Method and a system for using implanted medical device data for accessing therapies

Abstract

A method and system facilitates the access by a patient of implanted medical device related data for patient participation in their own clinical care and therapy. In an example embodiment, the method includes establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface. Access to a secured database is obtained via the implanted device data processor using a set of patient identification data. A query is then submitted via the data processor to the secured database in response to input patient diagnostic data. Data received from the secured database is then displayed for use in a patient evaluation.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for accessing implanted medical device for patient alert and therapy dispensation data comprising: 
 establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    submitting via the data processor a query to the secured database in response to input patient diagnostic data; and    displaying the data received from the secured database for use in a patient evaluation.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of submitting the query includes the step of: 
 detecting via the data processor at least one of a plurality of predefined conditions of the patient's implanted medical device; and    generating a data response as a function of the detected conditions.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of detecting a condition includes the steps of: 
 performing an uplink transmission of a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor; and    processing the patient diagnostic data to detect at least one of the plurality of conditions.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
 notifying the patient via the data processor of the detected condition;    monitoring the implanted medical device; and    displaying a first implanted medical device status.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 displaying a first set of treatment options as a function of the first implanted medical device status and of the patient notification; and    exercising at least one of the treatment options.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein displaying treatment options includes displaying at least one medical option along with a time interval for exercising the displayed option.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the treatment options are selected from the group consisting of: medication, electrical impulse from the implanted medical device, and a request for medical assistance.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of notifying the data processor of the exercised treatment option.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring the implanted device continuously after notification of exercise of the displayed option; and    notifying the patient of a second medical device status and of a second set of treatment options, the second set of treatment options being a function of the exercised option and the second medical device status.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of reconfiguring patient notification of the detected condition such that the patient notification is responsive to a second plurality of conditions.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining access to the secured database includes obtaining access to a remotely located secured database via a communications network.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein input patient diagnostic data includes an IMD patient request for information from the secured database.  
     
     
         13  The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of establishing a communications link includes automatically retrieving the set of patient identification data from the IMD.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of reconfiguring the treatment options as a function of the exercised option and the IMD status.  
     
     
         15 . A system for accessing implanted medical device data comprising: 
 means for establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    means for obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    means for submitting via the data processor a query to the secured database in response to input patient diagnostic data; and    means for displaying the data received from the secured database for use in a patient evaluation.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said display means includes an LCD, CRT and an LED screen adapted to display the data received.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the set of patient identification data includes an implanted medical device serial number.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the data received from the secured database includes a set of implanted medical device treatment options.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for notifying a patient of the detection of a heart condition at the implanted medical device coupled to the data processor and display means, the data processor configured and arranged to receive notification of an exercise of a treatment option.  
     
     
         20 . A system of  claim 19 , wherein the data processor is adapted to reconfigure the treatment options as a function of the exercised option and the IMD status.  
     
     
         21 . A method for accessing implanted medical device data comprising: 
 establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    transmitting a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor;    submitting via the data processor a query to the secured database in response to detecting a condition at the implanted medical device from the patient diagnostic data; and    displaying the data received from the secured database for use in a patient evaluation.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of submitting the query includes the step of: 
 detecting via the data processor at least one of a plurality of predefined conditions of the patient's implanted medical device; and    generating a data response as a function of the detected conditions.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of: 
 notifying the patient via the data processor of the detected condition;    monitoring the implanted medical device; and    displaying a first implanted medical device status.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a first set of treatment options as a function of the first implanted medical device status;    exercising at least one of the treatment options;    notifying the data processor of the exercised treatment option;    monitoring continuously the implanted device; and    notifying the patient of a second medical device status and of a second set of treatment options, the second set of treatment options being a function of the exercised option and the second medical device status.    
     
     
         25 . A method for accessing implanted medical device data comprising: 
 establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    obtaining access to a secured database provided via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    transmitting a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor;    generating a set of formatted data via the data processor using the patient diagnostic data as a function of a data request from the patient; and    displaying the set of formatted data received from the secured database via the data processor for use in a patient evaluation.    
     
     
         26 . A method of  claim 25 , wherein generating the formatted data includes extracting a set of historical patient diagnostic data from the secured database.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of using the communications link between the implanted medical device and the data processor to address a patient query on the formatted data after the formatted data has been displayed.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of establishing a communications link with a patient having the implanted medical device to provide an interactive exchange of information with a data processing center located remote from the patient.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of generating the formatted data includes the step of formatting the patient diagnostic data to illustrate a trend.  
     
     
         30 . A system for accessing implanted medical device data comprising: 
 means for establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    means for obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    means for transmitting a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor;    means for generating a set of formatted data via the data processor using the patient diagnostic data as a function of a data request from the patient; and    means for displaying the set of formatted data from the implanted medical data processor for use in a patient evaluation.    
     
     
         31 . A system for accessing implanted medical device data comprising: 
 means for establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a data processor via an implanted medical device interface;    means for obtaining access to a secured database via the data processor using a set of patient identification data;    means for transmitting a set of patient diagnostic data from the implanted medical device to the data processor;    means for submitting via the data processor a query to the secured database in response to detecting a condition at the implanted medical device from the patient diagnostic data; and    means for displaying the data received from the secured database for use in a patient evaluation.