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

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a programming device that determines parameters for programming an implantable medical device based on patient-specific information including indications for use of the implantable medical device. By executing an indication-based programming algorithm, the programming device substantially automates the process between the diagnosis of a patient and the programming of an implantable medical device using parameters individually determined for that patient.

1 . An external system for programming an implantable medical device, the system comprising:
 a telemetry circuit configured to receive information from the implantable medical device;   a device identification module configured to identify the device type of the implantable medical device using information received from the implantable medical device via telemetry;   a programming device configured to receive patient-specific information and the identified device type, the programming device comprising:
 an operational mode selector configured to select at least one operational mode of the implantable medical device based on the patient-specific information and the identified device type; and 
 a parameter value generator configured to automatically produce values of a set of operational parameters enabling the implantable medical device to operate in the selected operational mode using the patient-specific information and the identified device type; and 
   a display screen configured to display the values of the set of operational parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an election input device configured to receive a user election to accept and a user election to discard the values of operational parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the election input device is further configured to receive a user election to modify the automatically produced values of a set of operational parameters. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the display screen is configured to present the user with one or more ranges encompassing one or more operational parameter values alternative to the automatically produced values upon receiving an election to modify the automatically produced values, wherein the one or more alternative operational parameter values encompassed by the one or more ranges are within predetermined safety limits. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the programming device is configured to program an implantable pacemaker. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the programming device is further configured to program an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operational mode selector is further configured to select an operational mode from a plurality of available operational modes of the implantable medical device based on a user selection, the operational mode selector including a mode input configured to receive the user selection. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a telecommunication network; and   one or more storage devices configured to store the patient-specific information and including at least one storage device coupled to the programming device via the telecommunication network.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient-specific information comprises electronic medical records of the patient, the electronic medical records defining a symptom or circumstance that indicates advisability of one or more medical treatments deliverable by the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device type defines the set of operational parameters. 
     
     
         11 . A method for programming an implantable medical device for a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving device-specific information indicative of a device type of the implantable medical device from the implantable medical device via a telemetry link;   collecting patient-specific information;   selecting at least one operational mode of the implantable medical device based on the patient-specific information and the device specific information; and   automatically producing values of a set of operational parameters enabling the implantable medical device to operate in the selected operational mode by using the patient-specific information and the device specific information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising programming the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein programming the implantable medical device comprises programming at least one of the group consisting of an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator and an implantable pacemaker. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein collecting the patient-specific information comprises collecting information acquired by an outpatient system performing continuous patient monitoring. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein collecting the patient-specific information comprises collecting information from at least one storage device via a telecommunication network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting the operational mode further comprises receiving a selection from a user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a user an option to accept and an option to discard the values of the set of operational parameters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the patient specific information comprises electronic medical records of the patient, the electronic medical records defining a symptom or circumstance that indicates advisability of one or more medical treatments deliverable by the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising presenting a user with an option to accept, modify, or discard the automatically produced values of the set of operational parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a user election to modify the automatically produced values; and
 in response to receiving the election, presenting the user with one or more ranges encompassing one or more alternative operational parameter values that are within predetermined safety limits.