Medical device programmer with selective disablement of display during telemetry

• US 20050075688A1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phillips, William C., Forsberg, John W., Olson, David P., Schommer, Mark E., Nelson, Steve J., Lewis, Charles R. Jr., Toy, Alex C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating telemetry in a programmer for a medical device; and

disabling a display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling electronics associated with the display during the telemetry.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display resides on a circuit board with circuitry to drive the display, and disabling the display includes disabling the display and the circuitry.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry is not activated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an implantable neursotimulator, and wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna and a telemetry circuit to transmit signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and process signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry is not activated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and a telemetry circuit to perform telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the external antenna.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and a telemetry circuit to perform telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, the method further comprising disabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the internal antenna.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna and a telemetry circuit on a fit circuit board and the display on a second circuit board.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture, and the programmer includes a battery bay extending at least partially into the aperture.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the telemetry circuit is coupled to an external antenna via a cable, the method including selectively communicating with a medical device via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an implanted neurostimulator.

12. A programmer comprising:

an antenna coupled to a programmer housing;

telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with a medical device via the internal antenna;

a display within the housing to present information; and

control circuitry to disable the display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference.

13. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry disables circuitry associated with the display during the telemetry.

14. The programmer of claim 13, wherein the display resides on a circuit board with circuitry to drive the display, and the control circuitry disables the display includes disabling the display and the circuitry.

15. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry is not activated.

16. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, and wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna and a telemetry circuit to transmit signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and process signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, and wherein the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry is not activated.

17. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and a telemetry circuit to perform telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, and the control circuitry enables the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the external antenna.

18. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and a telemetry circuit to perform telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, and the control circuitry disables the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the internal antenna.

19. The programmer of claim 18, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

20. The programmer of claim 18, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna and a telemetry circuit on a first circuit board and the display on a second circuit board.

21. The programmer of claim 20, wherein the telemetry circuit is coupled to an external antenna via a cable, and the control circuitry selects one of the internal antenna and the external antenna for telemetry with the medical device.

23. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the medical device is an implanted neurostimulator.

24. A method comprising:

activating telemetry circuitry in a programmer for an implantable neurostimulator;

communicating with the neurostimulator via the telemetry circuitry; and

disabling a display in the programmer during communication via the telemetry circuitry to reduce electrical interference.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the programmer is a handheld, portable device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, and the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and processes signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry is not activated.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, the method further comprising enabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the external antenna and disabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the internal antenna.

28. A programmer for an implantable neurostimulator, the programmer comprising:

an antenna coupled to a programmer housing;

telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with the neurostimulator via the internal antenna;

a display within the housing to present information; and

control circuitry to disable the display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference.

29. The programmer of claim 28, wherein the programmer is a handheld, portable device.

30. The programmer of claim 28, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, and the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna and processes signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the internal antenna, the control circuitry enabling the display when the telemetry circuitry is not activated.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the programmer includes an internal antenna, an external antenna, and the telemetry circuitry performs telemetry via one of the internal antenna and the external antenna, the control circuitry enabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the external antenna and disabling the display when the telemetry circuit performs telemetry via the internal antenna.

32. A system comprising:

an implantable neurostimulator; and

a programmer for the neurostimulator, the programmer including an antenna coupled to a programmer housing, telemetry circuitry within the housing to perform telemetry with the neurostimulator via the internal antenna, a display within the housing to present information, and control circuitry to disable the display in the programmer during the telemetry to reduce electrical interference.