Medical device programmer with adjustable kickstand

• US 8,352,034 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Berg, Richard O., Herman, Gerald M., Marchesin, Danilo
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/098,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 162/84, 163/40, 163/42, 235/383
• US Class Current: 607/32
• 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: H05K 5/00 Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof

Abstract

A programmer for an implantable medical device includes an adjustable kickstand. In one example, the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in an upright position when the kickstand is fully-collapsed to support the programmer in a reclined position when the kickstand is fully-extended. Further, the programmer housing may include a fan grate that allows airflow from a cooling fan to pass through the programmer housing. The fan grate is positioned behind the kickstand when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position. The kickstand includes an aperture adjacent the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, the aperture allowing airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position.

Claims

1. A medical device programmer comprising:

a telemetry module that wirelessly communicates with an implantable medical device (IMD) that delivers therapy to a patient;

a processor that communicates with the IMD via the telemetry module;

a user interface including a display that displays data received from the IMD and receives input from a user;

a memory that stores selectable patient therapy parameters for the IMD;

a programmer housing with a base below the display; and

an adjustable kickstand on a side of the programmer housing that opposes the display,

wherein the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in a upright position when the kickstand is fully-collapsed, and

wherein the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in a reclined position when the kickstand is fully-extended.

2. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising a friction hinge that connects the kickstand to the programmer housing.

3. The programmer of claim 2, wherein the friction hinge provides infinite adjustability between the upright and reclined positions.

4. The programmer of claim 3, wherein the display comprises a touchscreen, and wherein friction hinge provide sufficient opening resistance at every position between the upright position and the reclined position to allow a user to provide user inputs to the programmer by pressing on the touch screen without causing the kickstand to extend further when the programmer is supported by base and the kickstand on a flat surface.

5. The programmer of claim 2, wherein the friction hinge provides a greater opening resistance than closing resistance.

6. The programmer of claim 5, wherein the opening resistance is at least 50 percent greater than the closing resistance of the friction hinge.

7. The programmer of claim 1, wherein when the programmer is supported by on a flat surface in the upright position with the kickstand fully-collapsed, the display is at an angle of about 80 degrees to about 90 degrees the flat surface.

8. The programmer of claim 1, wherein when the programmer is supported by the kickstand and the base on a flat surface in the reclined position with the kickstand fully-extended, the display is at an angle of less than about 45 degrees to the flat surface.

9. The programmer of claim 1,

wherein when the programmer is supported by the kickstand and the base on a flat surface in the upright position with the kickstand fully-collapsed, the display is at an angle of about 80 degrees to about 90 degrees the flat surface,

wherein when the programmer is supported by the kickstand and the base on the flat surface in the reclined position with the kickstand fully-extended, the display is at an angle of less than about 45 degrees to the flat surface, and

wherein the kickstand provides infinite adjustability between the upright and reclined positions.

10. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the base includes a convex outer surface that provides an about consistent contact surface area to support the programmer at any angle between the upright position and the reclined position.

11. The programmer of claim 10, wherein the base includes at least two feet formed from a molded elastomer, wherein the feet combine to form the convex outer surface of the base.

12. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the programmer housing includes a metal mounting plate, the programmer further comprising:

a hinge connecting the kickstand to the programmer housing,

hinge mounting screws that secure the hinge to the metal mounting plate, wherein the hinge is in direct contact with the metal mounting plate when secured to the metal mounting plate by the hinge mounting screws.

13. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the kickstand includes a metal insert that extends substantially the entire length of the kickstand, wherein the metal insert forms a Kensington security slot.

14. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one of a group consisting of:

analyze data from the IMD;

calibrate the IMD;

present data to the user via the user interface for review or analysis;

provide instructions to the user via the user interface;

provide alarms to the user via the user interface;

store selectable therapy delivery and/or sensing parameters of the IMD in the memory;

provide an indication of therapy delivery parameters selected by the user to the IMD via the telemetry module; and

store a therapy delivery and/or sensing history of the IMD in the memory.

15. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the programmer includes one or more interfaces selected from a group consisting of:

a computer expansion card slot;

a docking station connector;

a barcode reader;

a video interface;

a computer networking port;

a peripheral device interface;

an audio jack; and

a power supply jack.

16. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touchscreen display configured to receive input from the user.

17. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising a cooling fan to cool electronic components of the programmer;

wherein the programmer housing includes a fan grate that allows airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the programmer housing,

wherein the fan grate is positioned behind the kickstand when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, and

wherein the kickstand includes an aperture adjacent the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, the aperture allowing airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position.

18. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) that delivers therapy to a patient; and

a medical device programmer, the medical device programmer comprising;

a telemetry module that wirelessly communicates with the IMD;

a processor that communicates with the IMD via the telemetry module;

a user interface including a display that displays data received from the IMD and receives input from a user;

a memory that stores selectable patient therapy parameters for the IMD;

a programmer housing with a base below the display; and

an adjustable kickstand on a side of the programmer housing that opposes the display,

wherein the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in a upright position when the kickstand is fully-collapsed, and

wherein the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in a reclined position when the kickstand is fully-extended.

19. A medical device programmer comprising:

a telemetry module that wirelessly communicates with an implantable medical device (IMD) that delivers therapy to a patient;

a processor that communicates with the IMD via the telemetry module;

a user interface including a display that displays data received from the IMD and receives input from a user;

a memory that stores selectable patient therapy parameters for the IMD;

a programmer housing with a base below the display;

an adjustable kickstand on a side of the programmer housing that opposes the display; and

a cooling fan to cool electronic components of the programmer;

wherein the programmer housing includes a fan grate that allows airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the programmer housing,

wherein the fan grate is positioned behind the kickstand when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, and

wherein the kickstand includes an aperture adjacent the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, the aperture allowing airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position.

20. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the fan grate serves as an airflow outlet.