Recordable macros for pacemaker follow-up

• US 20040143304A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hall, Jeffrey A., Kay, G. Neal
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

A device and method for programming an implantable pulse generator. In one embodiment, commands are entered designating implantable pulse generator programming variables into programmer memory. At least some of the commands are transformed into an executable macro. The macro is stored in the programmer memory. The macro is executed to transmit the programming variables to the implantable pulse generator.

Claims

1. A programmer for programming an implantable pulse generator comprising:

a programmer memory;

data entry means to enter implantable pulse generator programming variables into the programmer memory;

a processor to transform the entry of programming variables into an executable macro as the variables are entered and storing the macro in the programmer memory; and

a communication module to transmit the programming variables to the pulse generator when the processor executes the macro.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein a display shows the programming variables.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate data identifying the pulse generator to the programmer and wherein the processor also includes a module to particularize the macro in accordance with characteristics of the pulse generator.

4. The programmer of claim 3, wherein characteristics of the pulse generator are defined by programmable features of the pulse generator.

5. The programmer of claim 3, wherein the processor further includes a module for particularizing a macro to characteristics of a cardiac disorder.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a module to particularize a macro to perform an in vivo test.

7. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the communication module is adapted to receive measured data from the pulse generator indicative of the response of the patient to the in vivo test and to store that measured data in the programmer memory.

8. The programmer of claim 7, wherein a further communication module is provided to transmit the programming variables and the measured data indicative of the patient'"'"'s response to a reporting module for insertion into a report to present test results.

9. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor includes module means for checking if the programming variables to be transmitted to the pulse generator are protected from being overwritten.

10. A method of programming an implantable pulse generator, the method comprising:

entering commands designating implantable pulse generator programming variables into programmer memory;

transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro;

storing the macro in the programmer memory; and

executing the macro to transmit the programming variables to the implantable pulse generator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes storing generally consecutive keystroke entries made by a programmer operator on a keypad.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes storing generally consecutive entries made by a programmer operator with a computer mouse.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the macro to transmit the programming variables includes selectively downloading the programming variables from the programmer to the implantable pulse generator via telemetry for storage in memory of the implantable pulse generator.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein entering the programming variables into programmer memory includes displaying the programming variables.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes storing a series of data values entered into display fields by the programmer operator.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein executing the macro includes:

pre-loading the programming variables into the programmer memory;

selectively altering the programming variables in the display fields and programmer memory; and

transmitting the programming variables to the implanted pulse generator.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes creating a macro for each implantable pulse generator model programmed, and wherein executing the macro includes executing the macro when the programmer identifies the implantable pulse generator model in a subsequent programming session.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes transforming at least some of the procedural steps for entering programming variables for treating a cardiac disorder, and wherein executing the macro includes executing the stored macro when the programmer identifies a patient is afflicted with that cardiac disorder.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes transforming at least some of the procedural steps for entering programming variables of a testing session of the implantable pulse generator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transforming at least some of the commands into an executable macro includes transforming at least some of the procedural steps for entering a range of test values for a testing session.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein executing the macro includes executing a plurality of macros comprising an order of tests to be performed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further includes exporting the order of the tests performed and test results from the programmer for insertion into a post-session follow-up communication presenting the test results.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein exporting the order of the tests and the test results includes transferring the information between devices implementing different operating systems.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the post-session follow-up communication includes a letter containing a predefined text body.

25. A computer readable media including instructions for performing the method of claim 10.

26. A method of programming an implantable pulse generator, the method comprising:

receiving data identifying the implantable pulse generator by an external programming device;

loading a script file previously stored according to the identifying data into memory of the programming device;

executing the script file to pre-load programming variables into the memory of a programming device; and

selectively transmitting the programming variables via telemetry from the programming device to the implantable pulse generator for storage in memory of the implantable pulse generator.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading at least one previously stored script file corresponding to the data identifying the implantable pulse generator.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading at least one previously stored script file corresponding to a model type of the implantable pulse generator.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading at least one previously stored script file corresponding to a cardiac disorder of a patient.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file particularized to programmable features of the implantable pulse generator.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file corresponding to a physician'"'"'s preferences for pulse generator programming variables.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file corresponding to preferences of a physician for an implantable pulse generator model.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file corresponding to preferences of a physician for a cardiac disorder.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file corresponding to one of a plurality of tests to be performed.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein loading a script file includes loading a script file containing a plurality of tests ordered according to a physician'"'"'s preference.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further includes extracting the order of the plurality of tests and the test results from the programmer for insertion into a post-session follow-up communication.

37. A computer readable media including instructions for performing the method of claim 26.