Remote programming of MRI settings of an implantable medical device

• US 9,272,152 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: LaLonde, John, Kalgren, James, Hoyme, Kenneth P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US13/591,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20130053920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 607/31, 607 59- 63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network

Abstract

A system and method are described herein including an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be programmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) settings for use during an MRI scan, wherein the IMD stores identity data that uniquely identifies the IMD or a patient having the IMD. The system includes an external storage media configured to receive MRI settings associated with the IMD and configured to store the MRI settings associated with the IMD. The system also includes a programmer configured to retrieve identity data from IMD, retrieve MRI settings associated with the IMD from the external storage media and program the IMD using the MRI settings.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be programmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) settings for use during an MRI scan, wherein the IMD stores identity data that uniquely identifies the IMD or a patient having the IMD;

an external storage media configured to receive MRI settings associated with the IMD from a device clinic programmer and configured to store the MRI settings associated with the IMD; and

a retrieval programmer configured to perform the following steps;

retrieve identity data from the IMD,

initiate contact with the external storage media, retrieve the MRI settings associated with the IMD from the external storage media, wherein the MRI settings were received by the external storage media before the programmer retrieved the identity data from the IMD, and

program the IMD using the MRI settings,

wherein the MRI settings comprise a validity timeframe over which the MRI settings will be valid and after which the MRI settings cannot be retrieved from the external storage media.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retrieval programmer comprises:

a first communication module configured to communicate with the external storage media to retrieve the MRI settings that are associated with the IMD; and

a device communication module configured to communicate with the IMD to determine the identity of the IMD or patient and program the IMD with the MRI settings.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first communication module of the retrieval programmer is configured for communication with the external storage media over a pervasive wireless network.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the first communication module of the retrieval programmer is configured for communication with the external storage media over a wired network.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the device communication module of the retrieval programmer is configured for inductive communication with the IMD.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the device communication module comprises a removable and replaceable connection to the retrieval programmer.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the device communication module of the retrieval programmer is configured for radio frequency communication with the IMD.

8. The system of claim 1, the retrieval programmer further comprising a housing configured for portability by a user, wherein a power source is provided in the housing.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the retrieval programmer is further configured to program the IMD with post-MRI settings.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the retrieval programmer is further configured to perform a device check on the IMD.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the external storage media is configured to store an MRI prescription, wherein the MRI prescription comprises MRI settings, the identity data and computer readable instructions to carry out the programming of the MRI settings on the IMD.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the external storage media is a part of a server.

13. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be programmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) settings for use during an MRI scan and the IMD storing identity data that uniquely identifies the IMD or a patient having the IMD;

a server configured to receive an MRI prescription associated with the IMD from a device clinic programmer, and configured to store the MRI prescription associated with the IMD at a first time, wherein the MRI prescription comprises MRI settings, the identity data, and computer readable instructions to carry out the programming of the MRI settings on the IMD; and

a portable retrieval programmer comprising;

a housing configured for portability by a user;

a first communication module in the housing configured to communicate with the server to retrieve the MRI prescription associated with the IMD at a second time later than the first time, wherein the first communication module initiates contact with the server;

a device communication module connectible to and disconnectible from the housing and configured to inductively communicate with the IMD to retrieve the identity data and program the IMD with the MRI settings; and

a power source in the housing configured to supply power for components of the programmer,

wherein the MRI settings comprise a validity timeframe over which the MRI settings will be valid and after which the MRI settings cannot be retrieved from the server.

14. A method for conducting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a patient having an implantable medical device (IMD):

storing an MRI prescription for an IMD on an external storage media using a device clinic programmer at a first time, wherein the MRI prescription comprises MRI settings, identity data that uniquely identifies the IMD or the patient, and computer readable instructions to carry out the programming of the MRI settings on the IMD, wherein the IMD stores the identity data, wherein the MRI prescription is stored by a health care professional after review of safety concerns related to an MRI procedure;

identifying the IMD or patient using a retrieval programmer different from the device clinic programmer to communicate with the IMD; and

initiating contact with an external storage media to retrieve the device prescription using the retrieval programmer at a second time later than the first time

wherein the MRI settings comprise a validity timeframe over which the MRI settings will be valid and after which the MRI settings cannot be retrieved from the external storage media.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of identifying comprises inductive communication between the retrieval programmer and the IMD.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the retrieval programmer performing safety checks before an MRI scan.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising using the retrieval programmer after an MRI scan to program post-MRI settings of the IMD.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the retrieval programmer sending information to an electronic medical record, a health care professional, or both, wherein the information includes a summary of changes to IMD settings and device check data.

19. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be programmed with IMD settings; and

a server configured to receive values for a device prescription comprising the IMD settings associated with the IMD or patient and configured to store the device prescription associated with the IMD or patient, wherein the device prescription further comprises the identity data and computer readable instructions to carry out the programming of the IMD settings on the IMD; and

a retrieval programmer, wherein the retrieval programmer comprises;

a first communication module configured to communicate with the server to retrieve the IMD settings that are associated with the IMD; and

a device communication module configured to communicate with the IMD and program the IMD with the IMD settings;

wherein the retrieval programmer is configured to initiate contact with the server to retrieve the IMD settings;

wherein the IMD settings comprise a validity timeframe over which the IMD settings will be valid and after which the IMD settings cannot be retrieved from the server; and

wherein the IMD settings were received by the external storage media before the retrieval programmer retrieved the identity data from the IMD.