Handheld patient programmer for implantable human tissue stimulator
US6249703A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/37258
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A patient programmer for facilitating patient control over an implanted medical device, such as an implanted spinal cord stimulator or the like, is disclosed. A programmer in accordance with the present invention is a portable, light-weight, easy to use patient programmer. The programmer enables a patient to control the operation of his or her implanted device outside of a clinical setting. The programmer incorporates features which ensure that users of varying ages, education levels, dexterity levels, physical and mental health will be able to safely control the operation of their implanted devices, within predefined limits established by a physician or clinician. Circuitry is provided for avoiding battery depletion and/or undesired programmer/implanted device communication in the event that the programmer's key is accidentally depressed (for example, due to being jammed into a purse or pocket) or is depressed repeatedly or continuously over an extended period of time. The programmer provides tactile, audible, and visible feedback to the user to convey information regarding the proper (or improper) operation of the programmer and the implanted device. In one embodiment, the device…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.