Clinician programming system and method

• US 9,901,740 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
• Inventors: Drees, Scott, Kaula, Norbert, Iyassu, Yohannes, Leyh, Scott G., Polefko, Richard J., Trier, Stephen C., Yoder, Raymond L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Jr., Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/552,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 607 59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display

Abstract

In a method for programming an implantable device, an input is received at a user interface on a tablet-style clinician programmer. A first display signal is generated on the clinician programmer that updates content on a first display based on the received user input. The first display has a first size. A second display signal is generated for transmission to a secondary unit having a second display separate from the clinician programmer. The second display has a second size larger than the first size. The generating of the second display signal includes enhancing the content of the second display signal to provide a clear image on the second size display. The second display signal is transmitted from the clinician programmer to the second display.

Claims

1. A method for programming an implantable device, comprising:

receiving an input at a user interface on a tablet-style clinician programmer that is located in a non-sterile environment, wherein the received input includes a programming of the implantable device to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy for a patient, wherein the clinician programmer and the implantable device are in direct communication with each another;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a first display signal that updates content on a first display based on the received user input, the first display having a first size, wherein the first display signal includes information related to the programming of the implantable device;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a second display signal for transmission to a secondary unit having a second display separate from the clinician programmer, the second display being located in a sterile environment and having a second size larger than the first size, wherein the second display signal includes at least the information related to the programming of the implantable device;

transmitting the second display signal from the clinician programmer to the second display in a manner such that a first personnel in the sterile environment and a second personnel in the non-sterile environment can view the second display simultaneously, including viewing the information related to the programming of the implantable device; and

performing at least one of the following;

capturing audio via a microphone of the clinician programmer and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the secondary unit;

or

capturing audio via a microphone of the secondary unit and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the clinician programmer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the clinician programmer, a user input selectimg one of i) a mirroring mode that controls the first and second display signals to show the same content, and ii) an extended screen mode that controls the first and second display signals to show different content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal at the clinician programmer from the secondary unit with feedback relating to patient feedback, wherein the patient feedback is received from a patient feedback tool that is configured to be engageable by the patient in response to the electrical stimulation therapy.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising updating the first and second display signals based on the feedback.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the second display signal comprises generating the second display signal with a higher resolution than the first display signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing of the audio comprises establishing an electrical communication between the microphone of the clinician programmer and the speaker of the secondary unit or between the microphone of the secondary unit and the speaker of the clinician programmer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the clinician programmer is configured to program a pulse generator, and wherein the first display signal and the second display signal each contain programming parameters for programming the pulse generator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed via a Digital Video Interface (DVI).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed via a High-Definition Multimedia interface (HDMI).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display signal is generated to contain information that is not in the first display signal.

11. A method for programming an implantable device, comprising:

receiving an input via a user interface on a clinician programmer, the clinician programmer having a first display with a first size, wherein the clinician programmer is located in a non-sterile environment, wherein the received input includes a programming of the implantable device to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy for a patient, wherein the clinician programmer and the implantable device are in direction electronic communication with each other via;

medical implant communication service (MICS), Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a first display signal that updates content on the first display based on the received user input, wherein the first display signal includes information related to the programming of the implantable device;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a second display signal for transmission to a secondary unit located in a sterile environment, the secondary unit having a second display with a second size larger than the first size, wherein the second display signal includes at least the information related to the programming of the implantable device;

transmitting the second display signal from the clinician programmer to the second display in a manner such that a first personnel in the sterile environment and a second personnel in the non-sterile environment can view the second display simultaneously, including viewing the information related to the programming of the implantable device; and

performing at least one of the following;

capturing audio via a microphone of the clinician programmer and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the secondary unit;

or

capturing audio via a microphone of the secondary unit and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the clinician programmer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by the clinician programmer, a user input selecting one of i) a mirroring mode that controls the first and second display signals to show the same content simultaneously, and ii) an extended screen mode that controls the first and second display signals to show different content.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a signal at the clinician programmer from the secondary unit with feedback relating to patient feedback or surgeon feedback, wherein the patient feedback is received from a patient feedback tool that is configured to he engageable by the patient in response to the electrical stimulation therapy and updating the first and second display signals based on the feedback.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating of the second display signal comprises generating the second display signal with a higher resolution than the first display signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the capturing of the audio comprises conducting electrical communications between the microphone of the clinician programmer and the speaker of the secondary unit or between the microphone of the secondary unit and the speaker of the clinician programmer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the clinician programmer is configured to program an implantable pulse generator, and wherein the first display signal and the second display signal each contain programming information related to programming the implantable pulse generator.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting is performed via a Digital Video Interface (DVI) or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI).

18. A method for programming an implantable device, comprising:

receiving an input via a user interface on a clinician programmer configured to program an implantable pulse generator (IPG), the clinician programmer having a first display with a first size, wherein the clinician programmer is located in a non-sterile environment, wherein the clinician programmer and the implantable device are in direction electronic communication with each another via;

medical implant communication service (MICS), Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a first display signal on the clinician programmer that updates content on the first display based on the received user input, wherein the first display signal contains programming parameters for programming the IPG to generate an electrical therapy for treating a patient;

generating, by the clinician programmer, a second display signal for transmission to a secondary unit located in a sterile environment, the secondary unit having a second display with a second size larger than the first size, and wherein the second display signal mirrors the first display signal but with a greater resolution than the first display signal;

transmitting the second display signal from the clinician programmer to the second display in a manner such that a first personnel in the sterile environment and a second personnel in the non-sterile environment can view the second display simultaneously, including viewing the programming parameters for programming the IPG; and

performing at least one of the following;

capturing audio via a microphone of the clinician programmer and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the secondary unit;

or

capturing audio via a microphone of the secondary unit and playing the captured audio via a speaker of the clinician programmer.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a signal at the clinician programmer from the secondary unit with feedback relating to patient feedback or surgeon feedback, wherein the patient feedback is received from a patient feedback tool that is configured to be engageable by the patient in response to an electrical stimulation therapy.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising wherein the capturing of the audio comprises establishing a telecommunications link between the microphone of the clinician programmer and the speaker of the secondary unit or between the microphone of the secondary unit and the speaker of the clinician programmer.