PROGRAMMING DEVICE FOR PROGRAMMING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR STIMULATING A HUMAN OR ANIMAL HEART

Abstract

A programming device for programming an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, wherein the programming device carries out the steps: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations for stimulating a heart, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise: i) a first electrode lead in which an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports, and ii) a second electrode lead in which an atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports; b) allowing to select a first timing parameter value if the first electrode lead is selected and to select a second timing parameter value if the second electrode lead is selected, wherein the first timing parameter value is an atrioventricular interval and the second timing parameter value is an atrial-His interval.

Claims

1. Programming device for programming an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, comprising a first processor and a first memory unit, wherein the first memory unit comprises a first computer-readable program that causes the first processor to perform the following steps when executed on the first processor: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations of an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise: i) a first electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device, and ii) a second electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device; and b) allowing to select a first timing parameter value from a first set of timing parameter values if the first electrode lead configuration is selected and to select a second timing parameter value from a second set of timing parameter values if the second electrode lead configuration is selected, wherein the first timing parameter value is a value of an atrioventricular interval and the second timing parameter value is a value of an atrial-His interval.

2. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the first set of timing parameter values comprises values lying in a time range of from 40 ms to 350 ms.

3. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the first timing parameter value is preset to a time lying in a range of from 150 ms to 210 ms.

4. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the second set of timing parameter values comprises values lying in a time range of from 15 ms to 300 ms.

5. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the second timing parameter value is preset to a time lying in a range of from 80 ms to 140 ms.

6. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the first computer-readable program causes the first processor to prevent selecting the second timing parameter value if the first electrode lead configuration is selected and to prevent selecting the first timing parameter value if the second electrode lead configuration is selected.

7. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the first computer-readable program causes the first processor to allow both selecting the first timing parameter value and selecting the second timing parameter value if the second electrode lead configuration is selected.

8. Programming device according to claim 1, wherein the first computer-readable program causes the first processor to transfer the selected first timing parameter value or the selected second timing parameter value to an appliance remote from the programming device, the appliance being chosen from the group consisting of a printout, a database, and a home monitoring system.

9. Computer program product comprising computer-readable code that causes a processor to perform the following steps when executed on the processor: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations of an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise: i) a first electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device, and ii) a second electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device; and b) allowing to select a first timing parameter value from a first set of timing parameter values if the first electrode lead configuration is selected and to select a second timing parameter value from a second set of timing parameter values if the second electrode lead configuration is selected, wherein the first timing parameter value is a value of an atrioventricular interval and the second timing parameter value is a value of an atrial-His interval.

10. Arrangement comprising a programming device according to claim 1 and an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart, wherein the programming device comprises a first data communication unit and wherein the implantable medical device comprises a second processor, a second memory unit, a second data communication unit, a stimulation unit configured to stimulate a cardiac region of a human or animal heart, and a detection unit configured to detect an electric signal at the cardiac region of the same heart.

11. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first data communication unit and the second data communication unit serve for transferring data from the programming device to the implantable medical device and/or for transferring data from the implantable medical device to the programming device.

12. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the second memory unit comprises a second computer-readable program that causes the second processor to perform the following steps when executed on the second processor: a) receiving, with the second data communication unit, a dataset comprising a first timing parameter value and/or a second timing parameter value, wherein the first timing parameter value is a value of an atrioventricular interval and the second timing parameter value is a value of an atrial-His interval; and b) setting an atrioventricular interval to be applied by the stimulation unit to the first timing parameter value of the received dataset if the implantable medical device comprises an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead and/or setting an atrial-His interval to be applied by the stimulation unit to the second timing parameter value of the received dataset if the implantable medical device comprises an atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead.

13. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the second memory unit comprises a second computer-readable program that causes the second processor to perform the following steps when executed on the second processor: a) automatically detecting a presence of a His bundle electrode lead connected to an electrode lead port of the implantable medical device; and b) causing the second data communication unit to transfer a dataset indicating the presence of the His bundle electrode lead to the first data communication unit.

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first computer-readable program causes the first processor to perform the following steps: a) receiving, with the first data communication unit, the dataset indicating the presence of the His bundle electrode lead; and b) automatically selecting the second electrode lead configuration in response to receiving this dataset.

15. Method for programming an implantable medical device for stimulating a human or animal heart with a programming device according to claim 1, wherein the programming device comprises a first data communication unit and wherein the implantable medical device comprises a second processor, a second memory unit, a second data communication unit, a stimulation unit configured to stimulate a cardiac region of a human or animal heart, and a detection unit configured to detect an electric signal at the cardiac region of the same heart, the method comprising the following steps: a) allowing to select one of at least two electrode lead configurations of the implantable medical device, wherein the at least two electrode lead configurations comprise: i) a first electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a right ventricular electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device, and ii) a second electrode lead configuration in which an atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead are connected to electrode lead ports of the implantable medical device; b) allowing to select a first timing parameter value from a first set of timing parameter values if the first electrode lead configuration is selected and to select a second timing parameter value from a second set of timing parameter values if the second electrode lead configuration is selected, wherein the first timing parameter value is a value of an atrioventricular interval and the second timing parameter value is a value of an atrial-His interval; c) generating, with the programming device, a dataset comprising the first timing parameter value and/or the second timing parameter value; d) transmitting, with the first data communication unit, the dataset to the implantable medical device; e) receiving, with the second data communication unit, the dataset; and f) setting an atrioventricular interval to be applied by the stimulation unit to the first timing parameter value of the received dataset if the first electrode lead configuration has been selected or setting an atrial-His interval to be applied by the stimulation unit to the second timing parameter value of the received dataset if the second electrode lead configuration has been selected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Further details of aspects of the present invention will be described in the following making reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying Figures. In the Figures:

[0058] FIG. 1A shows a first arrangement of a pacemaker and a programming device;

[0059] FIG. 1B shows a second arrangement of a pacemaker and a programming device;

[0060] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a set of atrioventricular intervals; and

[0061] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a set of atrial-His intervals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1A shows a first arrangement of a pacemaker 1 serving as implantable medical device and a programming device 2. The pacemaker 1 comprises a first port 3 serving as electrode lead port into which a right atrial electrode lead 4 is inserted. The right atrial electrode lead 4 comprises an electrode pole 5 at its distal end which is implanted into the cardiac tissue of the right atrium 6 of a human heart 7.

[0063] The pacemaker 1 comprises a second port 8 serving as electrode lead port into which a right ventricular electrode lead 9 is inserted. The right ventricular electrode lead 9 comprises an electrode pole 10 at its distal end which is implanted into the cardiac tissue of an apical region of the right ventricle 11 of the human heart 7.

[0064] The programming device 2 comprises a display 12 for enabling an interaction with a user of the programming device 2. The programming device 2 and the pacemaker 1 are operatively coupled to each other by a wireless radio communication 13. This wireless radio communication 13 is established by a first data communication unit in the programming device 2 and a second data communication unit in the pacemaker 1. Due to this wireless radio communication 13, it is possible to program the pacemaker 1 with the help of the programming device 2.

[0065] For carrying out such programming, the programming device 2 first requests a selection between two electrode lead configurations. The first electrode lead configuration is a standard (or conventional) electrode lead configuration with a right atrial electrode lead 4 and a right ventricular electrode lead 9, as depicted in FIG. 1A. If this first electrode lead configuration is selected, a value of an atrioventricular interval serving as first timing parameter value can be afterwards selected from a set of atrioventricular interval values (cf. FIG. 2).

[0066] The second electrode lead configuration is an electrode lead configuration in which a right atrial electrode lead and a His bundle electrode lead are present. Such an electrode lead configuration is shown in FIG. 1B. In this context, similar elements are denoted in this and all following Figures with the same numeral references.

[0067] The general setting of the pacemaker 1 and the programming device 2 is identical to the setting of FIG. 1A. Therefore, reference is made to the explanations given above with respect to FIG. 1A. The only difference is that in the embodiment of FIG. 1B no right ventricular electrode is present. Rather, a His bundle electrode 14 is connected to the second port 8. The His bundle electrode lead 14 comprises an electrode pole 15 at its distal end which is implanted into the His bundle 16 of the human heart 7.

[0068] In case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the second electrode lead configuration is selected. This automatically results in the possibility of selecting an atrial-His interval value from a set of atrial-His interval values (cf. FIG. 3). The atrial-His interval value serves as second timing parameter value.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a set of atrioventricular intervals that serves as first set of timing parameter values. This set of atrioventricular intervals will be presented on the display 12 by the software of the programming device 2 (cf. FIG. 1A) after the first electrode lead configuration has been selected. The set of atrioventricular intervals comprises distinct atrioventricular interval values lying in a range of from 40 ms to 350 ms. A user can select an individual atrioventricular interval by clicking on the respective time when operating the programming device. It is also possible to confirm the selection by pressing a distinct confirmation button. An atrioventricular interval 16 (serving as first timing parameter value) of 180 ms is highlighted. This atrioventricular interval is preselected so that the user can easily accept this value by clicking on it or by clicking on a separate confirmation button. However, the user is free to select any other atrioventricular interval value of the set of atrioventricular intervals.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a set of atrial-His intervals serving as second set of timing parameter values. This set of atrial-His interval will be presented on the display 12 by the software of the programming device 2 (cf. FIG. 1B) after the second electrode lead configuration has been selected. The set of atrial-His intervals comprises distinct time values in a range of from 50 ms to 300 ms. An atrial-His interval 18 (serving as second timing parameter value) of 110 ms is highlighted so as to indicate that this atrial-His interval is preselected by the software of the programming device 2. This facilitates a choice of an appropriate atrial-His interval to be made by the user. The user of the programming device can simply click on the field indicating 110 ms so as to select the atrial-His interval 18 of 110 ms. However, the user is free to select any other atrial-His interval value of the set of atrial-His intervals if such other value better suits the concrete needs of the pacemaker 1 to be programmed by the programming device 2.

[0071] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points.