Software configurable medical device platform and associated methods

• US 8,755,885 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Deno, D. Curtis, Wilkinson, Jeffrey D., Stroebel, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bays, Pamela M
• Application Number:
  US11/116,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,337 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/5, 607/9, 607/15, 607 30- 32, 607/59, 607/60, 607/27
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

The invention relates to medical devices such as pacemakers, pulse generators, cardioverter-defibrillators and the like and more particularly relates to modular and reconfigurable medical system platforms and methods of designing, testing, controlling and implementing diverse therapies, diagnostics, physiologic sensors and related instrumentation using said medical system platforms. Methods, systems and devices provide a new design platform for implantable and external medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, heart monitors, etc. A real-time, highly flexible system of software and hardware modules enables both prototypes and products to respond to patient and customer needs with greater design and manufacturing efficiency. Certain embodiments integrate a general-purpose processor with interface circuitry to provide a standard platform for implementing new and conventional therapies with software models rather than custom circuitry. The platform described may be used as a simulation environment, development and test platform and/or may be used as architecture for building new medical devices.

Claims

1. A platform adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart and to receive data from physiologic instrumentation coupled to the patient, said platform comprising:

a controller comprising a digital processor and a digital memory, wherein the controller operatively provides electrical stimulation therapy to the patient'"'"'s heart responsive to the data from the physiologic instrumentation; and

an interface electrically coupling the controller to the physiologic instrumentation; and

wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to receive the data via the interface and to process the data using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog amplifier circuitry to control delivery of the electrical stimulation.

2. A platform according to claim 1 wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to receive the data via the interface and to process the data using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog pacing amplifier circuitry to control delivery of the electrical stimulation.

3. A platform according to claim 2, wherein the software instructions are modifiable to adjust at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation without physically reconfiguring the controller or interface.

4. A platform according to claim 3, wherein the software instructions comprise an input module configured to receive the data, a pacing engine module configured to deliver the electrical stimulation therapy and an output module configured to provide information regarding at least one of an operating parameter of the first electrical stimulation therapy and the physiologic instrumentation to the interface.

5. A platform according to claim 4, wherein the pacing engine comprises instructions defining an atrial therapy and a ventricular therapy for delivery to atria and ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart, respectively.

6. A platform according to claim 1 wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to receive the data via the interface and to process the data using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog sensor amplifier circuitry to control data from the physiologic instrumentation.

7. A platform according to claim 6, wherein the software instructions are modifiable to adjust at least one aspect of the data from the physiologic instrumentation without physically reconfiguring the controller or interface.

8. A platform according to claim 7, wherein the software instructions comprise an input module configured to receive the data, a pacing engine module configured to deliver a first electrical stimulation therapy and an output module configured to provide information regarding at least one of an operating parameter of the first electrical stimulation therapy and the physiologic instrumentation to the interface.

9. A platform according to claim 8, wherein the pacing engine comprises instructions defining an atrial therapy and a ventricular therapy for delivery to atria and ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart, respectively.

10. An apparatus for providing electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart responsive to physiologic instrumentation coupled to the patient;

comprising;

a controller comprising a digital processor and a digital memory, the controller comprising means for providing an electrical stimulation therapy to the patient'"'"'s heart responsive to the data from the physiologic instrumentation; and

an interface electrically coupling the controller to the physiologic instrumentation; and

wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to process the data received via the interface using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog amplifier circuitry.

11. An apparatus platform according to claim 10 wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to receive the data via the interface and to process the data using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog pacing amplifier circuitry to control delivery of the electrical stimulation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the software instructions are modifiable to adjust at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation without physically reconfiguring the controller or interface.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the software instructions comprise an input module configured to receive the data, a pacing engine module configured to deliver a first electrical stimulation therapy and an output module configured to provide information regarding at least one of an operating parameter of the first electrical stimulation therapy and the physiologic instrumentation to the interface.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pacing engine comprises instructions defining an atrial therapy and a ventricular therapy for delivery to atria and ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart, respectively.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the digital processor to receive the data via the interface and to process the data using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog sensor amplifier circuitry to control data from the physiologic instrumentation.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the software instructions are modifiable to adjust at least one aspect of the data from the physiologic instrumentation without physically reconfiguring the controller or interface.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the software instructions comprise an input module configured to receive the data, a pacing engine module configured to deliver a first electrical stimulation therapy and an output module configured to provide information regarding at least one of an operating parameter of the first electrical stimulation therapy and the physiologic instrumentation to the interface.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pacing engine comprises instructions defining an atrial therapy and a ventricular therapy for delivery to atria and ventricles of the patient'"'"'s heart, respectively.

19. An apparatus for providing electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart responsive to physiologic instrumentation coupled to the patient;

comprising;

means for providing an electrical stimulation therapy to the patient'"'"'s heart responsive to the data from the physiologic instrumentation, comprising a digital processor and a digital memory; and

an interface electrically coupling the controller to the physiologic instrumentation; and

wherein the digital memory comprises software instructions executable by the general-purpose digital processor to process the data received via the interface using a modeling algorithm which simulates operations of analog amplifier circuitry.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the physiologic instrumentation comprises a cardiac electrode lead.