Medical device programmer with faceplate

• US 7,272,445 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• 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., Toy, Alex C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Natasha
• Application Number:
  US10/693,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 607/59, 607/60, 607/5, 607 43- 48, 607 30- 36, 607/145, 607/156, 128/897
• US Class Current: 607/36
• 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

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 medical device programmer comprising a first housing member, a second housing member, a display, a plate member attached to the second housing member, a first circuit board, and a second circuit board substantially enclosed within the first housing member and the second housing member, wherein the plate member covers at least a portion of the display and includes a transparent area that exposes the display for viewing, and the plate member is printed with information to identify a programmer type associated with the medical device programmer, and wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry and the second circuit board includes the display and display circuitry and wherein the second housing member defines an aperture for access to a software loading port, the plate member being sized to cover the aperture upon placement of the plate member on the second housing member.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is printed to include personalization information to identify a patient.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is printed to include personalization information to identify a clinic.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is printed with graphic information.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is printed with text information.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is molded to define one or more apertures to accommodate buttons extending outward from the programmer.

9. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the plate member is selected from one of a plurality of plate members having different configurations based on a match between the configuration of the plate member and a type of medical device programmer being assembled.

10. The programmer of claim 9, wherein the plate member configuration comprises a size, a shape, a printed graphic, and a number of apertures to accommodate input buttons extending outward from the programmer.

11. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising an infrared interface to receive changes to software executed by a processor within the programmer during an infrared communication session.

12. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising power control circuitry to reduce input voltage to a predetermined level to minimize noise levels within the programmer.

13. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

14. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the second circuit board includes control circuitry to drive the telemetry circuitry and the display circuitry.

15. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the first circuit board includes an internal antenna.

30. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the second housing member defines an aperture for access to a software loading port, the plate member being sized to cover the aperture upon placement of the plate member on the second housing member.

31. The programmer of claim 30, wherein the software loading port is a JTAG port.

7. A programmer comprising a first housing member, a second housing member, a display, and a plate member attached to the second housing member, wherein the plate member covers at least a portion of the display and includes a transparent area that exposes the display for viewing, and the plate member is printed with information to identify a programmer type associated with the medical device programmer, and wherein the second housing member defines an aperture for access to a software loading port, the plate member being sized to cover the aperture upon placement of the plate member on the second housing member.

8. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the software loading port is a JTAG port.

16. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is printed to include personalization information to identify a patient.

17. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is printed to include personalization information to identify a clinic.

18. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is printed with graphic information.

19. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is printed with text information.

20. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is molded to define one or more apertures to accommodate buttons extending outward from the programmer.

21. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the plate member is selected from one of a plurality of plate members having different configurations based on a match between the configuration of the plate member and a type of medical device programmer being assembled.

22. The programmer of claim 21, wherein the plate member configuration comprises a size, a shape, a printed graphic, and a number of apertures to accommodate input buttons extending outward from the programmer.

23. The programmer of claim 7, further comprising an infrared interface to receive changes to software executed by a processor within the programmer during an infrared communication session.

24. The programmer of claim 7, further comprising power control circuitry to reduce input voltage to a predetermined level to minimize noise levels within the programmer.

25. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

26. The programmer of claim 7, further comprising a first circuit board and a second circuit board substantially enclosed within the first housing member and the second housing member.

27. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry and the second circuit board includes the display and display circuitry.

28. The programmer of claim 27, wherein the second circuit board includes control circuitry to drive the telemetry circuitry and the display circuitry.

29. The programmer of claim 27, wherein the first circuit board includes an internal antenna.