Patent ID: 6185461
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61N,G16H

Abstract:
A system for enabling a medical practitioner to verify whether an implantable stimulation device having a battery for providing electrical energy for operating the implantable stimulating device has reached a recommended replacement time, the system being configured for use with the implantable stimulation device implanted in a patient and a programmer operated by the medical practitioner and configured to communicate with the implantable stimulation device, the system comprising:first retrieving means in the programmer for retrieving from the implantable stimulating device a recommended replacement time indicator, the indicator being settable by the implantable stimulating device in one of an active state when the implantable stimulation device has substantially reached the recommended replacement time, and an inactive state when the implantable stimulation device has not reached the recommended replacement time;control means in the programmer for determining whether the recommended replacement time indicator is in the active state;second retrieving means in the programmer for retrieving from the implantable stimulation device, when the recommended replacement time indicator is determined to be in the active state, battery diagnostic data representative of characteristics of the implantable stimulation device battery;first display means in the programmer for displaying to the medical practitioner, when the recommended replacement time indicator is determined to be in the active state, the retrieved battery diagnostic data to permit the medical practitioner to verify whether the recommended replacement time indicator has been properly set in the active state;second display means in the programmer for displaying to the medical practitioner, when the recommended replacement time indicator is determined to be in the active state and prior to activation of said first display means, the active recommended replacement time indicator; andfirst selection means in the programmer operable for selectively triggering said first display means after said second display means displays the active recommended replacement time indicator.