Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device

Abstract

An interactive implantable medical device system includes an implantable medical device and a network-enabled external device capable of bi-directional communication and interaction with the implantable medical device. The external device is programmed to interact with other similarly-enabled devices. The system facilitates improved patient care by eliminating unnecessary geographic limitations on implantable medical device interrogation and programming, and by allowing patients, physicians, and other users to access medical records, history, and information and to receive status and care-related alerts and messages anywhere there is access to a communications network.

1 . An interactive medical device system for monitoring and treating a patient, the system comprising:
 an implantable medical device configured to be implanted in the patient; and   an external device;   wherein the external device and the implantable medical device are adapted for communication with each other, and   wherein the external device is further adapted to:
 receive and store a data record from the implantable medical device, the data record corresponding to physiological information obtained by the implantable medical device, 
 receive a data item corresponding to medical information obtained from the patient, 
 associate the data item with the data record, 
 process the data item and its associated data record to determine an action, if any, to be initiated, and 
 initiate the action. 
   
     
     
         2 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the data record comprises an EEG record, and   the data item comprises one or more of an entry in a seizure log, and a response to a query.   
     
     
         3 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the data record and the data item comprises a time stamp, and the data item and the data record are associated based on their respective time stamps. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the patient, and   the external device is configured to initiate the action by being further configured to at least one of: output an alert to the patient, provide instructions to the patient, and request an input from the patient.   
     
     
         5 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the implantable medical device, and   the external device is configured to initiate the action by being further configured to output a command to the implantable medical device, which command causes the implantable medical device to at least one of: switch an operation mode, switch a therapy type, change a therapy parameter, deliver a warning to the patient, and enter an inactive state.   
     
     
         6 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 1 , further comprising a personal control unit adapted for communication with the external device, wherein the data item corresponding to medical information obtained from the patient is received by the external device from the personal control unit. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive medical device system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the patient, and   the external device is configured to initiate the action by being further configured to output a command to the personal control unit, which command causes the personal control unit to at least one of: output an alert to the patient, provide instructions to the patient, and request an input from the patient.   
     
     
         8 . A method of monitoring and treating a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving and storing at an external device, a data record from an implantable medical device implanted in a patient, the data record corresponding to physiological information obtained by the implantable medical device;   receiving at the external device, a data item corresponding to medical information obtained from the patient;   associating at the external device, the data item with the data record;   processing at the external device, the data item and its associated data record to determine an action, if any, to be initiated; and   initiating the action from the external device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the data record comprises an EEG record, and   the data item comprises one or more of an entry in a seizure log, and a response to a query.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the data record and the data item comprises a time stamp, and the data item and the data record are associated based on their respective time stamps. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the patient, and   initiating the action comprises at least one of: outputting an alert to the patient, providing instructions to the patient, and requesting an input from the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the implantable medical device, and   initiating the action comprises outputting a command to the implantable medical device, which command causes the implantable medical device to at least one of: switch an operation mode, switch a therapy type, change a therapy parameter, deliver a warning to the patient, and enter an inactive state.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data item corresponding to medical information obtained from the patient is received by the external device from a personal control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the action is directed to the patient, and   initiating the action comprises outputting a command to the personal control unit, which command causes the personal control unit to at least one of: output an alert to the patient, provide instructions to the patient, and request an input from the patient.