System for providing therapy to a patient
First Claim
1. A system for providing therapy to a patient comprising:
- an implantable device having a processor configured to communicate with an external patient programmer, to monitor the patient, and to provide therapy to the patient;
an external patient programmer having a processor configured to communicate with the implantable stimulator, to alert the patient, and to receive patient input from the patient;
a processor configured for selectively setting between (1) a manual mode or fully automatic mode and (2) a semi-automatic mode of operation, wherein a mode of operation may be selectively and reversibly switched between said manual mode, said semi-automatic mode, and said fully automatic mode of operation;
wherein when said either manual mode or fully automatic mode of operation has been selected, operation of said system does not request and await a patient'"'"'s input, and when said semi-automatic mode of operation has been selected, the processor being further configured for;
determining whether an adjustment of a therapy protocol is needed for implementing an adjustment of the therapy provided by the implantable device by implementing the following steps when the adjustment is defined to occur semi-automatically and the device is in the semi-automatic mode;
proposing the adjustment of the therapy by sending at least a first alert signal to the patient, said alert signal being selected from the group consisting of visual signal, auditory signal, vibrotactile signal, or textual signal;
delaying implementation of the adjustment of the therapy protocol for a specified time interval awaiting a patient response; and
,operating the processor to implement a patient response rule that is responsive to (a) a predetermined patient response which is provided as patient input, or (b) no patient response provided by the patient within a selected interval.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for adjusting the operation of implantable stimulation devices used to provide medical monitoring and treatment. Several hierarchical algorithms are described which operate according to conditionally obtaining a patient response to an alert signal. In one such strategy semi-automatic therapy adjustment occurs by automatically issuing patient alert messages when selected operations are to occur, and using a patient'"'"'s response to the alert message that is provided within a selected time limit in order to contingently adjust therapy. Methods are also described for resolving conflicts which may occur when time information and sensed data information each indicate different patient states are occurring. Although treatment of neural and cardiac disorders is emphasized, the techniques can be applied to the monitoring and treatment of any medical disorder with an implanted device.
72 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for providing therapy to a patient comprising:
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an implantable device having a processor configured to communicate with an external patient programmer, to monitor the patient, and to provide therapy to the patient; an external patient programmer having a processor configured to communicate with the implantable stimulator, to alert the patient, and to receive patient input from the patient; a processor configured for selectively setting between (1) a manual mode or fully automatic mode and (2) a semi-automatic mode of operation, wherein a mode of operation may be selectively and reversibly switched between said manual mode, said semi-automatic mode, and said fully automatic mode of operation; wherein when said either manual mode or fully automatic mode of operation has been selected, operation of said system does not request and await a patient'"'"'s input, and when said semi-automatic mode of operation has been selected, the processor being further configured for; determining whether an adjustment of a therapy protocol is needed for implementing an adjustment of the therapy provided by the implantable device by implementing the following steps when the adjustment is defined to occur semi-automatically and the device is in the semi-automatic mode; proposing the adjustment of the therapy by sending at least a first alert signal to the patient, said alert signal being selected from the group consisting of visual signal, auditory signal, vibrotactile signal, or textual signal; delaying implementation of the adjustment of the therapy protocol for a specified time interval awaiting a patient response; and
,operating the processor to implement a patient response rule that is responsive to (a) a predetermined patient response which is provided as patient input, or (b) no patient response provided by the patient within a selected interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification