Method and apparatus for question-based programming of cardiac rhythm management devices

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a programming device that identifies the device type of an implantable medical device, selects a predetermined questioning sequence based on the device type, and interacts with a user through a user interface screen by conducting a question-and-answer session according to the predetermined questioning sequence. After displaying a question and receiving an answer to the question, the programming device sets one or more programmable parameter values and/or displays a follow-up question in response to the answer. The programming device also allows the user to enter one or more programmable parameter values directly during or after the question-and-answer session. The implantable medical device is programmed to operate in one or more operational modes based on at least the answers received from the user during the question-and-answer session and the parameter values entered by the user, if any.

1 . A system for programming an implantable medical device having one or more operational modes, the system comprising:
 a user interface device including:
 a programming mode switch configured to allow selection of a programming mode from a question-based programming mode and a parameter-based programming mode, the programming mode switch allowing the programming mode to be switched to the parameter-based programming mode from the question-based programming mode during a programming session and to be switched to the question-based programming mode from the parameter-based programming mode during the programming session; and 
 a screen including at least a question field and an answer field to receive answers in response to the question-based programming mode being selected and a plurality of parameter value entry fields to receive parameter values in response to the parameter-based programming mode being selected; and 
   a parameter generator coupled to the user interface, the parameter generator configured to produce values for a set of operational parameters for the implantable medical device to operate in an operational mode of the one or more operational modes using one or more of the received answers and the received parameter values.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the programming mode switch is displayed on the screen. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the answer field is configured to allow for selection of an answer from a plurality of predetermined answers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a telemetry circuit configured to receive information from the implantable medical device: and   a device identification device configured to identify a device type of the implantable medical device using the information received from the implantable medical device,   and wherein the parameter generator is configured to produce the values for the set of operational parameters using the device type and the one or more of the received answers and the received parameter values.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device model identification device configured to identify a model number indicative of the device type. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device code identification device configured to identify a device code indicative of the device type. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the parameter generator comprises a question-based parameter value generator configured to select a questioning sequence from one or more questioning sequences based on the device type and generate questions to be displayed in the question field using the selected questioning sequence and the received answers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the question-based parameter value generator is configured to produce one or more values of the values for the set of operational parameters using the received answers and one or more signals sensed by the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         9 . A method for programming an implantable medical device having one or more operational modes, the method comprising:
 receiving a user selection of a programming mode from a question-based programming mode and a parameter-based programming mode using a programming mode switch allowing the programming mode to be switched to the parameter-based programming mode from the question-based programming mode during a programming session and to be switched to the question-based programming mode from the parameter-based programming mode during the programming session;   presenting questions and receiving answers on a screen in response to the user selection of the question-based programming mode;   presenting parameter value entry fields and receiving parameter values on the screen in response to the user selection of the parameter-based programming mode; and   producing values for a set of operational parameters for the implantable medical device to operate in an operational mode of the one or more operational modes using one or more of the received answers and parameter values.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising displaying the programming mode switch on the screen to receive the user selection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein presenting the questions and receiving the answers on the screen in response to the user selection of the question-based programming mode comprises presenting the questions each with predetermined possible answers and receiving the answers each selected from one of the predetermined possible answers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein presenting the questions and receiving the answers on the screen in response to the user selection of the question-based programming mode comprises generating one or more further questions using a predetermined questioning sequence and one or more answers of the answers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising creating the questioning sequence using a predetermined programming decision tree. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving information from the implantable medical device; and   identifying a device type of the implantable medical device,   and wherein producing the values for the set of operational parameters comprises producing the values for the set of operational parameters using the device type and the one or more of the received answers and parameter values.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying the device type comprises identifying a device code or model number indicative of the device type. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving one and more signals from the implantable medical device; and   generating recommended answers to one or more of the questions and using the one and more signals.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving one and more signals from the implantable medical device; and   producing the values for the set of operational parameters using the one and more signals and the one or more of the received answers and parameter values.   
     
     
         18 . A system for programming an implantable medical device having one or more operational modes, the system comprising:
 means for receiving a user selection of a programming mode from a question-based programming mode and a parameter-based programming mode, the means for receiving the user selection allowing the programming mode to be switched to the parameter-based programming mode from the question-based programming mode during a programming session and to be switched to the question-based programming mode from the parameter-based programming mode during the programming session;   means for presenting questions and receiving answers in response to the user selection of the question-based programming mode;   means for presenting parameter value entry fields and receiving parameter values in response to the user selection of the parameter-based programming mode; and   means producing values for a set of operational parameters for the implantable medical device to operate in an operational mode of the one or more operational modes using one or more of the received answers and parameter values.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 means for receiving information from the implantable medical device; and   means for identifying a device type of the implantable medical device,   and wherein the means for producing the values for the set of operational parameters comprises means for producing the values for the set of operational parameters using the device type and the one or more of the received answers and parameter values.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means producing the values for the set of operational parameters using one and more signals sensed by the implantable device, the device type, and the one or more of the received answers and parameter values.