Therapy management techniques for an implantable medical device

• US 20020087114A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hartlaub, Jerome T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically adjusting drug infusion rate to optimize treatment therapy. The implantable medical device communicates with a database or algorithm controlled by a caregiver or physician. Thus, the caregiver may request a therapy change (e.g., infusion rate versus time, pump clock settings, etc.) or a therapy management module may automatically activate the therapy change at some future time for convenience, or for technical or clinical reasons.

Claims

1. A computing device in communication with an implantable device for delivering therapy a patient, the device having a a therapy monitor module configured to monitor at least one performance parameter, the computing device comprising in combination:

(a) a therapy management module for determining management of medical therapy based upon the performance parameter from the therapy monitor module;

(b) a memory for storing therein the therapy management module and at least one requirement parameter; and

(c) a telemetry module providing bi-directional communication between the computing device and the implantable device.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the requirement parameter stored in the memory is selected from the group consisting of device manufacturer requirements, patient requirements, and physician requirements.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the therapy management module includes a therapy management algorithm to manage the therapy to the patient.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the therapy management module is capable of contacting at least one entity, wherein the entity is selected from the group consisting of a pharmacy, a caregiver, a physician, a hospital, and the patient.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is operatively coupled to the entity via a computing network.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the computing network is an Internet.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of deciding whether a therapy issue should be reported is performed by a therapy management algorithm.

7. A system for providing treatment therapy to a patient comprising in combination:

(a) an implantable device comprising;

i) a housing;

ii) electronics contained in the housing for adjusting the therapy provided by the implantable device;

iii) a telemetry module coupled to the electronics for providing bi-directional communication between the delivery device and an external programmer;

iv) a first memory coupled to the electronics; and

v) a therapy monitor module coupled to the electronics, the therapy monitor configured to monitor at least one performance parameter; and

(b) an external programmer comprising

i) a second memory for storing at least one requirements parameter;

ii) a telemetry module providing bi-directional communication between the external programmer and the implantable device; and

iii) a therapy management module stored in the second memory for determining management of the medical therapy provided by the implantable device.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

(c) at least one entity selected from the group consisting of an insurance provider, a pharmacy, a hospital, a caregiver, a physician, and a device manufacturer; and

(d) a computing network coupling the external programmer to the entity.

9. An implantable drug delivery device having a performance data reporting feature, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a drug reservoir carried in the housing configured to contain a therapeutic substance;

(c) a flow control coupled to the drug reservoir for controlling the flow of the therapeutic substance from the drug reservoir through an infusion port;

(d) electronics coupled to the flow control and a power source;

(e) a telemetry module coupled to the electronics;

(f) memory coupled to the electronics, the memory containing pump performance acquisition instructions;

(g) at least one monitoring module coupled to the memory and the electronics that monitors at least one pump operation variable according to the pump performance acquisition instructions to produce performance data; and

(h) at least one reporting module coupled to the memory and the electronic, the reporting module configured to activate the telemetry module to report performance data.

10. The implantable drug delivery device of claim 9, wherein the monitoring module communicates via telemetry with therapy management module.

11. A method for reporting performance data of an implantable drug delivery device, comprising:

(a) establishing patient parameters;

(b) establishing a base therapy;

(c) performing the base therapy;

(d) acquiring patient data related to the base therapy;

(e) calculating at least one relationship among the patient parameters, base therapy, and patient data;

(f) deciding whether a therapy issue should be reported; and

(g) reporting the therapy issue from the implantable drug delivery device into a communications medium.

12. Computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 11.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of reporting the therapy issue includes the step of contacting a party selected from the group consisting of a pharmacy, a caregiver, a physician, a hospital, and the patient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of contacting is performed via a computing network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of contacting is performed via an Internet.