Systems and methods for patient control of stimulation systems
Provided is a portable controller and associated method that provides a patient or caregiver the ability to recharge and alter the parameters of an implanted medical device, while allowing the patient substantially unobstructed mobility. To enable mobility, the controller may be worn on a belt or clothing. The controller also allows the patient to turn device stimulation on and off, check battery status, and to vary stimulation parameters within ranges that may be predefined and programmed by a clinician. The controller communicates with the medical device to retrieve information and make parameter adjustments using wireless telemetry, and it can send and receive information from several feet away from the implanted medical device. Charging of a battery contained in the implanted medical device is achieved via an inductive radio frequency link using a charge coil placed in close proximity to the medical device.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting a radio frequency magnetic field from a charging coil of a recharging module positioned proximate to an implanted medical device to transcutaneously recharge a power supply of the medical device, wherein the recharging module is at least partially disposed in a shell of a medical device controller; and
communicating, using a telemetry module at least partially disposed in the shell, with the implanted medical device via non-inductive wireless telemetry to receive status information from the medical device while the recharging module recharges the power supply of the implanted medical device, wherein the medical device controller at least one of adjusts a magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field or instructs a user to reposition the charging coil based on the status information, and wherein the charging coil is at least partially disposed outside of the shell.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field based on the status information.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing, via the medical device controller, the user to reposition the charging coil based on the status information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating a proximity between the recharging module and the implanted medical device to a user via the medical device controller.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a temperature of the charging coil during the transmission of the radio frequency magnetic field from the charging coil; and
adjusting the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field based on the sensed temperature.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein sensing the temperature of the charging coil comprises sensing a temperature of the charging coil on a skin side of the charging coil.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein adjusting the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field based on the sensed temperature comprises increasing the magnitude of the radio frequency magnetic field based on the sensed temperature.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising issuing, during the transmission of the radio frequency magnetic field from the charging coil, a command from the medical device controller to the implanted medical device at a predetermined interval instructing the implanted medical device to confirm that the radio frequency magnetic field from the charging coil is being received.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising stopping the transmission of the radio frequency magnetic field from the charging coil based on not receiving the confirmation from the implanted medical device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received status information includes an indication of a charge status of a battery of the power supply of the implanted medical device and a magnitude of power received by a charging coil of the implanted medical device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device controller includes a user interface for interaction with at least one of the recharge module or the telemetry module, and wherein the user interface comprises a user output interface.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the user output interface comprises a display.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the user output interface comprises at least one light-emitting diode.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device controller comprises a user interface for interaction with at least one of the recharge module or the telemetry module, and wherein the user interface comprises a user input interface.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the user input interface comprises a plurality of buttons.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the user input interface comprises no more than five buttons.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering electrical stimulation to a patient from the implanted medical device.