Automatic parameter status on an implantable medical device system

• US 8,827,904 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McAdams, Sean B., House, Chris T., Ball, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US11/217,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,296 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 600/547, 128903-905, 128/920, 607/1, 607/2, 607/6, 607/60, 340/870.01, 340/539.12, 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• 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: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing status of a parameter that includes detecting an alert level of a parameter monitored by an implanted medical device, transmitting data corresponding to the detected alert level from the implanted medical device to an external monitor, scheduling a follow-up interrogation session after receiving transmitted data corresponding to the detected alert level, and retrieving updated data from the implanted medical device corresponding to the monitored parameter during the follow-up interrogation session.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a physiological parameter of a patient detected by an implantable medical device system comprising an implantable medical device, an external device and a processor configured to perform the method, comprising the steps of:

monitoring the physiological parameter with the implantable medical device to determine if the physiological parameter exceeds an alert threshold and if the physiological parameter returns to a non-alert level;

if the physiological parameter exceeds an alert threshold;

scheduling a series of interrogation sessions between the implantable medical device and the external device to occur at predetermined time intervals;

transmitting data corresponding to the physiological parameter from the implantable medical device to the external device; and

continuing monitoring the physiological parameter with the implantable medical device;

then

if the physiological parameter has returned to a non-alert level;

automatically canceling at least one pending scheduled interrogation session of the series of interrogation sessions; and

automatically returning to the monitoring the physiological parameter with the implantable medical device; and

initiating transmitting data step by the external device “

waking up”

the implantable medical device.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the canceling step cancels all pending scheduled interrogation sessions of the series of interrogation sessions.

3. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step, if the physiological parameter exceeds an alert threshold, of providing an alert to a user.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the transmitting step occurs during each of the interrogation sessions.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying information relating to the physiological parameter on a user interface.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of uploading information relating to the physiological parameter to a remote patient management database.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein the scheduling step occurs in the remote patient management database.

8. A system, comprising:

an implantable medical device;

a sensor which detects a physiological parameter;

an implantable telemetry interface operatively coupled to the sensor;

an external device, comprising;

a monitor telemetry interface, configured to establish a telemetry connection with the implantable telemetry interface;

the external device configured to initiate transmission of data corresponding to the physiological parameter from the implantable medical device to the external device by “

waking up”

the implantable medical device; and

a processor configured to;

determine if the physiological parameter exceeds an alert threshold and if the physiological parameter returns to a non-alert threshold;

schedule a series of interrogation sessions of the implantable medical device to occur at a plurality of predetermined time intervals if the physiological parameter exceeds an alert threshold; and

then

if the physiological parameter has returned to a non-alert level;

automatically cancel at least one pending interrogation session of the series of interrogation sessions.

9. A system as in claim 8 wherein the processor automatically cancels all pending interrogation sessions of the series of interrogation sessions.

10. A system as in claim 8, further comprising an implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises the sensor and the implantable telemetry interface.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a device electronic componentry operatively coupled to the sensor;

the external monitor further comprises the processor operatively coupled to the monitor telemetry interface; and

wherein the device electronic componentry transmits a value indicative of the physiological parameter to the processor via the telemetry connection.

12. A system as in claim 8, further comprising a user interface, the user interface having:

an indication of the physiological parameter exceeding the alert threshold;

an indication of the physiological parameter does not exceed the non-alert threshold; and

a schedule for a medical professional to schedule the interrogation sessions.

13. A system as in claim 8, further comprising a remote patient management database operatively coupled to the external monitor, wherein the remote patient management database schedules the series of interrogation sessions.