Device programmer with enclosed imaging capability
First Claim
1. A method of programming a heart stimulation device of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- radiating energy onto an area around the heart of the patient;
receiving energy reflected by the area around the heart;
producing an image signal representative of the received energy;
analyzing, with a processing device, the image signal to measure a response of the heart; and
producing, with the processing device and in response to the measured response, a signal encoding instructions for varying one or more stimulation parameters of the heart stimulation device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and electronic tools for imaging a chest region of a patient and communicating with a heart stimulation device used by the patient are disclosed. The electronic tool may include a communications device for sending and/or receiving signals encoded with information to and from the heart stimulation device. The tool may also include an imaging device for radiating energy onto the chest of the patient and receiving energy as it is reflected from the chest region to produce an image signal. The tool may include a display screen for showing an image of the chest area and/or the information received from the heart stimulation device. The tool may also include a processor for formulating and/or analyzing information sent to and/or received from the heart stimulation device. One method of using the electronic tool includes analyzing the image signal and/or received information to provide instructions to the heart stimulation device.
68 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of programming a heart stimulation device of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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radiating energy onto an area around the heart of the patient;
receiving energy reflected by the area around the heart;
producing an image signal representative of the received energy;
analyzing, with a processing device, the image signal to measure a response of the heart; and
producing, with the processing device and in response to the measured response, a signal encoding instructions for varying one or more stimulation parameters of the heart stimulation device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of programming a heart stimulation device of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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radiating, with an imaging device, energy onto an area around the heart of the patient;
receiving, with the imaging device, energy reflected by the area around the heart;
producing, with the imaging device, an image signal representative of the received energy;
receiving a first signal radiated by the heart stimulation device;
analyzing, with a processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communications device, the first signal to measure a response of the heart; and
producing, with the processing device and in response to the measured response, a second signal encoding instructions for varying one or more stimulation parameters of the heart stimulation device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for positioning an electrical lead of a heart stimulation device in a heart of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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radiating, with an imaging device at least partially within a first enclosure, energy onto an area around the heart of the patient;
receiving, with the imaging device, energy reflected by the electrical lead positioned in the heart;
producing an image signal representative of the received energy;
receiving, with a communications device at least partially within the first enclosure, an activity signal radiated from the heart stimulation device; and
displaying, on a display screen, a first representation of the image signal or a second representation of the activity signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:
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an imaging device that radiates energy onto the chest region and that detects energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal;
a communication device that sends to or receives from the heart stimulation device a first signal with encoded information; and
at least one display screen in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one display screen displays a representation of the image signal or displays information from the first signal sent from or received by the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
at least one processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the image signal to formulate information encoded on the first signal.
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14. The electronic tool of claim 13, wherein the first signal is received by the communications device, and wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the information encoded on the first signal received by the communications device to formulate the information encoded on a second signal radiated by the communication device.
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15. The electronic tool of claim 13, wherein the first signal is sent by the communications device, the electronic tool further comprising:
an input device for receiving input information from a user, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the information received by the input device to formulate the information encoded on the first signal.
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16. The electronic tool of claim 13, wherein the processing device extracts data from the image signal, the electronic tool further comprising memory that stores the data.
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17. The electronic tool of claim 13, wherein the processing device extracts data from the image signal, and wherein the first signal is sent by the communications device and the first signal comprises the extracted data to be stored by the heart stimulation device.
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18. The electronic tool of claim 12, wherein the imaging device comprises an ultrasound transducer array that radiates and receives ultrasound energy.
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19. The electronic tool of claim 12, wherein the communications device comprises a wire loop that radiates and receives magnetic signals.
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20. The electronic tool of claim 12, wherein the heart stimulation device has electrical leads located in the patient'"'"'s chest area that reflect energy radiated by the imaging device and wherein the imaging device detects the energy reflected by the electrical leads to produce an image signal that causes the electrical leads to appear on the display screen.
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21. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:
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means for radiating energy onto the chest region and detecting energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal;
means for radiating a first signal with encoded information onto the heart stimulation device; and
means for formulating the first signal based at least on the image signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:
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an enclosure;
an imaging device at least partially disposed within the enclosure that radiates energy onto the chest region and that detects energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal; and
a communication device at least partially disposed within the enclosure that sends to or receives from the heart stimulation device a first signal with encoded information. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
a display screen that is communicatively linked to the imaging device and that displays a representation of the image signal or a representation of the first signal.
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26. The electronic tool of claim 24, further comprising:
a processor that communicates with the imaging device to analyze the image signal and formulate the first signal that is sent to the heart stimulation device.
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27. The electronic tool of claim 24, wherein the first signal is received from the heart stimulation device by the communication device, the electronic tool further comprising:
a processor that communicates with the communication device to analyze the first signal and to formulate a second signal, wherein the communication device sends the second signal to the heart stimulation device.
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28. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:
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an imaging device that radiates energy onto the chest region and that detects energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal;
a communication device that receives a first signal with encoded information from the heart stimulation device; and
at least one processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the image signal or analyzes the information encoded on the first signal to formulate an instruction for the heart stimulation device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
at least one display screen in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one display screen displays a representation of the image signal and displays information from the first signal received by the communication device.
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30. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter an atrial-ventricle delay.
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31. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter a right ventricle-left ventricle delay.
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32. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter a synchronization of a septum-lateral wall displacement.
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33. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device measures an aortic flow from the image signal.
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34. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device measures an ejection fraction from the image signal.
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35. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the processing device measures a size of the heart of the patient from the image signal.
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36. The electronic tool of claim 28, wherein the instruction comprises a value measured by the processing device that is to be stored by the heart stimulation device.
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37. An electronic tool for communicating with a heart stimulation device and for imaging a chest region of a patient, the electronic tool comprising:
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an imaging device that radiates energy onto the chest region and that detects energy reflected by the chest region to produce an image signal;
a communication device that radiates a first signal with encoded information to the heart stimulation device; and
at least one processing device in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one processing device analyzes the image signal to formulate an instruction for the heart stimulation device that is encoded onto the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
at least one display screen in electrical communication with the imaging device and the communication device, wherein the at least one display screen displays a representation of the image signal and displays information from the first signal radiated by the communication device.
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39. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter an atrial-ventricle delay.
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40. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter a right ventricle-left ventricle delay.
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41. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device formulates the instruction to alter a synchronization of a septum-lateral wall displacement.
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42. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device measures an aortic flow from the image signal.
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43. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device measures an ejection fraction from the image signal.
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44. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the processing device measures a size of the heart of the patient from the image signal.
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45. The electronic tool of claim 37, wherein the instruction comprises a value measured by the processing device that is to be stored by the heart stimulation device.
Specification