Drug titration utilizing an implantable medical device

Abstract

A method of monitoring patient status is disclosed. Electrical signals are received from one or more implanted sensors of a cardiac rhythm management device. Two or more index values are calculated from the electrical signals. A composite index is determined from the two or more index values, and a status notification associated with the composite index is provided. In a system for monitoring patient status, a processor is configured to receive electrical signals from an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, calculate two or more index values from the electrical signals, and determine a composite index from the two or more index values. The system incorporates a memory that is in communication with the processor and an interface in communication with the processor, where the interface is configured to communicate a status notification associated with the composite index.

1 . A method of monitoring patient status comprising:
 (i) receiving electrical signals from one or more implanted sensors of a cardiac rhythm management device;   (ii) calculating two or more index values from the electrical signals;   (v) determining a composite index from the two or more index values; and   (vi) providing a status notification associated with the composite index.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more index values represents the severity of a physical characteristic. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite index defines a recommended degree of oversight of a patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the electrical signals to measure physical characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining the presence and degree of arrhythmias. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining mean arterial pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining pulmonary edema status. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining the presence and degree of dyspnea. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining CSR/AHI burden. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the composite index occurs only when the sensor indicates that the patient is in a pre-selected state. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pre-selected state corresponds to the patient being at rest and supine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining if a scheduled titration event interval has been exceeded, and generating a signal that is indicative of the fact that the schedule titration event interval has been exceeded. 
     
     
         13 . A medical device system for monitoring patient status, comprising:
 (i) a processor configured to
 receive electrical signals from an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, 
 calculate two or more index values from the electrical signals, and 
 determine a composite index from the two or more index values; 
   (ii) a memory in communication with the processor; and   (iii) an interface in communication with the processor, wherein the interface is configured to communicate a status notification associated with the composite index.   
     
     
         14 . The medical device system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured for communication with one or more implanted sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to measure physical characteristics from the received electrical signals. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the two or more index values represents the severity of a physical characteristic. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device system of  claim 13 , wherein the status notification comprises an indication of drug tolerance. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device system of  claim 15 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining the presence and degree of arrhythmia. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device system of  claim 15 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining mean arterial pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device system of  claim 15 , wherein measuring physical characteristics comprises determining pulmonary edema status.