Dual patient controllers

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods incorporate the most-used functions of a electrical stimulator's controller into a small, thin pocket controller that is not only comfortable to carry in a pocket, but can also be attached to a key ring, lanyard, or other such carrying device for ease of daily use. A separate patient controller charger is used to charge and control the implanted medical device.

1 . An integrated controller charger operable to both charge a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device and control the implantable medical device, the controller charger comprising:
 a communication module configured to transmit information from the controller charger to the implantable medical device and configured to receive information from the implanted medical device;   a power charging module configured to transmit energy storable at the rechargeable power source on the implantable medical device; and   a control module configured to control both the communication module and the power charging module, the control module comprising a processor and a memory and being operable to convey the information received from the implanted medical device to a user and generate signals to activate the stimulation programs on the implanted medical device.   
     
     
         2 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to display information to a user relating to charging the implant and relating to stimulation programs enabled on the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         3 . The controller charger of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface is further configured to display the charging status of an implanted medical device and display the charging status of the power charging module. 
     
     
         4 . The controller charger of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive inputs selecting a stimulation program operable on an implanted medical device. 
     
     
         5 . The controller charger of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen display arranged to receive inputs from user. 
     
     
         6 . The controller charger of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises an LED indicator and speaker or amplifier for alerting a user to a condition of an implantable device and a condition of the controller charger. 
     
     
         7 . The controller charger of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a selectable button for selecting a charge function that enables the power charging module and a selectable button for modifying a stimulation program on an implantable medical device. 
     
     
         8 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , comprising a rechargeable power source, wherein the communication module, the power charging module, and the control module are all configured to draw power from the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         9 . The controller charger of  claim 8 , comprising an external connector configured to receive power from an external power source and charge the rechargeable power source of the controller charger. 
     
     
         10 . The controller charger of  claim 8 , wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed between the external connector and the power charging module, and wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed between the external connector and the control module. 
     
     
         11 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , further comprising a touch screen user interface display. 
     
     
         12 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , wherein the control module comprises Wi-Fi enabled transmission capability. 
     
     
         13 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , wherein the control module comprises blue-tooth enabled transmission capability. 
     
     
         14 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , wherein the power charging module comprises a coil configured to generate an inductive field. 
     
     
         15 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , comprising a controller-charger portion and a coil portion, the coil portion including the coil, and the controller-charger portion comprising the user interface and the communication module, the controller-charger portion and the coil being connected by a flexible cable. 
     
     
         16 . The controller charger of  claim 15 , wherein the controller-charger portion is configured to communicate with an implantable medical device while the coil portion generates an inductive field for charging the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         17 . The controller charger of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is operable to permit a user to control features on an implantable medical device including a) electrical stimulation on/off selection, b) stimulation amplitude adjustment, and c) electrical stimulation program selection, d) adjusting stimulation program frequency, e) providing detailed IPG status, f) enabling PPC setup/configuration, g) indicating both PPC and IPG battery status. 
     
     
         18 . A method performed by a patient controller charger in communication with an implanted implantable pulse generator, comprising:
 receiving from the implantable pulse generator data representing enabled stimulation programs;   storing the data representing the enabled stimulation programs on the patient controller charger;   receiving a first input from a user to adjust an amplitude of an electrical stimulation treatment of one of the enabled stimulation programs;   transmitting data representing the first input from the patient controller charger to the implantable pulse generator;   receiving a second input from a user to charge a battery on an implanted pulse generator with the patient controller charger; and   emitting energy from the patient controller charger to charge the implantable pulse generator.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein energy for the transmitting data step and the energy for the emitting energy step are drawn from the same power source. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of emitting energy from the patient controller charger comprises passing current through a coil to generate an inductive field. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising displaying on a single display the power level of the patient controller charger, the power level of the implantable pulse generator, the selected stimulation program operating on the implantable pulse generator, and the charging status. 
     
     
         22 . An integrated controller charger operable to both charge a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device and control the implantable medical device, the controller charger comprising:
 a controller charger portion configured to wirelessly communicate with the implantable medical device, configured to receive inputs from a user, configured to send control signals indicative of the received inputs to the implantable medical device, and configured to receive information from the implantable medical device and display the information to a user; and   a coil portion configured to generate an inductive field to wirelessly charge a power source in the implantable medical device; and   a flexible cable extending between and electrically connecting the controller charger portion and the coil portion, the flexible cable electrically connecting the controller charger and the coil portion.   
     
     
         23 . The controller charger of  claim 22 , wherein the controller charger portion comprises a user interface configured to display information to a user relating to charging the implant and relating to stimulation programs enabled on the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         24 . The controller charger of  claim 23 , wherein the user interface is further configured to display the charging status of an implanted medical device and display the charging status of the power charging module. 
     
     
         25 . The controller charger of  claim 23 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive inputs selecting a stimulation program operable on an implanted medical device. 
     
     
         26 . The controller charger of  claim 23 , wherein the user interface comprises a selectable button for selecting a charge function that enables the power charging module and a selectable button for modifying a stimulation program on an implantable medical device. 
     
     
         27 . The controller charger of  claim 22 , wherein the controller charger portion comprises a rechargeable power source, and wherein the coil portion is configured to draw power from the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         28 . The controller charger of  claim 27 , wherein the controller charger portion comprises an external connector configured to receive power from an external power source and charge the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         29 . The controller charger of  claim 27 , wherein the controller charger portion comprises a control module and a power charging module, and wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed between the external connector and the power charging module, and wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed between the external connector and the control module. 
     
     
         30 . The controller charger of  claim 22 , wherein the controller charger portion comprises a touch screen user interface display. 
     
     
         31 . The controller charger of  claim 22 , wherein the controller charger portion is operable to permit a user to control features on an implantable medical device including a) electrical stimulation on/off selection, b) stimulation amplitude adjustment, and c) electrical stimulation program selection, d) adjusting stimulation program frequency, e) providing detailed IPG status, f) enabling PPC setup/configuration, g) indicating both PPC and IPG battery status.