System and method for remote programming of implantable cardiac stimulation devices
First Claim
1. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient, the system comprising:
- a central programmer device operative to generate and transmit programming signals for use in programming a stimulation device implanted within a patient, with the programming signals generated based, in part, upon a degree of direct medical supervision of the patient during programming of the device; and
a remote programmer device, for use in proximity to the patient, operative to receive and relay the programming signals transmitted by the central programmer device to the stimulation device of the patient to program the stimulation device with the programming signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To permit remote programming of implantable cardiac stimulation devices such as pacemakers, a central device programmer is provided in conjunction with a network of remote telemetry units for use in patient homes or in remote clinics. To reprogram a device implanted within a patient, a physician enters programming commands within the central programmer which relays the programming commands to a remote telemetry unit in proximity to the patient. The remote telemetry unit, in turn, forwards the programming commands to the implanted device. In this manner, the patient need not return to the physician for reprogramming of the device. Remote telemetry units may be provided within patient homes, clinics, hospital emergency rooms, hospital patient rooms, and the like. Depending upon the implementation, different levels of programmability may be permitted depending upon the degree of supervision of the patient. For an unsupervised patient, limited programmability is permitted. For a nurse-supervised patient, a greater degree of programmability is permitted. Finally, for a physician-supervised patient, a full range of programmability is permitted. In a specific example described herein, each remote telemetry unit includes minimal hardware and software components necessary to relay programming commands, diagnostic information, and other signals between the central programmer and the implanted device.
181 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient, the system comprising:
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a central programmer device operative to generate and transmit programming signals for use in programming a stimulation device implanted within a patient, with the programming signals generated based, in part, upon a degree of direct medical supervision of the patient during programming of the device; and
a remote programmer device, for use in proximity to the patient, operative to receive and relay the programming signals transmitted by the central programmer device to the stimulation device of the patient to program the stimulation device with the programming signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device, the system comprising:
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a central programmer device operative to generate and transmit programming signals for use in programming a stimulation device implanted within a patient;
a remote programmer device, for use in proximity to the patient, operative to receive and relay the programming signals transmitted by the central programmer device to the implantable cardiac stimulation device of the patient for programming the stimulation device with the programming signals; and
wherein the remote programmer device includes a Holter monitor operative to monitor and record surface electrocardiogram (ECG) signals.
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22. A system for remotely programming a plurality of implantable cardiac stimulation devices, the system comprising:
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a central programmer device operative to generate and transmit programming signals for use in programming selected ones of a plurality of implantable cardiac stimulation devices implanted within respective patients;
a plurality of remote programmer devices each for use with a respective one of the patients and operative to receive and relay the programming signals generated by the central programmer device to the implantable cardiac stimulation device of the respective patient; and
with the central programmer device also being operative to input an indication of a degree of direct medical supervision of the respective patient during programming of the implanted device of the respective patient and to control the generation of programming signals based upon the degree of direct medical supervision. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30)
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23. A method for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient using a central programmer device for generating programming signals and a remote programmer device for use in proximity to a patient for relaying programming signals to the implanted device, the method comprising the steps of:
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inputting into the central programmer device an indication of a degree of direct medical supervision of the patient during programming of the implanted device;
controlling the central programmer device to generate programming signals for use in programming the implanted device, with the generation of the programming signals controlled based upon the indicated degree of direct medical supervision of the patient;
transmitting the programming signals to the remote programmer device; and
relaying the programming signals from the remote programmer device to the implanted device for programming of the device with the programming signals.
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28. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient, the system comprising:
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means for locally inputting an indication of a degree of direct medical supervision of the patient during programming of the implanted device;
means for locally generating a set of programming parameters for use in programming the implantable cardiac stimulation device, with the programming parameters varying depending upon the degree of direct medical supervision of the patient;
means for transmitting the set of programming parameters; and
means, for use in proximity to the patient, for receiving and relaying the programming parameters to the implantable cardiac stimulation device to program the device.
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31. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient, the system comprising:
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a central programmer device operative to generate programming signals for use in programming a device implanted within a patient who is at a location remote from the local programmer device;
a remote programmer device, for use in proximity to the patient, operative to receive the signals from the central programmer device and to relay the programming signals to the stimulation device to program the stimulation device; and
a network system, coupled between the central programmer device and the remote programmer device, that controls communication therebetween.
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32. A system for remote programming of an implantable cardiac stimulation device implanted within a patient, the system comprising:
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means for locally generating a set of programming parameters for use in programming the implantable cardiac stimulation device;
means for transmitting the set of programming parameters via a computer network; and
means, for use in proximity to the patient, for receiving the programming parameters from the computer network and for relaying the programming parameters to the stimulation device to program the device.
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Specification