Patent ID: 6839596

Claim:
A system for programming one or more parameters in an implantable device, wherein said implantable device is configured for stimulating tissue within a patient's body and said implantable device is contained within a sealed elongate housing having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, said system comprising: a sensor within said implantable device sensitive to the presence of an externally applied magnetic field; a controller within said implantable device coupled to said sensor for monitoring the presence of said externally applied magnetic field and determining a timing sequence for the application and removal of said externally provided magnetic field, wherein said controller is configured to alter at least one programmable parameter of said implantable device in response to detection of an identifiable timing sequence of the application and removal of said externally provided magnetic field; a handheld programmer configured to be located external to the patient's body and containing a permanent magnet within, wherein the patient can apply and remove a magnetic field according to an identifiable timing sequence by bringing said handheld programmer in proximity and removing it from proximity of the implantable device at one or more locations external to the patient's body; and wherein said handheld programmer additionally comprises a selector for altering the position of said permanent magnet within the programmer to thereby correspondingly alter the strength of said externally applied magnetic field to which the implantable device is exposed when the handheld programmer is positioned in proximity to the implantable device.