Patient programmer for implantable devices

1. An implantable medical device system, comprising:

an implantable medical device configured for maintaining an actual status of the capacity of a power source contained in the implantable medical device; and

an external programmer configured for updating an estimated status of the power source capacity independent of the actual status of the power source, the external programmer including a status indicator configured for indicating an estimated status of the power source derived from the updated estimated status of the power source capacity, the external programmer configured for being placed in telecommunicative contact with the implantable medical device to reconcile the updated estimated status of the power source capacity with the actual status of the power source capacity.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a replenishable power source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external programmer is configured for interrogating the implantable medical device to acquire the actual status of the power source capacity via the telecommunicative contact.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external programmer is configured for reconciling the updated estimated status of the power source capacity with the actual status of the power source capacity every time the external programmer is activated to program or turn on the implantable medical device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicated status of the power source is the updated estimated power source capacity.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable medical device is configured for storing the actual status of the power source capacity.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external programmer is a portable, hand-held programmer (HHP).

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the external programmer is configured for computing the updated estimated status of the power source capacity.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is a battery recharge countdown number.

11. An external programmer for an implanted medical device containing a power source, comprising:

a telemetry circuit configured for wirelessly communicating with the implanted medical device; and

a processor circuit configured for updating an estimated status of the capacity of the power source independent of the actual status of the power source, receiving an actual status of the power source capacity from the implanted medical device via the telemetry circuit, and reconciling the updated estimated status of the power source capacity with the actual status of the power source capacity; and

a status indicator configured for indicating an estimated status of the power source derived from the updated estimated status of the power source capacity.

12. The external programmer of claim 11 , wherein the processor circuit is configured for interrogating the implanted medical device via the telemetry circuit to acquire the actual status of the power source capacity.

13. The external programmer of claim 11 , wherein the processor circuit is configured for reconciling the updated estimated status of the power source capacity with the actual status of the power source capacity every time the external programmer is activated to program or turn on the implanted medical device.

14. The external programmer of claim 11 , wherein the indicated status of the power source is the updated estimated power source capacity.

15. The external programmer of claim 11 , further comprising a portable housing containing the telemetry circuit and processor circuit.

16. The external programmer of claim 11 , wherein the processor circuit is configured for computing the updated estimated status of the power source capacity.

17. The external programmer of claim 11 , wherein the status indicator is a battery recharge countdown number.

18. A method of indicating the status of a power source in a medical device implanted within a patient, comprising:

maintaining an actual status of the capacity of the power source contained in the implanted medical device;

updating an estimated status of the power source capacity independent of the actual status of the power source;

indicating an estimated status of the power source derived from the updated estimated status of the power source capacity; and

communicating with the implanted medical device to reconcile the updated estimated status of the power source capacity with the actual status of the power source capacity.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the power source is a replenishable power source.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the power source is a battery.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein communicating with the implanted medical device comprises interrogating the implanted medical device to acquire the actual status of the power source capacity.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising repeatedly programming or turning on the implanted medical device, wherein the updated estimated status of the power source capacity is reconciled with the actual status of the power source capacity each time the implanted medical device is programmed or turned on.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the indicated status of the power source is the estimated power source capacity.

24. The method of claim 18 , further comprising storing the actual status of the power source capacity within the implanted medical device.

25. The method of claim 18 , further comprising computing the updated estimated status of the power source capacity.

26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the estimated status of the power source is indicated using a battery recharge countdown number.