CAREGIVER APP FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES
The present invention relates to a computer program and to a medical system. Patients that have implanted medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers and/or cardioverter-defibrillators often rely on caregivers such as professional caregivers or relatives or friends.
In these circumstances caregivers frequently do not have sufficient information about the patient they care for, their therapy status or their disease and therapy itself.
Thus, there is the constant need of caregivers to consult the practicing physician, talk with the patient, or even study medical literature. US 2014/0372144 A1 discloses a medication event monitoring system, comprising a patient center; a care giver center; a pharmacy center; and a control center in intercommunication with said patient center, care giver center and pharmacy center, said control center exchanging information and data therebetween regarding medication usage. Furthermore, EP 2 784 709 A2 describes a system comprising a server, a beacon identifying a physical location, a patient support system associated with the physical location and in electrical communication with the server, and a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device including a first communication system for communicating with the server and a second communication system capable of detecting the beacon, the mobile computing device operable to transmit a signal to the server indicative of the beacon and a control command indicative of a desired change in state of the patient support system, wherein the server processes the signal and transmits the control command to the patient support system through the electrical connection.
Regarding patients having implantable medical devices the interaction with the patient and/or physician conducted so far, only yields rudimentary information at infrequent intervals. Furthermore, literature research often yields information of unknown quality.
Based on the above, there is the need to provide information on the patient’s status, the device status and the specific disease to the caregiver in a timely and continuously accessible way.
The problem is solved by a computer program having the features of claim 1 and by a medical system having the features of claim 14. Preferred embodiments of these aspects of the present invention are stated in the corresponding sub claims and are described below.
According to claim 1, a computer program is disclosed, wherein the computer program comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer of a person, cause the computer of the person to carry out the following steps: receiving information from an implantable medical device implanted into the person via a radio connection (for example according to a Bluetooth standard or MICS), uploading the information to at least one remote server via a network (e.g. the internet) and/or allowing the server to retrieve the information from the computer of the person via a network (e.g. the internet), and allowing a computer or a mobile device of a caregiver of the person to get access to the information
Preferably, according to an embodiment, the network is the internet which is a network of internet servers, routers and clients (e.g. the computers of the person and caregiver) particularly providing worldwide data transport. In the internet, the low-level, packet- oriented transport of information / data through this network is controlled by the well- known TCP/IP protocol. On the higher protocol levels, one particular way for communicating data / information across the internet is by means of dedicated client/server applications implementing a suitable application level protocol. A well-known example of such a client/server application in the context of the internet is the World Wide Web, using HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) and HTML (hypertext markup language) as application level protocols.
Advantageously, the present invention allows connecting existing data sources to provide caregivers with information they were previously not able to obtain. For this, particularly, a computer program (“app”) executed on the caregiver’s computer (e.g. portable computer such as a smartphone) uses an HMSC data backbone provided by the at least one server to access information on the patient (i.e. the person having the implantable medical device implanted in his or her body), particularly such that data synchronization is ensured. For this, access to the at least one server is granted by the person/patient to the caregiver via the computer program running on the computer of the person/patient.
According to an embodiment, the information comprises an information indicating that the person has fallen. Thus, quick help may be initiated, preferably provided with information regarding possible injuries after falling of the person.
According to an embodiment, the information comprises an information with at least one alert related to functions of the (implantable medical) device. Thus, quick inspection of the device may be initiated, preferably provided with information regarding specific functions of the device.
According to an embodiment, the information comprises an information about the therapy comprising date and time and/or number of electric stimulations to achieve cardioversion or defibrillation. Thus, individual analyses and adaptions of the therapy may be initiated to improve the health status of the person.
According to an embodiment of the computer program, the computer of the person is a portable computer. Particularly, in an embodiment, the portable computer can be a hand-held computer such as a smartphone. Particularly, a smartphone is a mobile phone comprising a display configured to graphically display and input information, and a microprocessor for executing the computer program (also denoted as “app”).
Particularly, the portable computer can also be a laptop computer, a tablet computer or another computerized device.
In an embodiment, the portable computer (e.g. smartphone) comprises a display for graphically displaying information. The display can also be configured to input information into the portable computer (for example a touch screen). For inputting information, the computer may alternatively or in addition also comprise manually operable keys (e.g. a keyboard).
In an embodiment, the computer of the caregiver is a portable computer, too. This portable computer can be configured in the ways described above in relation with the portable computer of the person.
Particularly, the caregiver takes care of the person. In this sense the caregiver can be a professional caregiver. The caregiver can however also be a family member or a friend of the person that takes an interest in the person and is concerned about the person’s well being.
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the information comprises one or more elements of the group consisting of the following elements: an information about the implantable medical device, additional educational information an information indicating that the person has fallen to the ground, for example due to a weakness attack or due to unconsciousness or due to another reason; such an information regarding a fall of the patient can be provided by the implantable medical device by measuring an acceleration of the patient using an acceleration sensor of the implantable medical device, an information about a therapy applied by the implantable medical device to the person. an information about the current health status of the patient, particularly his heart rate, his activity and his mood; such an information regarding heart rate and patient activity can be provided by the sensors of the implantable medical device
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the information about the implantable medical device comprises one or more elements of the group consisting of the following elements: a battery charge level of a battery of the implantable medical device additional device information of the implantable medical device a device status indicating if the implantable medical device is working as expected a patient ID card showing model information of the implantable medical device and the connected leads a medication planner to track medication of the patient a clinic map to display clinics nearby and worldwide that allow BIOTRONIK follow up vital data that is gathered from manual input or from automatic data exchange from e.g. wearables or smart devices of the patient
Further, the information about the implantable medical device can also comprise one or more elements of the group consisting of the following elements: an information about the MRI capability of the implanted system comprising the implantable medical device and the connected lead an information about the current status of a requested remote follow up an information about appointments with physicians and options to schedule them additional contact information about the physician a communication feature that allows communication between physician, nurse and patient Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the therapy applied by the implantable medical device to the person comprises an electric stimulation of a heart of the person.
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the therapy applied by the implantable medical device to the person comprises an electric stimulation of the heart to achieve pacing of a heart of the person.
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the information about the therapy comprises one of: a pacing rate of the electric stimulations of the heart. Particularly, the pacing rate defines the rate of electric pacing pulses applied to the heart of the patient per time interval (for example per minute).
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the therapy applied by the implantable medical device comprises at least one electric stimulation of a heart of the person to achieve cardioversion of the heart. Here, particularly, the information about the therapy can comprise one or more elements of the group consisting of the following elements: a voltage of the at least one electric stimulation to achieve cardioversion; a date and time at which the at least one electric stimulation to achieve cardioversion has been applied to the patient, a number of applied electric stimulations to achieve cardioversion.
Further, according to an embodiment of the computer program, the therapy applied by the implantable medical device comprises at least one electric stimulation of a heart of the person to achieve defibrillation of the heart. Here, particularly, the information about the therapy can comprise one or more elements of the group consisting of the following elements: a voltage of the at least one electric stimulation to achieve defibrillation of the heart, a date and time at which the at least one electric stimulation to achieve defibrillation has been applied to the patient, a number of applied electric stimulations to achieve defibrillation.
Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the computer program, said receiving of information from the implantable medical device implanted into the person via the radio connection is performed continuously or periodically (e.g. at regular intervals or otherwise predetermined intervals).
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a medical system is disclosed, comprising: an implantable medical device configured to be implanted into a person, a computer associated with the person, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transmit information to the computer of the person via a radio connection, - a computer program adapted to be executed on the computer of the person, wherein the computer program is configured to receive said information transmitted by the implantable medical device to the computer of the person when the computer program is executed on the computer of the person, a computer associated with a caregiver of the person and a further computer program adapted to be executed on the computer of the caregiver, at least one server configured to receive said information from the computer of the person via a network, wherein the computer program is adapted to grant the computer of the caregiver access to said information received (or retrieved) by the at least server, and wherein the further computer program is adapted to display said information on the computer of the caregiver when the further computer program is executed on the computer of the caregiver.
According to a preferred embodiment, the computer of the person is a portable computer, particularly a smartphone (see e.g. above). Furthermore, preferably, the computer of the caregiver is a portable computer, too, particularly a smartphone. Other computers associated with the person or caregiver are also conceivable (e.g. laptops, tablet computers etc.). According to yet another aspect of the present invention a computer-readable data carrier is disclosed having stored thereon the computer program according to the present invention. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a data carrier signal carrying the computer program according to the present invention is disclosed.
In the following, exemplary embodiments as well as further features and advantages of the present invention are described with reference to Figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a medical system and computer program according to the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a medical system 1 and a computer program according the present invention.
Particularly, the computer program comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer 10 of a person (here in form of a portable computer in form of a smartphone, e.g. such as an iPhone available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California, cause the computer 10 of the person to carry out the following steps: receiving information II, 12, 13, 14 from an implantable medical device 2 of the person via a radio connection 3, uploading the information II, 12, 13, 14 to at least one server 30 via a network 4, particularly the internet 4, and/or allowing the at least one server 30 to retrieve the information II, 12, 13, 14 from the computer 10 of the person via said network 4, and allowing a computer 20 of a caregiver of the person to get access (M) to the information on the at least one server 30. The invention thus allows to provide information from a central data pool of device- reported data or provided by the patient through an app or through other electronic means, or from educational resources, via a server 30 to the caregiver’s computer 20 (preferably portable computer, particularly smartphone). Particularly, this information can be presented within an updateable further computer program (“app”) on the caregiver’s computer 20. The server 30 allows for fast update of presented information once new data is available at any of the afore-mentioned sources. Using the invention, the patient wearing the implantable medical device 2 is able to decide with whom to share any information on the personal status and device status via the computer program running on the computer 10 of the patient (also denoted person herein).
In the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the implantable medical device 2 can be a cardiac pacemaker and/or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The medical device 2 may thus provide pacing stimulation, cardioversion and/or defibrillation to the patient.
Particularly, the computer program executed on the computer 10 of the patient can receive the following information via a radio connection 3 from the implanted medical device 2 of the patient: a battery charge level II of the medical device 2, a number of shocks 13 applied to the patient (e.g. for cardioversion or defibrillation), and/or other alerts 14 related to functions of the device 2. These information II, 13, 14 can be transferred to the server 30 via the network (for example internet) 4.
Furthermore, the device 2 can be adapted to detect a fall of the patient using an accelerations sensor 5. Also such an information 12 indicating a fall of the patient can be provided to the server 30 via the network (for example internet) 4. The patient can now enable a caregiver to get access to the information II, 12, 13, 14 stored on the at least one server 30 via the portable computer (e.g. smartphone) 20 of the caregiver.
This may be done by pressing a button M “membership” on the display 11 of the computer 10 of the person and providing necessary data about the caregiver to grant access to the server 30.
The further computer program executed on the caregiver’s portable computer 20 can then display a button D (e.g. “device info”) on the display 21 of the caregiver’s computer 20 in the same manner as it is displayed by the computer program on the patient’s computer 10. Activating the button D (e.g. by touching the button D on the respective display 11 or 21) then leads the caregiver to the desired information II, 13, 14 as shown on the left hand side of Figure 1 in case of the patient’s computer 10. The information II, 13, 14 may be present in form of a window D2.
Furthermore, the further computer program executed on the caregiver’s computer 20 may also be adapted to display a button D1 (“fall detection”) on the display 21 of the caregiver’s computer 20 via which information on a fall of the patient can be retrieved upon activating the button D1 (e.g. by touching the button D1 on display 21).
Apart from providing the caregiver with necessary information about the patient’s status and the status of the device 2 of the patient, the computer program executed on the computer 10 of the patient is also adapted to provide education information (e.g. by activating button E “education”), e.g. in form of a window El, as well as access to a social network by activating button C “community” as shown in window Cl. The social network may connect other patients to the patient having the implantable device 2, for instance to share information about the implant 2 etc.
The present invention advantageously uses data already provided by the patient to an HMSC (e.g. server 30) and presents it to another person (e.g. a caregiver) interested in this data in a convenient, easy-to-use way.