Systems and methods for automatically resolving interaction between programmable parameters

• US 8,738,560 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: West, Jeff, Tzucker, Jay A., Maddali, Mahesh, Kalgren, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSS, BENJAMIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/669,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/48, 706/924, 607/9, 607 30- 32, 607/119, 600/119, 600/333, 439/909, 128/924
• US Class Current: 706/48
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/924 using artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/924 Medical

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, a system capable of resolving interactions between programmable parameters for operation of a medical device. Programming these devices is a difficult task when many parameters are involved. The disclosed systems and methods attempt to reduce and minimize constraint violations between interdependent parameters using an initial set of parameter values supplied by user (typically a physician) input or calculated automatically, and constraint violations describing invalid parameter values. If possible, a set of parameter values with less egregious constraint violations is generated and may be displayed to the user. A user is prompted to accept the set of parameter values and program the medical device.

Claims

1. A system for programming a multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, the system comprising:

an external programming device, comprising a processor and a memory circuit, configured to program the multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, the external programming device comprising;

a constraint violation comparison module configured to compare a first set of user-programmable parameter values against a plurality of interaction constraints to be capable to produce a first violation of one of the plurality of interaction constraints; and

an interaction resolution engine configured to;

determine, from the first set of parameter values, multiple candidate sets of parameter values that reduce or avoid the first violation and that are capable to adjust a plurality of parameters with respect to the first set of parameter values;

classify the multiple candidate sets of parameter values with respect to the first set of parameter values; and

minimize, in creating the multiple candidate sets of parameter values, a degree of any other violations of the plurality of interaction constraints.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external programming device comprises a prioritizing selector configured to receive a user-selection of a priority indication corresponding to at least one parameter value of the first set of user-programmable parameter values;

and

wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to hold constant the at least one parameter value of the first set of user-programmable parameter values corresponding to the priority indication in determining at least one of the multiple candidate sets of parameter values.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to minimize a variation between the first set of parameter values and at least one of the multiple candidate sets of parameter values.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, wherein the external programming device is configured to receive a stored measurement from the multi-parameter programmable personal medical device and to determine, automatically from the stored measurement, the first set of user-programmable parameter values.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the external programming device is configured to receive, as the stored measurement from the multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, a measured lead impedance of a lead coupled to the personal medical device, an indication of a remaining battery power of the personal medical device, a patient fluid status indication, or a patient physical activity level indication.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to determine, from the multiple candidate sets of parameter values, a second set of parameter values that resolves the first violation.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising an acceptance selector configured to receive a user input indicating a user acceptance or rejection of at least one of the multiple candidate sets of parameter values for programming the personal medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the external programming device is configured to receive a selection of a target interaction constraint;

and

wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to determine, by modifying only the first set of parameter values associated with the target interaction constraint, a second set of parameter values that reduces the first violation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to minimize, in creating at least one of the candidate sets of parameter values, respective weights of change between the first and multiple candidate sets of parameter values using a weight of change calculation to classify one or more of the candidate sets of parameter values with respect to the first set of parameter values.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction resolution engine includes at least one exit condition to terminate an attempt to determine the multiple candidate sets of parameter values, the exit condition comprising at least one of:

a second set of parameter values has been found with no associated constraint violations;

a defined maximum number of iterations is reached; and

all candidate sets of parameter values have been exhausted.

11. A method for programming a medical device, the method comprising:

comparing a first set of user-programmable parameter values against a plurality of interaction constraints to he capable to produce an indication of a first violation of at least one of the plurality of interaction constraints;

determining, from the first set of parameter values, multiple candidate sets of parameter values that reduce or avoid the first violation and that are capable to adjust a plurality of parameters with respect to the first set of parameter values;

classifying the multiple candidate sets of parameter values with respect to the first set of parameter values; and

minimizing a degree of any other violations of the plurality of interaction constraints in determining the multiple candidate sets of parameter values that reduces the first violation.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising prioritizing at least one parameter value of the first set of user-programmable parameter values, wherein the determining the multiple candidate sets of parameter values includes holding constant the prioritized at least one parameter value.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising determining the first set of user-programmable parameter values using a value, received from the medical device, that corresponds to a patient physiological status.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein using the value, received from the medical device, that corresponds to the patient physiological status includes using at least one of a lead impedance measurement, a patient thoracic fluid indication, or a patient physical activity level indication.

15. The method of claim 11, comprising determining the first set of user-programmable parameter values using a value received from the medical device that corresponds to an operating status of the medical device.

16. The method of claim 11, comprising requesting user-redefinition of the first set of parameter values when an acceptable second set of parameter values cannot be determined.

17. The method of claim 11, comprising minimizing a weight of change between the first and multiple candidate sets of parameter values using a weight of change calculation to classify one or more of the candidate sets of parameter values with respect to the first set of parameter values.

18. A system for programming a multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, the system comprising:

an external programming device comprising a processor and a memory circuit configured to program the multi-parameter programmable personal medical device, the external programming device comprising;

a constraint violation comparison module configured to compare a first set of user-programmable parameter values against a plurality of interaction constraints to be capable to produce a first violation of one of the plurality of interaction constraints;

an interaction resolution engine configured to;

determine, from the first set of parameter values, at least two candidate sets of parameter values that reduce or avoid the first violation and that are capable to adjust a plurality of parameters with respect to the first set of parameter values; and

minimize, in creating the at least two candidate sets of parameter values, a degree of any other violations of the plurality of interaction constraints; and

a prioritizing selector configured to receive a user-selection of a priority indication corresponding to at least one parameter value of the first set of user-programmable parameter values;

wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to hold constant the at least one parameter value of the first set of user-programmable parameter values corresponding to the priority indication in determining the at least two candidate sets of parameter values.

19. The system of claim 18, comprising an acceptance selector configured to receive a user input indicating a user acceptance or rejection of the second set of parameter values for programming the personal medical device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the interaction resolution engine is configured to minimize, in determining the at least two candidate sets of parameter values, a weight of change between the first and the at least two candidate sets of parameter values using a weight of change calculation to classify the candidate sets of parameter values with respect to the first set of parameter values.