TELEMETRY DEVICE FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAMMER

• US 20080140163A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Keacher, Jeffrey T., Houchins, Andrew H., Stone, Theodore J., Johnson, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US11/940,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140163A1
• 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 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

In general, the disclosure is directed towards a small telemetry device with a limited user interface that allows a patient to program an implantable medical device. The user interface may comprise a safe mode button. In some embodiments, a consumer electronic device with a more complex user interface may communicate with the implantable medical device via the telemetry device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device configured to transmit and receive information according to a first communication protocol;

a telemetry device configured to program the implantable medical device and comprising;

a first housing;

a first transceiver disposed within the first housing and configured to transmit and receive information according to the first communication protocol;

a second transceiver disposed within the first housing and configured to transmit and receive information according to a second communication protocol; and

a consumer electronic device configured to program the implantable medical device and comprising a second housing separate from the first housing, the consumer electronic device being configured to transmit and receive information according to the second communication protocol,

wherein the consumer electronic device is configured to communicate with the implantable medical device via the telemetry device, and

wherein the telemetry device includes fewer programming features than the consumer electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry device comprises a user interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a safe mode button.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a button indicating an input relating to a programming change to the implantable medical device or a light emitting diode, and a function of the button is reprogrammable.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the implantable medical device delivers electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, and the user interface comprises a therapy increment button that increases at least one of amplitude, frequency or pulse width of the electrical stimulation therapy and a therapy decrement button that decreases at least one of the amplitude, frequency or pulse width of the electrical stimulation therapy.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the implantable medical device delivers fluid delivery therapy to a patient, and the user interface comprises a therapy increment button that increases at least one of frequency or bolus size of the fluid delivery therapy and a therapy decrement button that decreases at least one of the frequency or bolus size of the fluid delivery therapy.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry device has a length of less than or equal to approximately 12 centimeters (cm), a width of less than or equal to approximately 8 cm, and a height of less than or equal to approximately 3 cm.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the telemetry device has a length of less than or equal to approximately 8 cm, a width of less than or equal to approximately 4 cm, and a height of less than or equal to approximately 1 cm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer electronic device comprises a first user interface comprising more features than a second user interface of the telemetry device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a medical device programmer for programming the implantable medical device, wherein the medical device programmer is configured to communicate with the implantable medical device via the telemetry device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the telemetry device further comprises a third transceiver disposed within the first housing and configured to transmit and receive information according to a third communication protocol, wherein the medical device programmer is configured to transmit and receive information according to the third communication protocol.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device programmer is configured to transmit and receive information according to the second communication protocol.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a watchdog module, wherein the consumer electronic device to configured to periodically transmit a defined signal to the watchdog module, wherein the consumer electronic device is configured to transmit programming instructions to the telemetry device, and wherein the telemetry device to configured to transmit the programming instructions to the implantable medical device if the defined signal is uninterrupted and transmit alternative instructions to the implantable medical device instead of the programming instructions in response to an interruption in transmission of the defined signal.

14. A method comprising:

receiving an input from a user via a user interface on a consumer electronic device, the user input indicating a desired programming change to be implemented into an implantable medical device;

generating a programming signal based on the user input; and

transmitting the programming signal to a telemetry device via a first transmission signal according to a first communication protocol, the telemetry device comprising;

a first transceiver configured to receive the programming signal from the consumer electronic device; and

a second transceiver configured to transmit the programming signal to the implantable medical device according to a second communication protocol,

wherein the telemetry device is configured to program the implantable medical device independently of the consumer electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data from the implantable medical device; and

processing the data to determine whether an alert condition is present.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating the alert condition to at least one of the consumer electronic device or the telemetry device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating the alert condition to the user by activating a light emitting diode on the telemetry device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering the programming signal to the implantable medical device according to the second communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired programming change comprises converting an operation of the implantable medical device to a safe mode.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired programming change comprises adjusting a therapy parameter.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising periodically transmitting a defined signal to the telemetry device according to the first communication protocol, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit the programming signal to the implantable medical device according to the second communication protocol if transmission of the defined signal is uninterrupted and transmit alternative instructions to the implantable medical device instead of the programming signal in response to an interruption in transmission of the defined signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting alternative instructions to the implantable medical device instead of the programming signal comprises transmitting alternative instructions to the implantable medical device to place the implantable medical device in a known safe mode.

23. A method comprising:

positioning a telemetry device within an operative distance of a consumer electronic device;

positioning the telemetry device within an operative distance of an implantable medical device implanted within a patient, the telemetry device comprising;

a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive information from a medical device programmer according to a first communication protocol;

a second transceiver configured to communicate with the implantable medical device according to a second communication protocol; and

a user interface to receive an input from a user;

inputting a desired programming change for the implantable medical device into the consumer electronic device, wherein the telemetry device delivers a programming signal to implement the desired programming change to the implantable medical device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the consumer electronic device comprises at least one of a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.