Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device

• US 8,805,514 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Pless, Benjamin D., Fischell, David R., Gibb, Barbara, Guzzo, Lisa, Upton, Adrian R. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US13/783,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 600/544, 600/545
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• 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 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An interactive implantable medical device system includes an implantable medical device and a network-enabled external device capable of bi-directional communication and interaction with the implantable medical device. The external device is programmed to interact with other similarly-enabled devices. The system facilitates improved patient care by eliminating unnecessary geographic limitations on implantable medical device interrogation and programming, and by allowing patients, physicians, and other users to access medical records, history, and information and to receive status and care-related alerts and messages anywhere there is access to a communications network.

Claims

1. An implantable neurostimulator system comprising:

a device implantable in a human patient, the device in operable communication with a plurality of electrodes configured to sense signals from the patient corresponding to EEG signals, the device comprising;

a measurement module including an electronics package configured to translate the sensed signals into digital data; and

a communications module configured to collect the digital data and transmit the digital data in a packet or stream; and

an apparatus configured to remain external of the patient, the apparatus comprising;

a subsystem configured to establish a data link with the communications module of the device; and

a controller configured to;

receive a request to allow an action to occur, the action comprising receipt of the digital data from the device through the communication interface, the action having an associated time restriction,

allow the action when the time restriction is met, and

deny the action when the time restriction is not met.

2. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 1 wherein the device is further configured with a detection module, the detection module comprising:

an EEG analyzer adapted to receive EEG signals from the plurality of electrodes and to process those signals to identify neurological activity indicative of one or more of a seizure, an onset of a seizure, or a precursor to a seizure.

3. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:

a treatment module comprising;

a stimulation subsystem adapted to apply electrical stimulation to the patient'"'"'s neurological tissue through one or more of the plurality of electrodes.

4. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 3 wherein the stimulation subsystem is further adapted to apply therapeutic stimulation in response to abnormal events detected by the EEG analyzer of the detection module.

5. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a portable computer.

6. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 1, wherein the time restriction is based on a frequency of past requests to perform the action and the nature of the action.

7. The implantable neurostimulator system of claim 1, wherein the time restriction comprises a restriction time period, and the controller is configured to determine if the time restriction is met by being further configured to:

determine a difference between a current time corresponding to the time of the request to perform the action, and a past time corresponding to the time of the most recent past request to perform the action;

wherein the time restriction is determined to be met when the difference is at least equal to the restriction time period, and not to be met when the difference is less than the restriction time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time restriction comprises a restriction time period, and further comprising

determining, by the external apparatus, a difference between a current time corresponding to the time of the request to perform the action, and a past time corresponding to the time of the most recent past request to perform the action;

wherein the time restriction is determined to be met when the difference is at least equal to the restriction time period, and not to be met when the difference is less than the restriction time period.

9. In a patient with a neurological disorder, a method for monitoring a condition of the patient with an implantable device and an external apparatus, comprising:

establishing a communications link between a communications module of an implantable device and a subsystem of an external apparatus;

collecting, with the implantable device, sensor data from one or more sensors in operable communication with the implantable device;

organizing, by the implantable device, collected sensor data into one or more packets;

receiving, by the external apparatus, a request to allow an action to occur, the action comprising receiving, by the external apparatus, collected sensor data, the action having an associated time restriction,

allowing the action, by the external apparatus, when the time restriction is met;

denying the action, by the external apparatus, when the time restriction is not met; and

transmitting, by the implantable device and to the external apparatus, organized sensor data in a stream to achieve transmitted sensor data when the action is allowed.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

eliciting, by the external apparatus, an input from a user of the external apparatus; and

if any of the elicited input is received at the external apparatus, annotating, by the external apparatus, the transmitted sensor data using the received elicited input to achieve annotated sensor data and displaying, by the external apparatus, the annotated sensor data on the display.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the implantable device further comprises a detection module comprising an EEG analyzer function.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the implantable device further comprises a treatment module comprising a stimulation subsystem adapted to apply electrical stimulation to the patient'"'"'s neurological tissue through one or more of a plurality of electrodes.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the time restriction is based on a frequency of past requests to perform the action and the nature of the action.