Method and a system for using implanted medical device data for accessing therapies

• US 7,366,570 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Owens, Clifton W., Mahoney, Patrick M., Ujhelyi, Michael R., Mehra, Rahul, Hess, Michael F., Pool, Nancy Perry, Sheth, Nirav V., Riff, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bertram; Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US10/376,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 607 4- 5, 607/9, 607/14, 607/15, 607/32, 607/60, 607 1- 2, 607/27, 607/59
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method and system facilitates the access by a patient of implanted medical device related data for patient participation in their own clinical care and therapy. In an example embodiment, the method includes establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface. Access to a secured database is obtained via the implanted device data processor using a set of patient identification data. A query is then submitted via the data processor to the secured database in response to input patient diagnostic data. Data received from the secured database is then displayed for use in a patient evaluation.

Claims

1. A method for patient participation in clinical care and therapy delivery in connection with detected heart conditions comprising:

establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface when an episode of a detected heart condition commences;

obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;

submitting via the data processor a query to the secured database in response to patient diagnostic data obtained from the implanted medical device wherein submitting the query comprises;

detecting via the data processor at least one of a plurality of predefined conditions of the patient'"'"'s implanted medical device; and

generating a data response as a function of the detected conditions;

providing a data response based upon the query and the patient diagnostic data including at least one of electrical impulse therapy and medication therapy; and

displaying the data response in the form of a patient notification that an episode of a detected heart condition has occurred and guides the patient in actuation of the implanted medical device to invoke at least one of an electrical impulse therapy delivery and a medication therapy delivery in treatment of the episode of a detected heart condition;

notifying the patient via the data processor of the detected condition;

monitoring the implanted medical device; and

displaying a first implanted medical device status

displaying a first set of treatment options as a function of the first implanted medical device status and of the patient notification; and

exercising at least one of the treatment options,

wherein displaying treatment options includes displaying at least one medical option along with a time interval for exercising the displayed option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a condition includes the steps of:

performing an uplink transmission of a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor; and

processing the patient diagnostic data to detect at least one of the plurality of conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment options are selected from the group consisting of:

medication, electrical impulse from the implanted medical device, and a request for medical assistance.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying the data processor of the exercised treatment option.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the implanted device continuously after notification of exercise of the displayed option; and

notifying the patient of a second medical device status and of a second set of treatment options, the second set of treatment options being a function of the exercised option and the second medical device status.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of reconfiguring the treatment options as a function of the exercised option and the IMD status.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reconfiguring patient notification of the detected condition such that the patient notification is responsive to a second plurality of conditions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining access to the secured database includes obtaining access to a remotely located secured database via a communications network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a communications link includes automatically retrieving the set of patient identification data from the IMD.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient diagnostic data includes patient cardiac condition data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient diagnostic data includes patient cardiac arrhythmia data.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient diagnostic data includes patient atrial fibrillation data.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient diagnostic data relates to at least one heart condition including Atrial Fibrillation, Ischemia, MI (Myocardial Infarction), and SOD (Sudden Cardiac Death).

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient is guided to activate a defibrillation mode of the implanted medical device to apply a shock to terminate an arrhythmia.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient is guided to activate a pacing mode of the implanted medical device to terminate an arrhythmia.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient is guided to administer an anti-arrhythmic medication in combination with the electrical impulse therapy delivery.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein input patient diagnostic data includes an IMD patient request for information from the secured database.

17. A system for patient participation in clinical care and therapy delivery in connection with an episode of a detected heart condition in a patient having an implanted medical device, comprising:

a data processor having a database;

an interface establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and the data processor interface when an episode of a detected heart condition commences, the interface sending patient diagnostic data obtained from the implanted medical device and receiving a data response from the data processor based upon an analysis of the patient diagnostic data, wherein input patient diagnostic data includes an IMD patient request for information; and

a patient messaging system coupled to the interface and displaying the data response received from the data processor in the form of a patient notification that an episode of a detected heart condition has occurred and that guides the patient in actuation of the implanted medical device to invoke at least one of an electrical impulse therapy delivery and a medication therapy delivery in treatment of the episode of a detected heart condition along with a time interval for exercising the actuation.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system is coupled via a telemetry link to the implanted medical device and is adapted to access patient diagnostic data and independently alert the patient of a heart condition that requires some form of therapy or treatment.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the interface is a programming unit and includes a programming head for accessing patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the communication link established by the interface is one of a telephone connection, a video conference call connection, a cellular telephone connection, and an Internet connection.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a second communications link coupling the data processor to a communications network having a server and an expert data center.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system is implemented within a personal digital assistant.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system displays to the patient in real time a measure of the progress of an invoked therapy.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient diagnostic data relates to a heart condition concerning at least one of a cardiac arrhythmia, tachycardia, and bradycardia.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system displays a patient notification that guides the patient to activate a defibrillation mode of the implanted medical device to apply a shock to terminate an arrhythmia.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system displays a patient notification that guides the patient to activate a pacing mode of the implanted medical device to terminate an arrhythmia.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the patient messaging system displays a patient notification that guides the patient to activate an anti-arrhythmic medication delivery in combination with electrical impulse therapy delivery.