a data network connecting the IMD with the instrument;

means for confirming the network connection;

means for transferring data packets from the IMD to the instrument;

means for comparing stored medical information with real-time medical information to detect the variance in a manner to identify data corruption and abnormalities; and

means for identifying network connection problems and the variance;

a display means displays one of and combinations of distinctive colors and line markers to identify said network connection problems and the variance to enable a user to evaluate the IMD via said display means at the instrument.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for confirming the network connection includes a logic set in the software that enables to display the medical information that is uninterrupted in a format that is distinguished from medical information obtained during a connection malfunction.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said information obtained during said connection malfunction includes one of a color and a line trace distinguished from the medical information obtained during normal connection.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for comparing includes identifying marks to distinguish between conforming and non-conforming data.