US20100152815A1 - Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device - Google Patents

Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20100152815A1
US20100152815A1 US12/709,724 US70972410A US2010152815A1 US 20100152815 A1 US20100152815 A1 US 20100152815A1 US 70972410 A US70972410 A US 70972410A US 2010152815 A1 US2010152815 A1 US 2010152815A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
interrogation
remote
user
programming
schedule
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/709,724
Inventor
John P. Vandanacker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Medtronic Inc
Original Assignee
Medtronic Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/871,591 external-priority patent/US7565197B2/en
Application filed by Medtronic Inc filed Critical Medtronic Inc
Priority to US12/709,724 priority Critical patent/US20100152815A1/en
Publication of US20100152815A1 publication Critical patent/US20100152815A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61NELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/372Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
    • A61N1/37211Means for communicating with stimulators
    • A61N1/37252Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
    • A61N1/37282Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
    • GPHYSICS
    • G16INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16HHEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H40/00ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/60ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/67ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G16INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16ZINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G16Z99/00Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61NELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/372Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
    • A61N1/37211Means for communicating with stimulators
    • A61N1/37252Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
    • A61N1/37264Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
    • GPHYSICS
    • G16INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16HHEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H10/00ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data
    • G16H10/60ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to implantable medical device systems and more particularly to methods for remotely programming an implantable medical device (IMD).
  • IMD implantable medical device
  • One goal of a technology-based health care system that fully integrates the technical and social aspects of patient care and therapy is to connect the client with care providers irrespective of separation distance or location of the participants. While clinicians will continue to treat patients in accordance with accepted medical practice, developments in communications technology are making it ever more possible to provide medical services in a time- and place-independent manner.
  • Past methods of clinical services are generally limited to in-hospital operations. For example, if a physician needs to review the performance parameters of an implantable device in a patient, the patient normally had to go to the clinic. Further, if the medical conditions of a patient with an implantable device warrant continuous monitoring or adjustment of the device, the patient would have to stay in a hospital indefinitely. Such a continued treatment plan poses both economic and social problems. Under this scenario, as the segment of the population with implanted medical devices increases many more hospitals/clinics and service personnel will be needed to provide in-hospital service for the patients, thus escalating the cost of healthcare. Additionally the patients will be unduly restricted and inconvenienced by the need to either stay in the hospital or make very frequent visits to a clinic.
  • Yet another condition of the past practice requires that a patient visit a clinical center for occasional retrieval of data from the implanted device to assess the operations of the device, gather patient history for both clinical and research purposes and adjust operational settings as needed.
  • data is acquired by having the patient in a hospital/clinic to download the stored data from the implantable medical device.
  • this procedure may pose a serious difficulty and inconvenience for patients who live in rural areas or have limited mobility.
  • the patient will be required to come into the clinic or hospital to have the upgrade installed.
  • IMD implantable medical device
  • remote patient management system With the inherent advantages of a remote patient management system, potential risks associated with remote IMD programming capabilities include inappropriate programming of an IMD or an adverse response to programming changes occurring when a patient is not under medical supervision. Retrieval of data from the IMD may occur on a scheduled basis, which is generally controlled by timers included in a home monitor or programmer and the IMD. While data may be aquired frequently or even continuously by the IMD, data regarding device performance or physiological conditions may only be transferred to a centralized patient management system during scheduled follow-up interrogation sessions.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical device system in which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates typical components of the IMD shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of major functional components typically included in the external medical device shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functional aspects of a remote patient management system according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart summarizing steps included in a remote programming method for adjusting an IMD follow-up monitoring schedule according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the present invention is directed toward providing a method for adjusting a schedule for retrieving data remotely from an IMD.
  • the term “remote” as used herein with regard to programming and interrogation sessions refers to programming and interrogation operations being performed when the patient having an IMD being programmed or interrogated is not in the direct physical presence of a clinician or user performing the programming or interrogation session.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical device system in which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced.
  • a medical device system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an IMD 10 and an external medical device (EMD) 22 .
  • IMD 10 is shown implanted in the body of a patient 12 .
  • the present invention may be implemented for use with a variety of programmable IMDs, including cardiac stimulation devices, cardiac or other physiological monitoring devices, neurostimulators, implantable drug pumps, or the like.
  • IMD 10 is shown here as a cardiac stimulation device coupled to a set of leads 14 used for positioning electrodes and optionally other physiological sensors in operative relation to the patient's heart 16 .
  • Leads 14 are coupled to IMD 10 via a connector block 11 .
  • cardiac stimulation or monitoring devices with which the present invention may be employed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,186 (Olson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,352 (Klein et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,408 (Mulligan et al.).
  • IMD 10 is adapted for bidirectional telemetric communication with EMD 22 to allow data stored or being acquired by IMD 10 to be retrieved by EMD 22 during an interrogation or monitoring session.
  • EMD 22 is also used to transfer code, operating parameters, or other instructions to IMD 10 .
  • EMD 22 is sometimes referred to as a “home monitor” or “home programmer” since it is often located in a patient's home such that it is proximate the IMD 10 to enable communication sessions between EMD 22 and IMD 10 .
  • EMD 22 may alternatively be located in a hospital room, clinic or other location. Examples of external devices that may be located in a patient's home or in another remote location capable of telemetric communication with an IMD are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
  • EMD 22 may alternatively be embodied as a mobile device that may be worn or carried by the patient.
  • Programming commands or data are transmitted between an IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 and an external RF telemetry antenna 15 associated with the EMD 22 .
  • the external RF telemetry antenna 15 may be contained in a programmer RF head so that it can be located close to the patient's skin overlying the IMD 10 .
  • Such programmer RF heads are well known in the art. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,370 (Baker), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • the EMD 22 may be designed to universally program IMDs that employ conventional ferrite core, wire coil, RF telemetry antennas known in the prior art and therefore also have a conventional programmer RF head and associated software for selective use with such IMDs.
  • the external RF telemetry antenna 15 can be located on the case of the EMD 22 , and the EMD 22 can be located some distance away from the patient 12 .
  • RF telemetry antenna 15 may be integrated with EMD 22 , and EMD 22 may be located a few meters or so away from the patient 12 and utilize long-range telemetry systems.
  • Such long-range telemetry systems allow passive telemetry transmission to occur between IMD 10 and EMD 22 without patient interaction when IMD 10 is within a communication range of EMD 22 .
  • patient 12 may be active, e.g., partaking in normal household activities or exercising during a telemetry transmission.
  • Telemetry systems that do not require the use of a programmer RF head are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
  • the external RF telemetry antenna 15 operates as a telemetry receiver antenna, and the IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 operates as a telemetry transmitter antenna.
  • the external RF telemetry antenna 15 operates as a telemetry transmitter antenna
  • the IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 operates as a telemetry receiver antenna.
  • Each RF telemetry antenna is coupled to a transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver. Any of a number of suitable programming and telemetry methodologies known in the art may be employed such as the RF encoded telemetry signal system generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,453 (Wyborny et al.), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • EMD 22 is shown in FIG. 1 to be embodied as a home monitor or home programmer used in conjunction with IMD 10 .
  • EMD 22 generally includes a display 24 , user interface 26 , and a control system typically in the form of one or more microprocessors in addition to the telemetry circuitry described above.
  • a control system typically in the form of one or more microprocessors in addition to the telemetry circuitry described above.
  • embodiments of the present invention are not limited to being practiced with an IMD system wherein the external device functions as an associated programmer or home monitor.
  • the present invention may alternatively be practiced with an external medical device system wherein a bedside or portable device performs physiological monitoring or therapy delivery functions.
  • EMD 22 may alternatively be embodied as a bedside monitoring console that may include ECG monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation monitoring, carbon dioxide monitoring, or other physiological signal monitoring.
  • EMD 22 is associated with an internal or external medical device system
  • EMD 22 is provided with a communication link 28 that allows EMD 22 to receive information from and transfer information to a remote patient management system including a centralized programming instrument 32 .
  • Centralized programming instrument 32 may be located at a clinical center or other patient management facility and be part of an expert system used for remotely managing IMDs.
  • centralized programming instrument 32 is a dedicated, microprocessor-based device programmed to execute programming operations and coupled to a communication network.
  • Centralized programming instrument 32 is alternatively implemented as a web-based programming instrument accessible by an Internet-enabled computer system. Centralized programming instrument 32 may alternatively be implemented in programming code on a personal computer. Centralized programming instrument 32 is coupled to a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), telecommunications network, or the like, which allows communication link 28 to be established between central programming instrument 32 and EMD 22 . Centralized programming instrument 32 may communicate with EMD 22 via a host server 30 , which may be used to control remote programming protocols according to some embodiments of the present invention. Centralized programming instrument 32 may also be accessible from a secondary computer such as a physician's laptop or handheld device via the Internet or other computer network.
  • LAN local area network
  • WAN wide area network
  • telecommunications network or the like
  • a remotely programmable medical device system and associated remote programming methods may be embodied in a variety of systems, including multiple implantable devices, including various types of EMDs and telemetry systems used for communicating with the IMD(s), and various embodiments of a centralized programming instrument 32 and communication link 28 .
  • Centralized programming instrument 32 may be a dedicated instrument or may represent programming functionality implemented in software on an existing computer system or Internet-based web page.
  • Communication link 28 may be established via a modem connection or wireless communication technologies. Additional detailed descriptions of systems for remote management of implantable medical devices in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,346 (Nelson, et al.), U.S. Pat.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates typical components of IMD 10 shown in FIG. 1 .
  • IMD 10 contains timing and control circuitry 72 and an operating system that may employ microprocessor 74 or a digital state machine for timing, sensing and therapy delivery functions in accordance with a programmed operating mode.
  • IMD 10 also contains therapy/monitor 70 which may include sense amplifiers for detecting cardiac signals, patient activity sensors or other physiologic sensors for sensing the need for a therapy, and pulse generating output circuits for delivering cardiac stimulation pulses to at least one heart chamber under control of the operating system in a manner known in the art.
  • therapy/monitor 70 may include sense amplifiers for detecting cardiac signals, patient activity sensors or other physiologic sensors for sensing the need for a therapy, and pulse generating output circuits for delivering cardiac stimulation pulses to at least one heart chamber under control of the operating system in a manner known in the art.
  • the operating system includes memory registers or RAM/ROM 76 for storing a variety of programmed-in operating mode and parameter values that are used by the operating system.
  • the memory registers or RAM/ROM 76 may also be used for storing data compiled from sensed cardiac activity and/or relating to device operating history or sensed physiologic parameters for telemetry out on receipt of a retrieval or interrogation instruction. These functions and operations are known in the art, and generally employed to store operating commands and data for controlling device operation and for later retrieval to diagnose device function or patient condition.
  • RF telemetry antenna 13 is coupled to a telemetry transceiver 78 .
  • the telemetry transceiver 78 is coupled to control circuitry and registers operated under the control of microcomputer 74 .
  • the telemetry transceiver 78 is typically in a low-power state until being “woken-up” for a telemetry session. Telemetry transceiver 78 then operates in a high-power state for sending and receiving data.
  • Telemetry transceiver 78 may be woken up automatically at programmed intervals of time. One or more timers may be set such that upon expiration of a timer telemetry transceiver 78 wakes up and waits for communication from the EMD. A programmed follow-up interrogation schedule may be implemented using timers for causing the IMD telemetry transceiver 78 to automatically wake up at programmed intervals and wait for an interrogation request from the EMD. In some embodiments, telemetry transceiver 78 is manually woken up with the use of a magnet, tapping or other intervention by the patient or another caregiver.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of major functional components typically included in an EMD, such as EMD 22 shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the external RF telemetry antenna 15 on EMD 22 is coupled to a telemetry transceiver 86 , which includes an antenna driver circuit board having a telemetry transmitter and telemetry receiver.
  • the telemetry transmitter and telemetry receiver are coupled to control circuitry and registers operated under the control of microcomputer 80 .
  • Telemetry transceiver 86 is used for telemetric communication with IMD 10 .
  • EMD 22 further includes a communication module 82 , which may be a hardwired or wireless modem or other communication interface, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, 802.11, or the like, for coupling EMD 22 to a communications network to enable data to be transferred between EMD 22 and the centralized programming instrument or generally to a remote patient management system.
  • a communication module 82 may be a hardwired or wireless modem or other communication interface, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, 802.11, or the like, for coupling EMD 22 to a communications network to enable data to be transferred between EMD 22 and the centralized programming instrument or generally to a remote patient management system.
  • EMD 22 may be a personal computer type, microprocessor-based device incorporating a central processing unit 80 , which may be, for example, an Intel Pentium microprocessor or the like.
  • a system bus interconnects CPU 80 with a storage unit such as a disk drive, storing operational programs and data, and with a graphics circuit and an interface controller module.
  • An external storage unit such as a floppy disk drive or a CD ROM drive may also be coupled to the bus and is accessible via a disk insertion slot within the housing of EMD 22 .
  • EMD 22 may include solid-state memory for long-term storage of data.
  • a keyboard or other user interface 26 coupled to CPU 80 is optionally provided.
  • the primary communications mode may be through graphics display screen of the well-known “touch sensitive” type controlled by a graphics circuit.
  • a user of EMD 22 may interact therewith through the use of a stylus, also coupled to a graphics circuit, which is used to point to various locations on screen or display 24 which display menu choices for selection by the user or an alphanumeric keyboard for entering text or numbers and other symbols.
  • Various touch-screen assemblies are known and commercially available.
  • Display 24 and/or the user interface 26 allow a user to enter command signals to initiate transmissions of downlink or uplink telemetry and to initiate and control telemetry sessions once a telemetry link with an implanted device has been established.
  • Other types of user interaction mechanisms and electronics may be implemented such as voice recognition/response systems.
  • Display screen 24 is also used to display patient related data, menu choices and data entry fields used in entering the data or messages alerting a patient or user to pertinent programming or monitoring conditions. Display screen 24 also displays a variety of screens of telemetered out data or real time data. Display screen 24 may also display uplinked event signals as they are received and thereby serve as a means for enabling timely review of IMD operating history and status.
  • EMD 22 may also include an interface module, which includes a digital circuit, non-isolated analog circuit, and/or isolated analog circuit for coupling peripheral or accessory devices or instruments to EMD 22 .
  • the digital circuit enables the interface module to communicate with the interface controller module.
  • EMD 22 may be provided with a strip chart printer or the like coupled to interface controller module so that a hard copy of a patient's ECG, EGM, marker channel of graphics displayed on the display screen can be generated.
  • EMD 22 may be of the type generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,362 (Winkler), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functional aspects of a remote patient management system according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • the centralized programming instrument includes a processor 60 for executing programmable code controlling remote programming operations in conjunction with memory 64 .
  • a remote programming session will typically be initiated by a physician, nurse, medical technician or other authorized user, generally referred to hereafter as “user,” using the centralized programming instrument.
  • a user interface 66 is provided to allow the user to enter log in data, programming data and instructions, and view prompts or other responses provided by the centralized programming instrument.
  • the processor 60 determines if a user is authorized to perform remote programming of an IMD based on authorization data stored in memory 64 .
  • Authorization data queried by processor 60 for verifying that a remote programming session initiated by a user is authorized to proceed includes user authorization 92 .
  • a system administrator assigns user log in data and corresponding authorization for performing remote programming, stored in user authorization 92 .
  • a system administrator manages which users are authorized to access a remote scheduler 94 for adjusting the schedule for remote retrieval of IMD data during follow-up interrogation sessions.
  • Authorization data used by processor 60 for controlling a remote programming session may further include a patient list 90 linked to user authorization 92 .
  • the patient list 90 may include patient groupings according to a particular type of IMD, a particular type of diagnosis, having a common primary care physician, a particular risk stratification or other risk-related criteria.
  • a system administrator may determine various patient grouping criteria for which remote programming user authorization status is linked.
  • User authorization data 92 is entered and stored by a system administrator or other authorized personnel to indicate for which patients (or IMDs) a user is authorized to perform remote programming operations.
  • the patient list 90 and user authorization data 92 are queried by processor 60 to determine if a user is authorized to access scheduler 94 for adjusting the schedule for remotely retrieving data from the targeted patient/IMD.
  • Scheduler 94 represents code that allows a user to make adjustments to a remote IMD follow-up interrogation schedule.
  • Scheduler 94 may utilize a graphical user interface or web-based screens for presenting a calendar on which a user can select dates and times at which an IMD interrogation session is to occur.
  • a user may enter new interrogation sessions, move previously scheduled interrogation sessions to new times or dates, and/or cancel previously scheduled sessions.
  • Interrogation sessions may be scheduled to occur at a regular frequency according to a designated time interval, such as daily, weekly or monthly. Interrogation sessions may also be scheduled to occur at a variable frequency or irregular intervals. For example, a user may select weekly interrogation session for four weeks and monthly interrogation sessions thereafter.
  • Scheduler 94 may also allow the user to select which data is retrieved, such as monitored physiological data, therapy-related data, or device diagnostic data. Interrogation sessions may be scheduled to retrieve one type of data or a particular parameter according to one data retrieval schedule and another type of data or parameter according to another data retrieval schedule.
  • Adjustment to a follow-up interrogation schedule may also be programmed to occur automatically in response to data received from the IMD. For example, a user may program a schedule change to occur in response to a programmed level of a monitored physiological parameter or device-related parameter. In one embodiment, a user may program follow-up interrogation sessions to be scheduled at an altered frequency or time in response to data received from the IMD relating to therapy delivery. In another embodiment, a user may program follow-up interrogation sessions to be scheduled to occur at an altered frequency or time in response to a physiological parameter value received from the IMD.
  • Memory 64 may further include a remote programming log 96 for storing a history of remote programming sessions associated with a given patient or IMD.
  • a user may enter programming notations using user interface 66 for storage in log 96 along with scheduling changes, programmed parameter values, date and time information, patient location information, safety requirements, and other relevant data.
  • Memory 64 further includes allocated space for storing pending programmed parameter values 98 entered by a user but not yet transferred to a targeted EMD.
  • Pending parameter values may be stored for a defined interval of time controlled by the use of a timer 68 . Pending parameter values may be canceled if timer 68 expires prior to establishing communication with an EMD and/or verifying successful transfer of parameter values to a targeted IMD.
  • the remote programming system 50 includes a communication interface 62 for establishing communication with a targeted EMD for transferring user-entered parameter values and receiving parameter verification and/or programming confirmation transmissions from the EMD.
  • the various functional blocks represented in FIG. 4 may be included in centralized programming instrument 32 or distributed across a remote patient management system.
  • data stored in memory 64 may be included in a computer located in a clinic or on a server and accessed by a computer-implemented or web-based centralized programming instrument.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart summarizing steps included in a remote programming method for adjusting an IMD follow-up monitoring schedule according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • a remote programming session is initiated at step 105 .
  • the user enters remote programming log-in data using a user interface to gain access to the centralized programming instrument.
  • the user enters a secure username and password.
  • the user gains access to the centralized programming instrument via any implemented secure access protocol such as: a public key/private key protocol; biometric authentication methods which may include a retina scan, fingerprint, voice recognition, or facial image; a user-carried token or swipe card; timed random code or key card; or a predetermined specific series of commands. It is appreciated that numerous protocols may be implemented for allowing secure access of authorized users to the centralized programming instrument.
  • the user's identification is verified as an authorized remote programming user according to user authorization data entered by a system administrator. Some users may be allowed to gain access to a remote patient management system to view data, update patient records, or perform other non-programming functions.
  • the user selects the remote scheduler at step 115 . Verification of the user's authorization to make changes to scheduled remote follow-ups is performed at step 120 . If the user is not authorized access the remote scheduler, the follow-up scheduling method 100 is terminated at step 123 .
  • the user is presented with a patient list at step 125 .
  • the user selects a patient for which scheduling adjustments will be performed.
  • the list of patients presented to the user at step 125 includes patients for which the user is authorized to perform scheduling adjustments.
  • the user may select one or more patients from the presented patient list. In some cases, multiple patients may be selected simultaneously for particular scheduling changes, which may apply to numerous patients simultaneously.
  • the current follow-up schedule for the selected patient is displayed to the user.
  • the user enters desired changes to the follow-up schedule at step 135 .
  • Changes to the schedule may include the frequency of interrogation sessions, the time of day which interrogation sessions occur, and the data retrieved during a scheduled session.
  • the newly programmed follow-up schedule entered by the user is stored by the centralized programming instrument. Pending programmed values will be stored by the system until a communication link with the appropriate EMD is established.
  • the centralized programming instrument waits for a communication link to be established with the appropriate EMD.
  • the communication link between the centralized programming instrument and the EMD may be available continuously or accessible at any time.
  • a communication link may be established by the EMD on a scheduled basis to check for pending programmed values.
  • a communication link may also be established when the next scheduled interrogation session occurs with the IMD in accordance with a previously programmed interrogation schedule.
  • the centralized programming instrument may verify that the EMD is the appropriate EMD associated with the targeted patient and/or IMD identity for the pending schedule changes. Numerous methods for verifying a patient and/or device identification can be used, several of which are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/871,591, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • the programming request and scheduling data are transferred to the EMD at step 157 .
  • the EMD waits for a communication link to be established with the
  • the IMD “wakes up” the IMD telemetry circuitry according to a previously programmed scheduled basis and establishes a communication link with the EMD. In some embodiments, patient interaction is required to wake-up the IMD telemetry.
  • the pending programmed schedule is transmitted from the EMD to the IMD at step 165 .
  • a confirmation report is sent by the EMD to the centralized programming instrument at step 170 .
  • Confirmation of successful transmission of the programmed values between the EMD and the IMD can be performed according to telemetry protocols known in the art. Successful transmission may be verified according to protocols for monitoring signal strength, detecting transmission errors, lost data or other subroutines used to verify complete and accurate data transmission.
  • a remote programming log may be updated at step 175 , and the remote programming method is terminated at step 180 . The log is updated with the programmed parameters, a notation of the confirmation report receipt and any other relevant information.

Abstract

A method and system for remotely programming a medical device that includes generating a remote monitoring schedule; establishing a communication link between a centralized programming instrument and an external medical device; and transferring the remote monitoring schedule to the external medical device via the communication link. The remote monitoring schedule is transmitted to an implantable medical device via an established telemetry link between the implantable medical device and the external medical device.

Description

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/236,704, filed Sep. 27, 2005, now allowed, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,197 filed on Jun. 18, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates generally to implantable medical device systems and more particularly to methods for remotely programming an implantable medical device (IMD).
  • BACKGROUND
  • One goal of a technology-based health care system that fully integrates the technical and social aspects of patient care and therapy is to connect the client with care providers irrespective of separation distance or location of the participants. While clinicians will continue to treat patients in accordance with accepted medical practice, developments in communications technology are making it ever more possible to provide medical services in a time- and place-independent manner.
  • Past methods of clinical services are generally limited to in-hospital operations. For example, if a physician needs to review the performance parameters of an implantable device in a patient, the patient normally had to go to the clinic. Further, if the medical conditions of a patient with an implantable device warrant continuous monitoring or adjustment of the device, the patient would have to stay in a hospital indefinitely. Such a continued treatment plan poses both economic and social problems. Under this scenario, as the segment of the population with implanted medical devices increases many more hospitals/clinics and service personnel will be needed to provide in-hospital service for the patients, thus escalating the cost of healthcare. Additionally the patients will be unduly restricted and inconvenienced by the need to either stay in the hospital or make very frequent visits to a clinic.
  • Yet another condition of the past practice requires that a patient visit a clinical center for occasional retrieval of data from the implanted device to assess the operations of the device, gather patient history for both clinical and research purposes and adjust operational settings as needed. Such data is acquired by having the patient in a hospital/clinic to download the stored data from the implantable medical device. Depending on the frequency of data collection, this procedure may pose a serious difficulty and inconvenience for patients who live in rural areas or have limited mobility. Similarly, in the event a need arises to upgrade the software of an implantable medical device, the patient will be required to come into the clinic or hospital to have the upgrade installed.
  • Thus, there is a need to monitor the performance of the implantable devices on a regular, if not a continuous, basis to ensure optimal patient care. Further, there is a need to program an implantable device in response to such monitoring procedures to optimize the monitoring and therapy delivery functions of the implantable device. In the absence of other alternatives, this imposes a great burden on the patient if a hospital or clinic is the only center where the necessary frequent follow up, evaluation and programming of the medical devices could be made. Moreover, even if feasible, the situation would require the establishment of multiple service areas or clinic centers to provide adequate service to the burgeoning number of patients having implanted devices worldwide. Accordingly, it is vital to have a programmer unit that would connect to an expert medical center to provide access to expert systems and import the expertise to a local environment. This approach would enable unencumbered access to the implanted device or the patient.
  • To address these needs, a number of proposals have been made to enable remote programming and monitoring of an implantable medical device (IMD) from a centralized patient management system. Using modern communications technologies, data may be transferred from a centralized computer or server to a remote programmer located in the vicinity of a patient for transferring instructions received from the central location to the IMD.
  • With the inherent advantages of a remote patient management system, potential risks associated with remote IMD programming capabilities include inappropriate programming of an IMD or an adverse response to programming changes occurring when a patient is not under medical supervision. Retrieval of data from the IMD may occur on a scheduled basis, which is generally controlled by timers included in a home monitor or programmer and the IMD. While data may be aquired frequently or even continuously by the IMD, data regarding device performance or physiological conditions may only be transferred to a centralized patient management system during scheduled follow-up interrogation sessions.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Aspects of the present invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical device system in which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates typical components of the IMD shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of major functional components typically included in the external medical device shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functional aspects of a remote patient management system according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart summarizing steps included in a remote programming method for adjusting an IMD follow-up monitoring schedule according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • The following detailed description provides a practical illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. The present invention is directed toward providing a method for adjusting a schedule for retrieving data remotely from an IMD. The term “remote” as used herein with regard to programming and interrogation sessions refers to programming and interrogation operations being performed when the patient having an IMD being programmed or interrogated is not in the direct physical presence of a clinician or user performing the programming or interrogation session.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical device system in which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. A medical device system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an IMD 10 and an external medical device (EMD) 22. IMD 10 is shown implanted in the body of a patient 12. The present invention may be implemented for use with a variety of programmable IMDs, including cardiac stimulation devices, cardiac or other physiological monitoring devices, neurostimulators, implantable drug pumps, or the like. For the sake of illustration, IMD 10 is shown here as a cardiac stimulation device coupled to a set of leads 14 used for positioning electrodes and optionally other physiological sensors in operative relation to the patient's heart 16. Leads 14 are coupled to IMD 10 via a connector block 11. Examples of cardiac stimulation or monitoring devices with which the present invention may be employed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,186 (Olson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,352 (Klein et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,408 (Mulligan et al.).
  • IMD 10 is adapted for bidirectional telemetric communication with EMD 22 to allow data stored or being acquired by IMD 10 to be retrieved by EMD 22 during an interrogation or monitoring session. EMD 22 is also used to transfer code, operating parameters, or other instructions to IMD 10. EMD 22 is sometimes referred to as a “home monitor” or “home programmer” since it is often located in a patient's home such that it is proximate the IMD 10 to enable communication sessions between EMD 22 and IMD 10. EMD 22 may alternatively be located in a hospital room, clinic or other location. Examples of external devices that may be located in a patient's home or in another remote location capable of telemetric communication with an IMD are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,299 (Bourget), U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,104 (Nelson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,975 (Pool et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,645 (Warkentin et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,703 (Stanton et al.), all of which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. EMD 22 may alternatively be embodied as a mobile device that may be worn or carried by the patient.
  • Programming commands or data are transmitted between an IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 and an external RF telemetry antenna 15 associated with the EMD 22. The external RF telemetry antenna 15 may be contained in a programmer RF head so that it can be located close to the patient's skin overlying the IMD 10. Such programmer RF heads are well known in the art. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,370 (Baker), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The EMD 22 may be designed to universally program IMDs that employ conventional ferrite core, wire coil, RF telemetry antennas known in the prior art and therefore also have a conventional programmer RF head and associated software for selective use with such IMDs.
  • Alternatively, the external RF telemetry antenna 15 can be located on the case of the EMD 22, and the EMD 22 can be located some distance away from the patient 12. For example, RF telemetry antenna 15 may be integrated with EMD 22, and EMD 22 may be located a few meters or so away from the patient 12 and utilize long-range telemetry systems. Such long-range telemetry systems allow passive telemetry transmission to occur between IMD 10 and EMD 22 without patient interaction when IMD 10 is within a communication range of EMD 22. Thus, patient 12 may be active, e.g., partaking in normal household activities or exercising during a telemetry transmission. Telemetry systems that do not require the use of a programmer RF head are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,317 (Villaseca et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,925 (Villaseca et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,154 (Haubrich et al.), all of which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • In an uplink telemetry transmission, the external RF telemetry antenna 15 operates as a telemetry receiver antenna, and the IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 operates as a telemetry transmitter antenna. Conversely, in a downlink telemetry transmission, the external RF telemetry antenna 15 operates as a telemetry transmitter antenna, and the IMD RF telemetry antenna 13 operates as a telemetry receiver antenna. Each RF telemetry antenna is coupled to a transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver. Any of a number of suitable programming and telemetry methodologies known in the art may be employed such as the RF encoded telemetry signal system generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,453 (Wyborny et al.), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • EMD 22 is shown in FIG. 1 to be embodied as a home monitor or home programmer used in conjunction with IMD 10. EMD 22 generally includes a display 24, user interface 26, and a control system typically in the form of one or more microprocessors in addition to the telemetry circuitry described above. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to being practiced with an IMD system wherein the external device functions as an associated programmer or home monitor. The present invention may alternatively be practiced with an external medical device system wherein a bedside or portable device performs physiological monitoring or therapy delivery functions. For example, EMD 22 may alternatively be embodied as a bedside monitoring console that may include ECG monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation monitoring, carbon dioxide monitoring, or other physiological signal monitoring.
  • Whether EMD 22 is associated with an internal or external medical device system, EMD 22 is provided with a communication link 28 that allows EMD 22 to receive information from and transfer information to a remote patient management system including a centralized programming instrument 32. Centralized programming instrument 32 may be located at a clinical center or other patient management facility and be part of an expert system used for remotely managing IMDs. In one embodiment, centralized programming instrument 32 is a dedicated, microprocessor-based device programmed to execute programming operations and coupled to a communication network.
  • Centralized programming instrument 32 is alternatively implemented as a web-based programming instrument accessible by an Internet-enabled computer system. Centralized programming instrument 32 may alternatively be implemented in programming code on a personal computer. Centralized programming instrument 32 is coupled to a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), telecommunications network, or the like, which allows communication link 28 to be established between central programming instrument 32 and EMD 22. Centralized programming instrument 32 may communicate with EMD 22 via a host server 30, which may be used to control remote programming protocols according to some embodiments of the present invention. Centralized programming instrument 32 may also be accessible from a secondary computer such as a physician's laptop or handheld device via the Internet or other computer network.
  • It is recognized that a remotely programmable medical device system and associated remote programming methods provided by the present invention may be embodied in a variety of systems, including multiple implantable devices, including various types of EMDs and telemetry systems used for communicating with the IMD(s), and various embodiments of a centralized programming instrument 32 and communication link 28. Centralized programming instrument 32, for example, may be a dedicated instrument or may represent programming functionality implemented in software on an existing computer system or Internet-based web page. Communication link 28 may be established via a modem connection or wireless communication technologies. Additional detailed descriptions of systems for remote management of implantable medical devices in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,346 (Nelson, et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,282 (Nichols), U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,655 (Linberg et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,433 (Linberg), all of which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates typical components of IMD 10 shown in FIG. 1. Major operative structures common to IMD 10 are represented in a generic format. IMD 10 contains timing and control circuitry 72 and an operating system that may employ microprocessor 74 or a digital state machine for timing, sensing and therapy delivery functions in accordance with a programmed operating mode. IMD 10 also contains therapy/monitor 70 which may include sense amplifiers for detecting cardiac signals, patient activity sensors or other physiologic sensors for sensing the need for a therapy, and pulse generating output circuits for delivering cardiac stimulation pulses to at least one heart chamber under control of the operating system in a manner known in the art. The operating system includes memory registers or RAM/ROM 76 for storing a variety of programmed-in operating mode and parameter values that are used by the operating system. The memory registers or RAM/ROM 76 may also be used for storing data compiled from sensed cardiac activity and/or relating to device operating history or sensed physiologic parameters for telemetry out on receipt of a retrieval or interrogation instruction. These functions and operations are known in the art, and generally employed to store operating commands and data for controlling device operation and for later retrieval to diagnose device function or patient condition.
  • Programming commands or data are transmitted between IMD 10 RF telemetry antenna 13 and an external RF telemetry antenna 15 associated with EMD 22, as described previously. RF telemetry antenna 13 is coupled to a telemetry transceiver 78. The telemetry transceiver 78 is coupled to control circuitry and registers operated under the control of microcomputer 74. The telemetry transceiver 78 is typically in a low-power state until being “woken-up” for a telemetry session. Telemetry transceiver 78 then operates in a high-power state for sending and receiving data.
  • Telemetry transceiver 78 may be woken up automatically at programmed intervals of time. One or more timers may be set such that upon expiration of a timer telemetry transceiver 78 wakes up and waits for communication from the EMD. A programmed follow-up interrogation schedule may be implemented using timers for causing the IMD telemetry transceiver 78 to automatically wake up at programmed intervals and wait for an interrogation request from the EMD. In some embodiments, telemetry transceiver 78 is manually woken up with the use of a magnet, tapping or other intervention by the patient or another caregiver.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of major functional components typically included in an EMD, such as EMD 22 shown in FIG. 1. The external RF telemetry antenna 15 on EMD 22 is coupled to a telemetry transceiver 86, which includes an antenna driver circuit board having a telemetry transmitter and telemetry receiver. The telemetry transmitter and telemetry receiver are coupled to control circuitry and registers operated under the control of microcomputer 80. Telemetry transceiver 86 is used for telemetric communication with IMD 10. EMD 22 further includes a communication module 82, which may be a hardwired or wireless modem or other communication interface, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, 802.11, or the like, for coupling EMD 22 to a communications network to enable data to be transferred between EMD 22 and the centralized programming instrument or generally to a remote patient management system.
  • EMD 22 may be a personal computer type, microprocessor-based device incorporating a central processing unit 80, which may be, for example, an Intel Pentium microprocessor or the like. A system bus interconnects CPU 80 with a storage unit such as a disk drive, storing operational programs and data, and with a graphics circuit and an interface controller module. An external storage unit such as a floppy disk drive or a CD ROM drive may also be coupled to the bus and is accessible via a disk insertion slot within the housing of EMD 22. EMD 22 may include solid-state memory for long-term storage of data.
  • In order for the physician, patient, or other caregiver or authorized operator to interact with the EMD 22, a keyboard or other user interface 26 coupled to CPU 80 is optionally provided. However the primary communications mode may be through graphics display screen of the well-known “touch sensitive” type controlled by a graphics circuit. A user of EMD 22 may interact therewith through the use of a stylus, also coupled to a graphics circuit, which is used to point to various locations on screen or display 24 which display menu choices for selection by the user or an alphanumeric keyboard for entering text or numbers and other symbols. Various touch-screen assemblies are known and commercially available. Display 24 and/or the user interface 26 allow a user to enter command signals to initiate transmissions of downlink or uplink telemetry and to initiate and control telemetry sessions once a telemetry link with an implanted device has been established. Other types of user interaction mechanisms and electronics may be implemented such as voice recognition/response systems.
  • Display screen 24 is also used to display patient related data, menu choices and data entry fields used in entering the data or messages alerting a patient or user to pertinent programming or monitoring conditions. Display screen 24 also displays a variety of screens of telemetered out data or real time data. Display screen 24 may also display uplinked event signals as they are received and thereby serve as a means for enabling timely review of IMD operating history and status.
  • EMD 22 may also include an interface module, which includes a digital circuit, non-isolated analog circuit, and/or isolated analog circuit for coupling peripheral or accessory devices or instruments to EMD 22. The digital circuit enables the interface module to communicate with the interface controller module. For example, EMD 22 may be provided with a strip chart printer or the like coupled to interface controller module so that a hard copy of a patient's ECG, EGM, marker channel of graphics displayed on the display screen can be generated. EMD 22 may be of the type generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,362 (Winkler), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functional aspects of a remote patient management system according to one embodiment of the invention. The centralized programming instrument includes a processor 60 for executing programmable code controlling remote programming operations in conjunction with memory 64. A remote programming session will typically be initiated by a physician, nurse, medical technician or other authorized user, generally referred to hereafter as “user,” using the centralized programming instrument. As such a user interface 66 is provided to allow the user to enter log in data, programming data and instructions, and view prompts or other responses provided by the centralized programming instrument.
  • The processor 60 determines if a user is authorized to perform remote programming of an IMD based on authorization data stored in memory 64. Authorization data queried by processor 60 for verifying that a remote programming session initiated by a user is authorized to proceed includes user authorization 92. A system administrator assigns user log in data and corresponding authorization for performing remote programming, stored in user authorization 92. In particular, a system administrator manages which users are authorized to access a remote scheduler 94 for adjusting the schedule for remote retrieval of IMD data during follow-up interrogation sessions.
  • Authorization data used by processor 60 for controlling a remote programming session may further include a patient list 90 linked to user authorization 92. The patient list 90 may include patient groupings according to a particular type of IMD, a particular type of diagnosis, having a common primary care physician, a particular risk stratification or other risk-related criteria. A system administrator may determine various patient grouping criteria for which remote programming user authorization status is linked. User authorization data 92 is entered and stored by a system administrator or other authorized personnel to indicate for which patients (or IMDs) a user is authorized to perform remote programming operations. In particular, the patient list 90 and user authorization data 92 are queried by processor 60 to determine if a user is authorized to access scheduler 94 for adjusting the schedule for remotely retrieving data from the targeted patient/IMD.
  • Scheduler 94 represents code that allows a user to make adjustments to a remote IMD follow-up interrogation schedule. Scheduler 94 may utilize a graphical user interface or web-based screens for presenting a calendar on which a user can select dates and times at which an IMD interrogation session is to occur. A user may enter new interrogation sessions, move previously scheduled interrogation sessions to new times or dates, and/or cancel previously scheduled sessions. Interrogation sessions may be scheduled to occur at a regular frequency according to a designated time interval, such as daily, weekly or monthly. Interrogation sessions may also be scheduled to occur at a variable frequency or irregular intervals. For example, a user may select weekly interrogation session for four weeks and monthly interrogation sessions thereafter. The time of day at which scheduled interrogation sessions occur may be fixed, variable or random. Scheduler 94 may also allow the user to select which data is retrieved, such as monitored physiological data, therapy-related data, or device diagnostic data. Interrogation sessions may be scheduled to retrieve one type of data or a particular parameter according to one data retrieval schedule and another type of data or parameter according to another data retrieval schedule.
  • Adjustment to a follow-up interrogation schedule may also be programmed to occur automatically in response to data received from the IMD. For example, a user may program a schedule change to occur in response to a programmed level of a monitored physiological parameter or device-related parameter. In one embodiment, a user may program follow-up interrogation sessions to be scheduled at an altered frequency or time in response to data received from the IMD relating to therapy delivery. In another embodiment, a user may program follow-up interrogation sessions to be scheduled to occur at an altered frequency or time in response to a physiological parameter value received from the IMD.
  • Memory 64 may further include a remote programming log 96 for storing a history of remote programming sessions associated with a given patient or IMD. A user may enter programming notations using user interface 66 for storage in log 96 along with scheduling changes, programmed parameter values, date and time information, patient location information, safety requirements, and other relevant data.
  • Memory 64 further includes allocated space for storing pending programmed parameter values 98 entered by a user but not yet transferred to a targeted EMD. Pending parameter values may be stored for a defined interval of time controlled by the use of a timer 68. Pending parameter values may be canceled if timer 68 expires prior to establishing communication with an EMD and/or verifying successful transfer of parameter values to a targeted IMD.
  • The remote programming system 50 includes a communication interface 62 for establishing communication with a targeted EMD for transferring user-entered parameter values and receiving parameter verification and/or programming confirmation transmissions from the EMD. The various functional blocks represented in FIG. 4 may be included in centralized programming instrument 32 or distributed across a remote patient management system. For example, data stored in memory 64 may be included in a computer located in a clinic or on a server and accessed by a computer-implemented or web-based centralized programming instrument.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart summarizing steps included in a remote programming method for adjusting an IMD follow-up monitoring schedule according to an embodiment of the invention. A remote programming session is initiated at step 105. The user enters remote programming log-in data using a user interface to gain access to the centralized programming instrument. In one embodiment, the user enters a secure username and password. In other embodiments, the user gains access to the centralized programming instrument via any implemented secure access protocol such as: a public key/private key protocol; biometric authentication methods which may include a retina scan, fingerprint, voice recognition, or facial image; a user-carried token or swipe card; timed random code or key card; or a predetermined specific series of commands. It is appreciated that numerous protocols may be implemented for allowing secure access of authorized users to the centralized programming instrument.
  • At step 110, the user's identification is verified as an authorized remote programming user according to user authorization data entered by a system administrator. Some users may be allowed to gain access to a remote patient management system to view data, update patient records, or perform other non-programming functions. After verifying the user authorization, the user selects the remote scheduler at step 115. Verification of the user's authorization to make changes to scheduled remote follow-ups is performed at step 120. If the user is not authorized access the remote scheduler, the follow-up scheduling method 100 is terminated at step 123.
  • If the user is authorized to access the remote scheduler, the user is presented with a patient list at step 125. The user selects a patient for which scheduling adjustments will be performed. The list of patients presented to the user at step 125 includes patients for which the user is authorized to perform scheduling adjustments.
  • The user may select one or more patients from the presented patient list. In some cases, multiple patients may be selected simultaneously for particular scheduling changes, which may apply to numerous patients simultaneously.
  • At step 130, the current follow-up schedule for the selected patient is displayed to the user. The user enters desired changes to the follow-up schedule at step 135. Changes to the schedule may include the frequency of interrogation sessions, the time of day which interrogation sessions occur, and the data retrieved during a scheduled session.
  • At step 140, the newly programmed follow-up schedule entered by the user is stored by the centralized programming instrument. Pending programmed values will be stored by the system until a communication link with the appropriate EMD is established. At step 150, the centralized programming instrument waits for a communication link to be established with the appropriate EMD. In some embodiments, the communication link between the centralized programming instrument and the EMD may be available continuously or accessible at any time. In other embodiments, a communication link may be established by the EMD on a scheduled basis to check for pending programmed values. A communication link may also be established when the next scheduled interrogation session occurs with the IMD in accordance with a previously programmed interrogation schedule.
  • Once a communication link is established, the centralized programming instrument may verify that the EMD is the appropriate EMD associated with the targeted patient and/or IMD identity for the pending schedule changes. Numerous methods for verifying a patient and/or device identification can be used, several of which are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/871,591, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • After verifying that the EMD with which a communication link has been established is the appropriate one for transferring the pending follow-up schedule, the programming request and scheduling data are transferred to the EMD at step 157. At step 160, the EMD waits for a communication link to be established with the
  • IMD. Generally the IMD “wakes up” the IMD telemetry circuitry according to a previously programmed scheduled basis and establishes a communication link with the EMD. In some embodiments, patient interaction is required to wake-up the IMD telemetry.
  • The pending programmed schedule is transmitted from the EMD to the IMD at step 165. After successfully transferring the scheduling data, a confirmation report is sent by the EMD to the centralized programming instrument at step 170. Confirmation of successful transmission of the programmed values between the EMD and the IMD can be performed according to telemetry protocols known in the art. Successful transmission may be verified according to protocols for monitoring signal strength, detecting transmission errors, lost data or other subroutines used to verify complete and accurate data transmission. After sending the confirmation report, a remote programming log may be updated at step 175, and the remote programming method is terminated at step 180. The log is updated with the programmed parameters, a notation of the confirmation report receipt and any other relevant information.
  • Thus, a medical device system and method for performing remote programming of a follow-up interrogation schedule have been presented in the foregoing description with reference to specific embodiments. It is appreciated that various modifications to the referenced embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. A method, comprising:
generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule;
establishing a communication link between a centralized programming instrument and an external medical device; and
transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule to the external medical device via the communication link.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
establishing a communication link between the external medical device and an implantable medical device; and
programming the remote follow-up interrogation schedule in the implantable medical device.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes storing scheduling data input by a user.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes one of adjusting an interrogation session frequency, adjusting an interrogation session time of day, selecting data to be retrieved during a remote follow up interrogation session, adding a new interrogation session to a previous remote follow-up interrogation schedule, and canceling a previously scheduled interrogation session.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a remote monitoring schedule includes displaying a calendar to a user.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising updating a remote programming log after transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule.
7. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes storing scheduling data input by a user.
8. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote follow-up interrogation schedule includes one of adjusting an interrogation session frequency, adjusting an interrogation session time of day, selecting data to be retrieved during a remote follow up interrogation session, adding a new interrogation session to a previous remote follow-up interrogation schedule, and canceling a previously scheduled interrogation session.
9. The method according to claim 2 wherein generating a remote monitoring schedule includes displaying a calendar to a user.
10. The method according to claim 2 further comprising updating a remote programming log after transferring the remote follow-up interrogation schedule.
US12/709,724 2004-06-18 2010-02-22 Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device Abandoned US20100152815A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/709,724 US20100152815A1 (en) 2004-06-18 2010-02-22 Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/871,591 US7565197B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2004-06-18 Conditional requirements for remote medical device programming
US11/236,704 US7697994B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2005-09-27 Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device
US12/709,724 US20100152815A1 (en) 2004-06-18 2010-02-22 Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/236,704 Division US7697994B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2005-09-27 Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100152815A1 true US20100152815A1 (en) 2010-06-17

Family

ID=37606850

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/236,704 Active 2027-07-02 US7697994B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2005-09-27 Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device
US12/709,724 Abandoned US20100152815A1 (en) 2004-06-18 2010-02-22 Remote Scheduling for Management of an Implantable Medical Device

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/236,704 Active 2027-07-02 US7697994B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2005-09-27 Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (2) US7697994B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2007038124A1 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110032107A1 (en) * 2008-10-31 2011-02-10 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Abnormality detecting device for heart assist device, method for detecting abnormality of heart assist device, and abnormality detecting program
US20130027186A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2013-01-31 Can Cinbis Ultralow-power implantable hub-based wireless implantable sensor communication
CN107077527A (en) * 2014-08-13 2017-08-18 艾韦尼克斯股份有限公司 Medical equipment management and anti-theft technique
CN108366130A (en) * 2018-03-12 2018-08-03 创领心律管理医疗器械(上海)有限公司 The stored program controlled and programmed control method of implanted electronic equipment
US10194816B2 (en) 2016-03-04 2019-02-05 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Reducing false positives in detection of potential cardiac pauses
US10631744B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2020-04-28 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. AF monitor and offline processing
US10827929B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2020-11-10 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Obtaining high-resolution information from an implantable medical device
US10850093B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2020-12-01 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Lead integrity monitoring
US10888702B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2021-01-12 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Progressive adaptive data transfer
US11083372B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2021-08-10 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Syncing multiple sources of physiological data

Families Citing this family (88)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8065161B2 (en) 2003-11-13 2011-11-22 Hospira, Inc. System for maintaining drug information and communicating with medication delivery devices
US9123077B2 (en) 2003-10-07 2015-09-01 Hospira, Inc. Medication management system
US8802183B2 (en) 2005-04-28 2014-08-12 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Communication system with enhanced partial power source and method of manufacturing same
US8730031B2 (en) 2005-04-28 2014-05-20 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Communication system using an implantable device
US8836513B2 (en) 2006-04-28 2014-09-16 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Communication system incorporated in an ingestible product
US8912908B2 (en) 2005-04-28 2014-12-16 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Communication system with remote activation
US9198608B2 (en) 2005-04-28 2015-12-01 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Communication system incorporated in a container
CA2608144C (en) 2005-04-28 2012-11-13 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. Pharma-informatics system
EP1920418A4 (en) 2005-09-01 2010-12-29 Proteus Biomedical Inc Implantable zero-wire communications system
US20070185545A1 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-09 Medtronic Emergency Response Systems, Inc. Post-download patient data protection in a medical device
US8666488B2 (en) 2006-02-06 2014-03-04 Physio-Control, Inc. Post-download patient data protection in a medical device
CN105468895A (en) 2006-05-02 2016-04-06 普罗透斯数字保健公司 Patient customized therapeutic regimens
CA2666509C (en) 2006-10-16 2017-05-09 Hospira, Inc. System and method for comparing and utilizing activity information and configuration information from multiple medical device management systems
WO2008066617A2 (en) 2006-10-17 2008-06-05 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. Low voltage oscillator for medical devices
KR101611240B1 (en) 2006-10-25 2016-04-11 프로테우스 디지털 헬스, 인코포레이티드 Controlled activation ingestible identifier
EP2069004A4 (en) 2006-11-20 2014-07-09 Proteus Digital Health Inc Active signal processing personal health signal receivers
KR101475666B1 (en) 2007-02-01 2014-12-23 프로테우스 디지털 헬스, 인코포레이티드 ingestible event marker systems
CN103066226B (en) 2007-02-14 2016-09-14 普罗透斯数字保健公司 There is the in-body power source of high surface area electrode
EP2063771A1 (en) 2007-03-09 2009-06-03 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. In-body device having a deployable antenna
US8068918B2 (en) * 2007-03-09 2011-11-29 Enteromedics Inc. Remote monitoring and control of implantable devices
US8932221B2 (en) 2007-03-09 2015-01-13 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. In-body device having a multi-directional transmitter
US8540632B2 (en) 2007-05-24 2013-09-24 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Low profile antenna for in body device
US20080300657A1 (en) * 2007-05-31 2008-12-04 Mark Raymond Stultz Therapy system
CN102831293B (en) * 2007-08-10 2016-05-18 施曼信医疗Asd公司 The formulating method of Medical Equipment Maintenance timetable and management system
US8961412B2 (en) 2007-09-25 2015-02-24 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. In-body device with virtual dipole signal amplification
ES2840773T3 (en) 2008-03-05 2021-07-07 Otsuka Pharma Co Ltd Multimode Communication Ingestible Event Markers and Systems
DK2313002T3 (en) 2008-07-08 2018-12-03 Proteus Digital Health Inc Data basis for edible event fields
AU2009281876B2 (en) 2008-08-13 2014-05-22 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Ingestible circuitry
US8036748B2 (en) 2008-11-13 2011-10-11 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. Ingestible therapy activator system and method
AU2009324536A1 (en) 2008-12-11 2011-07-14 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Evaluation of gastrointestinal function using portable electroviscerography systems and methods of using the same
TWI503101B (en) 2008-12-15 2015-10-11 Proteus Digital Health Inc Body-associated receiver and method
US9659423B2 (en) 2008-12-15 2017-05-23 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Personal authentication apparatus system and method
US9439566B2 (en) 2008-12-15 2016-09-13 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Re-wearable wireless device
CN102341031A (en) 2009-01-06 2012-02-01 普罗秋斯生物医学公司 Ingestion-related biofeedback and personalized medical therapy method and system
TWI602561B (en) 2009-01-06 2017-10-21 波提亞斯數位康健公司 Pharmaceutical dosages delivery system
WO2010111403A2 (en) 2009-03-25 2010-09-30 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. Probablistic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling
US8271106B2 (en) 2009-04-17 2012-09-18 Hospira, Inc. System and method for configuring a rule set for medical event management and responses
EP3906845A1 (en) 2009-04-28 2021-11-10 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Highly reliable ingestible event markers
WO2010132331A2 (en) 2009-05-12 2010-11-18 Proteus Biomedical, Inc. Ingestible event markers comprising an ingestible component
US8588925B2 (en) 2009-07-06 2013-11-19 Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation External device for an implantable medical system having accessible contraindication information
EP2467707A4 (en) 2009-08-21 2014-12-17 Proteus Digital Health Inc Apparatus and method for measuring biochemical parameters
TWI517050B (en) 2009-11-04 2016-01-11 普羅托斯數位健康公司 System for supply chain management
UA109424C2 (en) 2009-12-02 2015-08-25 PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT, PHARMACEUTICAL TABLE WITH ELECTRONIC MARKER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS
AU2011210648B2 (en) 2010-02-01 2014-10-16 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Data gathering system
KR20170121299A (en) 2010-04-07 2017-11-01 프로테우스 디지털 헬스, 인코포레이티드 Miniature ingestible device
TWI557672B (en) 2010-05-19 2016-11-11 波提亞斯數位康健公司 Computer system and computer-implemented method to track medication from manufacturer to a patient, apparatus and method for confirming delivery of medication to a patient, patient interface device
KR20120036244A (en) * 2010-10-07 2012-04-17 삼성전자주식회사 Implantable medical device(imd) and method for controlling of the imd
US9107806B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2015-08-18 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Ingestible device with pharmaceutical product
JP2014514032A (en) 2011-03-11 2014-06-19 プロテウス デジタル ヘルス, インコーポレイテッド Wearable personal body-related devices with various physical configurations
US9756874B2 (en) 2011-07-11 2017-09-12 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Masticable ingestible product and communication system therefor
WO2015112603A1 (en) 2014-01-21 2015-07-30 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Masticable ingestible product and communication system therefor
CA2842952C (en) 2011-07-21 2019-01-08 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Mobile communication device, system, and method
EP2768579B1 (en) * 2011-10-20 2019-01-23 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Electrical stimulation device having remote access
EP2769357B1 (en) 2011-10-21 2023-08-30 ICU Medical, Inc. Medical device update system
US9235683B2 (en) 2011-11-09 2016-01-12 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Apparatus, system, and method for managing adherence to a regimen
TW201424689A (en) 2012-07-23 2014-07-01 Proteus Digital Health Inc Techniques for manufacturing ingestible event markers comprising an ingestible component
US8761717B1 (en) 2012-08-07 2014-06-24 Brian K. Buchheit Safety feature to disable an electronic device when a wireless implantable medical device (IMD) is proximate
MX340182B (en) 2012-10-18 2016-06-28 Proteus Digital Health Inc Apparatus, system, and method to adaptively optimize power dissipation and broadcast power in a power source for a communication device.
TWI659994B (en) 2013-01-29 2019-05-21 美商普羅托斯數位健康公司 Highly-swellable polymeric films and compositions comprising the same
EP2964079B1 (en) 2013-03-06 2022-02-16 ICU Medical, Inc. Medical device communication method
US9238144B2 (en) * 2013-03-14 2016-01-19 Neuropace, Inc. Optimizing data retrieval from an active implantable medical device
WO2014151929A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Personal authentication apparatus system and method
WO2014144738A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Metal detector apparatus, system, and method
WO2014197402A1 (en) 2013-06-04 2014-12-11 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. System, apparatus and methods for data collection and assessing outcomes
US9796576B2 (en) 2013-08-30 2017-10-24 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Container with electronically controlled interlock
JP6621748B2 (en) 2013-08-30 2019-12-18 アイシーユー・メディカル・インコーポレーテッド System and method for monitoring and managing a remote infusion regimen
EP3047618B1 (en) 2013-09-20 2023-11-08 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Methods, devices and systems for receiving and decoding a signal in the presence of noise using slices and warping
US9662436B2 (en) 2013-09-20 2017-05-30 Icu Medical, Inc. Fail-safe drug infusion therapy system
WO2015044722A1 (en) 2013-09-24 2015-04-02 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Method and apparatus for use with received electromagnetic signal at a frequency not known exactly in advance
US10084880B2 (en) 2013-11-04 2018-09-25 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Social media networking based on physiologic information
US10311972B2 (en) 2013-11-11 2019-06-04 Icu Medical, Inc. Medical device system performance index
EP3071253B1 (en) 2013-11-19 2019-05-22 ICU Medical, Inc. Infusion pump automation system and method
AU2015253001A1 (en) 2014-04-30 2016-10-20 Icu Medical, Inc. Patient care system with conditional alarm forwarding
US9724470B2 (en) 2014-06-16 2017-08-08 Icu Medical, Inc. System for monitoring and delivering medication to a patient and method of using the same to minimize the risks associated with automated therapy
US9452293B2 (en) * 2014-06-19 2016-09-27 Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. Hybrid communication channel for communicating with an implantable medical device
US9539383B2 (en) 2014-09-15 2017-01-10 Hospira, Inc. System and method that matches delayed infusion auto-programs with manually entered infusion programs and analyzes differences therein
EP3304370B1 (en) 2015-05-26 2020-12-30 ICU Medical, Inc. Infusion pump system and method with multiple drug library editor source capability
US11051543B2 (en) 2015-07-21 2021-07-06 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Alginate on adhesive bilayer laminate film
EP3484541A4 (en) 2016-07-14 2020-03-25 ICU Medical, Inc. Multi-communication path selection and security system for a medical device
US10449372B2 (en) * 2016-07-21 2019-10-22 Pacesetter, Inc. Implantable medical device and method for managing advertising and scanning schedules
MX2019000888A (en) 2016-07-22 2019-06-03 Proteus Digital Health Inc Electromagnetic sensing and detection of ingestible event markers.
WO2018081337A1 (en) 2016-10-26 2018-05-03 Proteus Digital Health, Inc. Methods for manufacturing capsules with ingestible event markers
EP3824383B1 (en) 2018-07-17 2023-10-11 ICU Medical, Inc. Systems and methods for facilitating clinical messaging in a network environment
WO2020018388A1 (en) 2018-07-17 2020-01-23 Icu Medical, Inc. Updating infusion pump drug libraries and operational software in a networked environment
US10861592B2 (en) 2018-07-17 2020-12-08 Icu Medical, Inc. Reducing infusion pump network congestion by staggering updates
US11152108B2 (en) 2018-07-17 2021-10-19 Icu Medical, Inc. Passing authentication token to authorize access to rest calls via web sockets
EP3827337A4 (en) 2018-07-26 2022-04-13 ICU Medical, Inc. Drug library management system
US10692595B2 (en) 2018-07-26 2020-06-23 Icu Medical, Inc. Drug library dynamic version management

Citations (36)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5312453A (en) * 1992-05-11 1994-05-17 Medtronic, Inc. Rate responsive cardiac pacemaker and method for work-modulating pacing rate deceleration
US5345362A (en) * 1993-04-29 1994-09-06 Medtronic, Inc. Portable computer apparatus with articulating display panel
US5545186A (en) * 1995-03-30 1996-08-13 Medtronic, Inc. Prioritized rule based method and apparatus for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias
US5701894A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-12-30 Del Mar Avionics Modular physiological computer-recorder
US5987352A (en) * 1996-07-11 1999-11-16 Medtronic, Inc. Minimally invasive implantable device for monitoring physiologic events
US6169925B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-01-02 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry system for implantable medical devices
US6240317B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-05-29 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry system for implantable medical devices
US6249703B1 (en) * 1994-07-08 2001-06-19 Medtronic, Inc. Handheld patient programmer for implantable human tissue stimulator
US20010027331A1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-04 Medtronic, Inc. Variable encryption scheme for data transfer between medical devices and related data management systems
US20010039504A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2001-11-08 Linberg Kurt R. Individualized, integrated and informative internet portal for holistic management of patients with implantable devices
US20010051787A1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2001-12-13 Markus Haller System and method of automated invoicing for communications between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider
US20020013613A1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2002-01-31 Markus Haller System and method for remote programming of an implantable medical device
US20020023654A1 (en) * 2000-06-14 2002-02-28 Webb James D. Human language translation of patient session information from implantable medical devices
US20020032470A1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-03-14 Kurt R. Linberg Apparatus and method for remote troubleshooting, maintenance and upgrade of implantable device systems
US6363282B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-03-26 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method to automatic remote software updates of medical device systems
US20020040234A1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-04-04 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote self-identification of components in medical device systems
US6418346B1 (en) * 1999-12-14 2002-07-09 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote therapy and diagnosis in medical devices via interface systems
US6438408B1 (en) * 2000-12-28 2002-08-20 Medtronic, Inc. Implantable medical device for monitoring congestive heart failure
US6440066B1 (en) * 1999-11-16 2002-08-27 Cardiac Intelligence Corporation Automated collection and analysis patient care system and method for ordering and prioritizing multiple health disorders to identify an index disorder
US6443891B1 (en) * 2000-09-20 2002-09-03 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry modulation protocol system for medical devices
US6471645B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2002-10-29 Medtronic, Inc. Communications system for an implantable device and a drug dispenser
US6482154B1 (en) * 2000-08-02 2002-11-19 Medtronic, Inc Long range implantable medical device telemetry system with positive patient identification
US6497655B1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-12-24 Medtronic, Inc. Virtual remote monitor, alert, diagnostics and programming for implantable medical device systems
US6561975B1 (en) * 2000-04-19 2003-05-13 Medtronic, Inc. Method and apparatus for communicating with medical device systems
US6564104B2 (en) * 1999-12-24 2003-05-13 Medtronic, Inc. Dynamic bandwidth monitor and adjuster for remote communications with a medical device
US6574511B2 (en) * 2000-04-21 2003-06-03 Medtronic, Inc. Passive data collection system from a fleet of medical instruments and implantable devices
US20030144711A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2003-07-31 Neuropace, Inc. Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device
US20030171791A1 (en) * 2002-03-06 2003-09-11 Kenknight Bruce H. Method and apparatus for establishing context among events and optimizing implanted medical device performance
US6622045B2 (en) * 2001-03-29 2003-09-16 Pacesetter, Inc. System and method for remote programming of implantable cardiac stimulation devices
US6647299B2 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-11-11 Medtronic, Inc. Patient programmer for implantable medical device with audio locator signal
US6804558B2 (en) * 1999-07-07 2004-10-12 Medtronic, Inc. System and method of communicating between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider
US20050288736A1 (en) * 2004-06-03 2005-12-29 Persen Kenneth H System and method for providing communications between a physically secure programmer and an external device using a cellular network
US7060031B2 (en) * 1999-12-17 2006-06-13 Medtronic, Inc. Method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices
US20060224186A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2006-10-05 Ziegler Paul D System for characterizing chronic physiological data
US20080194927A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2008-08-14 Kenknight Bruce System and method for processing directly-collected normalized voice feedback for use in automated patient care
US7565197B2 (en) * 2004-06-18 2009-07-21 Medtronic, Inc. Conditional requirements for remote medical device programming

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2001264654B2 (en) * 2000-05-19 2005-06-16 Welch Allyn Protocol Inc. Patient monitoring system

Patent Citations (39)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5312453A (en) * 1992-05-11 1994-05-17 Medtronic, Inc. Rate responsive cardiac pacemaker and method for work-modulating pacing rate deceleration
US5345362A (en) * 1993-04-29 1994-09-06 Medtronic, Inc. Portable computer apparatus with articulating display panel
US6249703B1 (en) * 1994-07-08 2001-06-19 Medtronic, Inc. Handheld patient programmer for implantable human tissue stimulator
US5545186A (en) * 1995-03-30 1996-08-13 Medtronic, Inc. Prioritized rule based method and apparatus for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias
US5701894A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-12-30 Del Mar Avionics Modular physiological computer-recorder
US5987352A (en) * 1996-07-11 1999-11-16 Medtronic, Inc. Minimally invasive implantable device for monitoring physiologic events
US6169925B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-01-02 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry system for implantable medical devices
US6240317B1 (en) * 1999-04-30 2001-05-29 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry system for implantable medical devices
US20080194927A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2008-08-14 Kenknight Bruce System and method for processing directly-collected normalized voice feedback for use in automated patient care
US6804558B2 (en) * 1999-07-07 2004-10-12 Medtronic, Inc. System and method of communicating between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider
US20020013613A1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2002-01-31 Markus Haller System and method for remote programming of an implantable medical device
US20010051787A1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2001-12-13 Markus Haller System and method of automated invoicing for communications between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider
US20020095196A1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-07-18 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote troubleshooting, maintenance and upgrade of implantable device systems
US6442433B1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-08-27 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote troubleshooting, maintenance and upgrade of implantable device systems
US20020032470A1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-03-14 Kurt R. Linberg Apparatus and method for remote troubleshooting, maintenance and upgrade of implantable device systems
US6363282B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-03-26 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method to automatic remote software updates of medical device systems
US20020040234A1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-04-04 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote self-identification of components in medical device systems
US6440066B1 (en) * 1999-11-16 2002-08-27 Cardiac Intelligence Corporation Automated collection and analysis patient care system and method for ordering and prioritizing multiple health disorders to identify an index disorder
US6418346B1 (en) * 1999-12-14 2002-07-09 Medtronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for remote therapy and diagnosis in medical devices via interface systems
US6497655B1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-12-24 Medtronic, Inc. Virtual remote monitor, alert, diagnostics and programming for implantable medical device systems
US7060031B2 (en) * 1999-12-17 2006-06-13 Medtronic, Inc. Method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices
US20030041866A1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2003-03-06 Medtronic, Inc. Virtual remote monitor, alert, diagnostics and programming for implantable medical device systems
US6564104B2 (en) * 1999-12-24 2003-05-13 Medtronic, Inc. Dynamic bandwidth monitor and adjuster for remote communications with a medical device
US6471645B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2002-10-29 Medtronic, Inc. Communications system for an implantable device and a drug dispenser
US20010039504A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2001-11-08 Linberg Kurt R. Individualized, integrated and informative internet portal for holistic management of patients with implantable devices
US20010027331A1 (en) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-04 Medtronic, Inc. Variable encryption scheme for data transfer between medical devices and related data management systems
US6561975B1 (en) * 2000-04-19 2003-05-13 Medtronic, Inc. Method and apparatus for communicating with medical device systems
US6574511B2 (en) * 2000-04-21 2003-06-03 Medtronic, Inc. Passive data collection system from a fleet of medical instruments and implantable devices
US20020023654A1 (en) * 2000-06-14 2002-02-28 Webb James D. Human language translation of patient session information from implantable medical devices
US6482154B1 (en) * 2000-08-02 2002-11-19 Medtronic, Inc Long range implantable medical device telemetry system with positive patient identification
US6443891B1 (en) * 2000-09-20 2002-09-03 Medtronic, Inc. Telemetry modulation protocol system for medical devices
US6438408B1 (en) * 2000-12-28 2002-08-20 Medtronic, Inc. Implantable medical device for monitoring congestive heart failure
US6622045B2 (en) * 2001-03-29 2003-09-16 Pacesetter, Inc. System and method for remote programming of implantable cardiac stimulation devices
US6647299B2 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-11-11 Medtronic, Inc. Patient programmer for implantable medical device with audio locator signal
US20030144711A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2003-07-31 Neuropace, Inc. Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device
US20030171791A1 (en) * 2002-03-06 2003-09-11 Kenknight Bruce H. Method and apparatus for establishing context among events and optimizing implanted medical device performance
US20050288736A1 (en) * 2004-06-03 2005-12-29 Persen Kenneth H System and method for providing communications between a physically secure programmer and an external device using a cellular network
US7565197B2 (en) * 2004-06-18 2009-07-21 Medtronic, Inc. Conditional requirements for remote medical device programming
US20060224186A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2006-10-05 Ziegler Paul D System for characterizing chronic physiological data

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110032107A1 (en) * 2008-10-31 2011-02-10 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Abnormality detecting device for heart assist device, method for detecting abnormality of heart assist device, and abnormality detecting program
US8610583B2 (en) * 2008-10-31 2013-12-17 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Abnormality detecting device for heart assist device, method for detecting abnormality of heart assist device, and abnormality detecting program
US20130027186A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2013-01-31 Can Cinbis Ultralow-power implantable hub-based wireless implantable sensor communication
US20170100036A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2017-04-13 Medtronic, Inc. Ultralow-power implantable hub-based wireless implantable sensor communication
US9918638B2 (en) * 2011-07-26 2018-03-20 Medtronic, Inc. Ultralow-power implantable hub-based wireless implantable sensor communication
CN107077527A (en) * 2014-08-13 2017-08-18 艾韦尼克斯股份有限公司 Medical equipment management and anti-theft technique
US10827929B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2020-11-10 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Obtaining high-resolution information from an implantable medical device
US10888702B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2021-01-12 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Progressive adaptive data transfer
US11083372B2 (en) 2016-01-08 2021-08-10 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Syncing multiple sources of physiological data
US10194816B2 (en) 2016-03-04 2019-02-05 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Reducing false positives in detection of potential cardiac pauses
US10631744B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2020-04-28 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. AF monitor and offline processing
US10850093B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2020-12-01 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. Lead integrity monitoring
CN108366130A (en) * 2018-03-12 2018-08-03 创领心律管理医疗器械(上海)有限公司 The stored program controlled and programmed control method of implanted electronic equipment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20060085040A1 (en) 2006-04-20
WO2007038124A1 (en) 2007-04-05
US7697994B2 (en) 2010-04-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7697994B2 (en) Remote scheduling for management of an implantable medical device
US20070078497A1 (en) Remote programming of implantable medical devices
US7565197B2 (en) Conditional requirements for remote medical device programming
US7060031B2 (en) Method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices
US8438039B2 (en) User customizable workflow preferences for remote patient management
EP1241981B1 (en) Dynamic bandwidth monitor and adjuster for remote communications with a medical device
EP1513585B1 (en) Optimizing implanted medical device performance
US6480745B2 (en) Information network interrogation of an implanted device
US6363282B1 (en) Apparatus and method to automatic remote software updates of medical device systems
US6418346B1 (en) Apparatus and method for remote therapy and diagnosis in medical devices via interface systems
US20060189854A1 (en) Method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION