Handheld medical device programmer

• US 8,663,103 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Causey, James D. III, Purvis, Richard E., Henke, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US11/684,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,549 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 : by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 : Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A medical device module for use in a system with a remote programmer and/or a personal data assistant (PDA) with at least one medical device includes a housing, at least one medical device and a processor. The housing is adapted to couple with the PDA. The at least one medical device interface is coupled to the housing for interfacing with the at least one medical device. The processor is coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process data from the at least one medical device. The processor is also capable of interfacing with the PDA.

Claims

1. A remote handheld medical device programmer comprising:

a medical device module comprising;

a module housing;

a medical device interface coupled to the module housing and configured to interface with an implantable medical device that delivers therapy to a patient, the medical device interface including a receiver to wirelessly receive data from the implantable medical device; and

a module processor coupled to the medical device interface to process data from the medical device;

a programmer processor to interface with the module processor;

a programmer housing adapted to removably receive the module housing and operatively couple the medical device module to the programmer processor; and

at least one user interface to at least one of display data received from the medical device or receive input from a user,

wherein the medical device module is configured to program the implantable medical device.

2. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface comprises at least one of a keypad interface or a display.

3. The remote handheld programmer of claim 2, wherein the display includes an interactive touch-screen.

4. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface provides data to the user via a non-visual signal.

5. The remote handheld programmer of claim 4, wherein the non-visual signal comprises an audio signal or a vibration of at least a portion of the remote programmer.

6. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the module processor is configured to at least one of analyze data from the medical device, calibrate the medical device, present data to the user via the user interface for review or analysis, provide instructions to the user via the user interface or provide warnings or alarms to the user.

7. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the module processor receives parameters for the medical device module from the user via the user interface.

8. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the medical device module further comprises a power supply contained within the module housing.

9. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the medical device module further comprises a memory to store at least one of data from the medical device or programs for the medical device.

10. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises at least one of an infusion device, a characteristic monitor, a characteristic sensor, a pacemaker, an analyte sensor patch or a neurostimulator.

11. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the medical device module comprises a contact for measuring a characteristic of the patient.

12. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the programmer processor to transmit data to a data receiving device.

13. The remote handheld programmer of claim 12, wherein the remote programmer transmits data to the data receiving device via a wireless signal.

14. The remote handheld programmer of claim 12, wherein the transmitter transmits data to the data receiving device through a relay device between the transmitter and the data receiving device.

15. The remote handheld programmer of claim 14, wherein the relay device is configured to amplify the wireless signal from the transmitter to increase a communication range between the transmitter and the data receiving device.

16. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the receiver of the medical device interface of the medical device module is configured to receive sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a sensor, wherein the sensor data signals indicate a quantity of an analyte of a user over a period of time and the module processor coupled to the interface processes the sensor data signals, the medical device module further comprising a characteristic meter within the module housing to receive and test a discrete sample of the analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte independently of the sensor, wherein the module processor is coupled to the receiver and the characteristic meter to process the quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the sensor data signals from the sensor.

17. The remote handheld programmer of claim 16, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the receiver intermittently.

18. The remote handheld programmer of claim 16, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the receiver near nearly continuously.

19. The remote handheld programmer of claim 16, wherein the user interface displays the quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the processed sensor data signals from the sensor.

20. The remote handheld programmer of claim 16, wherein the module processor processes the sensor data signals from the receiver to determine when the characteristic meter is to calibrate the sensor data signals.

21. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises at least one of an infusion device, a pacemaker or a neurostimulator.

22. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the programmer housing defines a slot configured to receive the module housing.

23. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises an infusion pump that delivers fluid according to delivery parameters, and the medical device module is configured to update the delivery parameters.

24. The remote handheld programmer of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a first implantable medical device and the receiver of the medical device interface is configured to wirelessly receive data from a sensor that produces a signal indicative of a characteristic of the patient.