MINIATURE REMOTE CONTROLLER FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20100318159A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel, Rahman, Md. Mizanur
• Application Number:
  US12/484,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318159A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• 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

Abstract

A miniature remote controller for an implantable medical device provides a subset of the functionality of a full-sized remote controller for the implantable medical device. The two remote controllers each have a user interface, which can be different from each other. A remote controller for an implantable medical device can have a coil for communicating with the implantable medical device, where the coil is wrapped around a coil axis parallel to a long axis of a housing of the remote controller. A user interface of the remote controller can have an indicator light to indicate success or failure of a communication with the implantable medical device and status of the implantable medical device. The housing of the remote controller can have two differently sized sections.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device,

a first hand held remote controller for communicating with the implantable medical device, the first remote controller having a housing of a first size and comprising a first user interface and for performing a first set of functions; and

a second hand held remote controller for communicating with the implantable medical device, the second remote controller having a housing of a second size and comprising a second user interface and for performing a second set of functions,

wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and

wherein the second set of functions comprises a subset of the first set of functions.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first user interface comprises a display, and

wherein the second user interface does not comprise a display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second user interface comprises:

a first user interaction element, disposed with the housing, configured to select one of a plurality of therapeutic program for the implantable medical device;

a second and a third user interaction element, disposed with the housing, configured to control a stimulation amplitude of the implantable medical device;

a fourth user interaction element, disposed with the housing, configured to turn the implantable medical device on and off; and

an indicator light disposed with the housing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of functions comprises:

modifying the amplitude of a stimulation generated by the implantable medical device; and

turning the implantable medical device on and off.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second set of functions further comprises:

selecting one of a plurality of therapeutic programs for the implantable medical device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second remote controller comprises an antenna, configured to communicate with the implantable medical device and a programming unit.

7. A remote controller for wirelessly communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing having a longest dimension along a long axis; and

a coil within the housing adapted for sending and receiving communications to and from the implantable medical device,

wherein the coil is wrapped around a coil axis parallel to the long axis of the housing.

8. The remote controller of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises:

a first section and a second section positioned along the long axis, wherein the first section is sized differently from the second section.

9. The remote controller of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a first section and a second section positioned along the long axis of the housing, wherein the first section is sized differently from the second section.

10. The remote controller of claim 7, wherein the housing has an elongated shape configured to provide a tactile feedback for indicating a correct orientation of the remote controller relative to the implantable medical device.

11. The remote controller of claim 7, further comprising a user interface for indicating status information.

12. The remote controller of claim 11,

wherein the user interface comprises an indicator light, and

wherein the indicator light is controlled to indicate success or failure of a communication with the implantable medical device.

13. A remote controller for wirelessly communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a user interface for indicating status information to a user, wherein the user interface comprises an indicator light, and

wherein the indicator light is controlled to indicate a first condition, comprising success or failure of a communication with the implantable medical device.

14. The remote controller of claim 13, wherein the indicator light is further controlled to indicate a retry period for retrying a failed communication with the implantable medical device.

15. The remote controller of claim 13, wherein the indicator light is further controlled to indicate a second condition, comprising a status of the implantable medical device.

16. The remote controller of claim 15, wherein the first condition and the second condition are simultaneously indicated by the indicator light.

17. The remote controller of claim 13, further comprising a replaceable battery,

wherein the indicator light is further controlled to indicate a status of the battery upon replacement.

18. The remote controller of claim 13, further comprising:

a user interaction element, configured to trigger a communication with the implantable medical device, wherein the user interaction element is configured to activate upon a predetermined activation force on the user interaction element.

19. A remote controller for wirelessly communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing having an axis, wherein the housing comprises a first section and a second section positioned along the axis of the housing, wherein the first section is sized differently from the second section; and

a coil within the housing for sending and receiving communications to and from the implantable medical device, wherein the coil is wrapped around a coil axis parallel to the long axis of the housing.

20. The remote controller of claim 19, further comprising:

a user interface for indicating status information to a user, comprising an indicator,

wherein the indicator is controlled to indicate a first condition, comprising success or failure of a communication with the implantable medical device

21. The remote controller of claim 20, wherein the indicator is an indicator light.

22. The remote controller of claim 20, wherein the indicator is a sound generator.

23. The remote controller of claim 20, wherein the indicator light is further controlled to indicate a second condition, comprising a status of the implantable medical device.

24. The remote controller of claim 20, wherein the first condition and the second condition are simultaneously indicated by the indicator.