Medical device programmer with selective disablement of display during telemetry

• US 7,263,406 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phillips, William C., Forsberg, John W., Olson, David P., Schommer, Mark E., Nelson, Steve J., Lewis, Charles R. Jr., Toy, Alex C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko; George R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/693,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 607 30- 32, 607/60, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. For example, a patient programmer may include both an internal antenna for RF telemetry with an implantable medical device and a display. The patient programmer may include a processor or other control circuitry that selectively disables. i.e., turns off, the display during RF telemetry with the internal antenna to promote more reliable communication. The processor or control circuitry also may disable electronics associated with the display during a telemetry session. In this manner, the programmer can be configured to reduce the impact of electrical and electromagnetic noise on telemetry performance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating telemetry circuitry in a programmer for a medical device, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna and an external antenna, wherein the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, and wherein the programmer comprises a display and a display lighting source;

disabling the display in the programmer during activation of the telemetry circuitry to reduce electrical interference when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the internal antenna; and

enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the external antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the display includes disabling circuitry associated with the display when the telemetry circuitry performs the telemetry via the internal antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display resides on a circuit board with display circuitry to drive the display, and disabling the display includes disabling the display and the display circuitry.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry is not activated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, and wherein the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and processes signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry is not activated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the telemetry circuitry is on a first circuit board and the display is on a second circuit board.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture, and the programmer includes a battery bay extending at least partially into the aperture.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the telemetry circuitry is coupled to the external antenna via a cable, the method including selectively communicating with the medical device via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an implanted neurostimulator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the display includes disabling electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.

12. A programmer comprising:

an internal antenna coupled to a programmer housing;

an external antenna coupled to the programmer housing;

telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with a medical device via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna;

a display within the housing to present information;

a display lighting source; and

control circuitry to disable the display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the internal antenna,

wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the external antenna.

13. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry disables circuitry associated with the display when the telemetry circuit performs the telemetry via the internal antenna.

14. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the display resides on a circuit board with display circuitry to drive the display, and the control circuitry disables the display and the display circuitry.

15. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry is not activated.

16. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the medical device via the internal antenna and processes signals received from the medical device via the internal antenna, and wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry is not activated.

17. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

18. The programmer of claim 12, further comprising:

a first circuit board; and

a second circuit board, wherein the internal antenna and the telemetry circuitry reside on the first circuit board and the display resides on the second circuit board.

19. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the telemetry circuitry is coupled to the external antenna via a cable, and the control circuitry selects one of the internal antenna and the external antenna for telemetry with the medical device.

20. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the medical device is an implanted neurostimulator.

21. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry disables electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.

22. A method comprising:

activating telemetry circuitry in a programmer for an implantable neurostimulator, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, and wherein the programmer comprises a display and a display lighting source;

communicating with the neurostimulator via the telemetry circuitry;

disabling the display in the programmer during communication via the telemetry circuitry to reduce electrical interference when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the internal antenna; and

enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the external antenna.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the programmer is a handheld, portable device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and processes signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry is not activated.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein disabling the display includes disabling electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.

26. A programmer for an implantable neurostimulator, the programmer comprising:

an antenna coupled to a programmer housing, wherein the antenna includes an internal antenna, the programmer further comprising an external antenna;

telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with the neurostimulator via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna;

a display within the housing to present information;

a display lighting source; and

control circuitry to disable the display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the internal antenna, wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the external antenna.

27. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the programmer is a handheld, portable device.

28. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the control circuitry disables electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.

29. A method comprising:

activating telemetry circuitry in a programmer for an implantable medical device, wherein the programmer includes a display, an internal antenna and an external antenna, wherein the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna;

disabling the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the internal antenna; and

enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the external antenna.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the implantable medical device includes an implantable electrical stimulator.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein disabling the display includes disabling electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.

32. A programmer for an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:

an internal antenna mounted within the programmer housing;

an external antenna coupled to a programmer housing;

telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with an implantable medical device via the internal antenna or the external antenna;

a display within the housing to present information; and

control circuitry that disables the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the internal antenna, and enables the display when the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via the external antenna.

33. The programmer of claim 32, wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to perform telemetry with an implantable electrical stimulator.

34. The programmer of claim 32, wherein the control circuitry disables electronics on substantially an entire circuit board on which the display is mounted.