Device for determining an aftercare appointment for the supply of an implantable medical device

1. A service unit ( 30 ) having:

a. an interface ( 54 ) for receiving data from a personal medical device ( 10 ),

b. an analysis unit ( 52 ) configured to analyze data received from the personal medical device ( 10 ), the analysis unit being connected to the interface ( 54 ),

c. an aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) connected at least indirectly to the analysis unit ( 52 ) and/or the interface ( 54 ), wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) is configured to schedule the time of a next aftercare appointment at least partially on the basis of data received from the personal medical device ( 10 ).

2. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 1 wherein the data received from the personal medical device ( 10 ) include one or more of:

a. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the personal medical device ( 10 ), and

b. data representing the operational integrity of the personal medical device ( 10 ).

3. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the service unit ( 30 ) is in communication with a memory ( 58 ) containing at least one preceding aftercare appointment, and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) is configured to also schedule the time of the next aftercare appointment at least partially in dependence on the date of the preceding aftercare appointment.

4. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the service unit ( 30 ) is in communication with a user input unit ( 40 ), and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) is configured to also schedule the time of the next aftercare appointment at least partially in dependence on user inputs received from the user input unit ( 40 ).

5. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 4 wherein the service unit ( 30 ) is configured to, after scheduling the time of a next aftercare appointment by the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ):

a. display the next aftercare appointment to a user, and

b. accept a user input indicative of acceptance or rejection of the displayed aftercare appointment.

6. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 5 wherein the service unit ( 30 ) is configured, upon acceptance of a user input indicative of rejection of the displayed aftercare appointment, to collect and store a user input of a user-determined aftercare appointment.

7. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 6 wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) is configured to:

a. analyze deviations between stored user-determined aftercare appointments in relation to aftercare appointments scheduled by the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ), and

b. schedule the time of the next aftercare appointment at least partially in dependence on the deviations.

8. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) is configured to automatically schedule the times of several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

b. the service unit ( 30 ) is configured to:

(1) display the several alternative aftercare appointments, and

(2) accept a user input indicative of:

i. acceptance of one of the displayed aftercare appointments, or

ii. rejection of all of the displayed aftercare appointments,

at a user input unit ( 40 ).

9. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 1 wherein the personal medical device ( 10 ) is an implantable electrostimulation device.

10. The service unit ( 30 ) of claim 9 wherein the implantable electrostimulation device is a cardiac pacemaker and/or a cardioverter/defibrillator.

11. A method of determining an aftercare appointment for a patient bearing an implantable electrostimulation device, the method including the steps of:

a. receiving data from an implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ) at an interface ( 54 ),

b. define the time of a next aftercare appointment within an aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ), the time of the next aftercare appointment being defined at least partially in dependence on data received from the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ),

c. displaying the next aftercare appointment to the patient, and

d. accepting at a user input unit ( 40 ) patient input indicative of the patient's acceptance or rejection of the displayed next aftercare appointment.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data received from the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ) include one or more of:

a. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ), and

b. data representing the operational integrity of the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ).

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a. the service unit ( 30 ) is in communication with a memory ( 58 ) containing at least one preceding aftercare appointment, and

b. the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) also defines the time of the next aftercare appointment at least partially in dependence on the date of the preceding aftercare appointment.

14. The method of claim 11 further including the step of collecting and storing a user input of a user-determined aftercare appointment if the patient input is indicative of the patient's rejection of the displayed next aftercare appointment.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ):

a. analyzes deviations between stored user-determined aftercare appointments in relation to next aftercare appointments defined by the after-care appointment determination unit ( 50 ), and

b. defines the next aftercare appointment at least partially in dependence on the deviations.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein:

a. the aftercare appointment determination unit ( 50 ) automatically defines several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

b. the service unit ( 30 ):

(1) displays the several alternative next aftercare appointments, and

(2) accepts a user input indicative of:

i. acceptance of one of the displayed next aftercare appointments, or

ii. rejection of all of the displayed next aftercare appointments,

at a user input unit ( 40 ).

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the data from the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ) is wirelessly transmitted from the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ).

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the next aftercare appointment is also determined at least partially in dependence on data received from the patient's physician, the data being indicative of the physician's availability.

19. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

a. displaying the next aftercare appointment to the patient's physician, and

b. accepting physician input indicative of the physician's acceptance or rejection of the displayed next aftercare appointment.

20. The method of claim 11 further including the step of delivering to the patient a printed message confirming the next aftercare appointment.

21. A method of determining an aftercare appointment for a patient bearing an implantable electrostimulation device, the method including the steps of:

a. receiving data wirelessly transmitted from an implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ) at a service unit ( 30 ),

b. determining the next aftercare appointment time within the service unit ( 30 ) at least partially in dependence on:

(1) data received from the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ), the data including one or more of:

i. data reflecting the physiological status of a patient bearing the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 ), and

ii. data representing the operational integrity of the implantable electrostimulation device ( 10 );

(2) data received from the patient, the data being indicative of the patient's desired scheduling of the next aftercare appointment; and

(3) data received from the patient's physician, the data being indicative of the physician's availability;

c. providing the determined next aftercare appointment to the patient.