User interface for an implantable medical device using an integrated digitizer display screen

Claim 2

An analyzer-programmer for use with an implantable medical device, said analyzer-programmer comprising: circuitry for receiving information pertaining to a patient's medical condition and an implantable medical device implanted in said patient, said circuitry for receiving information including a telemetry circuit for enabling transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device; a digitizer pen input device; an integrated digitizer display screen unit for displaying an image representative of said information and for receiving hand-written input through use of said digitizer pen input device by direct placement of a pen tip of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and a processor circuit for selectively adjusting said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in accordance with input received by said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 3

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein said information includes a channel of information selected from the group consisting of a surface ECG, an atrial IEGM, a ventricular IEGM, and marker data.

Claim 4

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein: said circuitry for receiving information comprises means for receiving a plurality of channels of information; and said processor circuit causes said digitizer display screen unit to concurrently display images representative of at least two of said plurality of channels of information on a common time line.

Claim 5

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein: said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a channel position icon in association with said image representative of said information in a first set of locations; and said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display said channel position icon and said image representative of said information in a second set of locations in accordance with input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 6

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein said processor circuit causes said telemetry circuit to transmit commands to said implantable medical device in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device, said commands defining operating characteristics of said implantable medical device.

Claim 7

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein said processor circuit: causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display an image that includes a region defining a button; and adjusts said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device, wherein said digitizer pen input device provides input when said pen tip of said digitizer pen input device is placed on said integrated digitizer display screen unit in a vicinity of said button.

Claim 8

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, wherein said processor circuit: responds to a gesture input through use of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and adjusts said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in response to said gesture input to said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 9

The analyzer-programmer of claim 7, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a first segment of said information as a graph having a dependent variable axis and an independent variable axis and causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a second segment of said information in place of said first segment in response to said gesture input.

Claim 10

The analyzer-programmer of claim 8, wherein said second segment includes a portion of said first segment.

Claim 11

The analyzer-programmer of claim 9, wherein said processor circuit in causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a first segment of said information, selects an end of said second segment based on a location of said gesture on said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 12

The analyzer-programmer of claim 1, further comprising a memory circuit for storing data corresponding to said information.

Claim 13

The analyzer-programmer of claim 11, wherein said memory circuit comprises a wrap-around buffer for storing a predetermined amount of said data corresponding to said information.

Claim 14

The analyzer-programmer of claim 12, wherein: said memory circuit further comprises a frozen electronic data scroll; and said processor circuit: copies said predetermined amount of data stored in said wrap-around buffer to said frozen electronic data scroll in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device, causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display an image representative of a first segment of said predetermined amount of data stored in said frozen electronic data scroll, and causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display an image representative of a second segment of said predetermined amount of data stored in said frozen electronic data scroll in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 15

The analyzer-programmer of claim 11, wherein said processor circuit: causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a graphical representation of said data stored in said memory in a compressed format; and causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to concurrently display a first selected segment of said data in an expanded format, said first selected segment being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 16

The analyzer-programmer of claim 14, wherein said processor circuit stores identification markers in said memory circuit which mark selected data of said data stored in said memory circuit, said selected data being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 17

The analyzer-programmer of claim 15, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display symbols on said compressed graphical representation of said data stored in said memory circuit, said symbols being representative of said identification markers.

Claim 18

The analyzer-programmer of claim 16, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a second selected segment of said data stored in said memory circuit, said second selected segment containing data identified by one of said identification markers.

Claim 19

The analyzer-programmer of claim 11, wherein said processor circuit: causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display an image comprising a representation of said data; receives a hand-written annotation associated with said displayed representation of said data, said annotation received through said integrated digitizer display device by use of said digitizer pen input device; links said annotation with a selected portion of said data; and stores said linked annotation in said memory circuit.

Claim 20

The analyzer-programmer of claim 18, wherein said processor circuit creates one or more page-images to be printed, said page-images containing said linked annotation and said selected portion of said data.

Claim 21

The analyzer-programmer of claim 18, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display said linked annotation with said selected portion of said data.

Claim 22

The analyzer-programmer of claim 20, wherein said processor circuit selectively deletes portions of said linked annotation in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device without deleting any of said data or any of said displayed representation of said data.

Claim 23

The analyzer-programmer of claim 18, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a marker with said selected portion of said data, said marker being representative of said linked annotation.

Claim 24

The analyzer-programmer of claim 18, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display the representation of said selected portion of said data, wherein the selection for display of said selected portion of said data is based on the existence of said linked annotation, and the selection of said selected portion of said data is in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 25

The analyzer-programmer of claim 18, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a note pad for receiving said annotation of said displayed representation of said data.

Claim 26

The analyzer-programmer of claim 11, wherein said processor circuit: creates a page-image to be printed containing a representation of said data; causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display said page-image to be printed; receives a hand-written annotation corresponding to said displayed page-image, said annotation received through said integrated digitizer display device by use of said digitizer pen input device; and stores in said memory circuit said annotation of said page-image such that said page-image and said annotation are combined when printed.

Claim 27

An analyzer for facilitating analysis of information concerning an implantable medical device, said analyzer comprising: a digitizer pen device; a memory for storing information pertaining to a patient's medical condition and an implantable medical device implanted in said patient; an integrated digitizer display screen unit for displaying an image representative of said information and for receiving hand-written input through use of said digitizer pen input device by direct placement of a pen tip of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and a processor circuit for selectively adjusting said displayed image and said information stored in said memory in accordance with input received through use of said digitizer pen input device, said processor circuit: causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a graphical representation of said stored information in a compressed format, and causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to concurrently display a graphical representation of a first selected segment of said information stored in said memory in an expanded format, said first selected segment being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 28

An analyzer for facilitating analysis of information concerning an implantable medical device, said analyzer comprising: a digitizer pen device; a memory for storing information pertaining to a patient's medical condition and an implantable medical device implanted in said patient; an integrated digitizer display screen unit for displaying an image representative of said information and for receiving hand-written input through use of said digitizer pen input device by direct placement of a pen tip of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and a processor circuit for selectively adjusting said displayed image and said information stored in said memory in accordance with input received through use of said digitizer pen input device, said processor circuit: causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a graphical representation of said stored information in a compressed format, and causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to concurrently display a graphical representation of a first selected segment of said information stored in said memory in an expanded format, said first selected segment being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 29

The analyzer of claim 26, wherein said processor circuit stores identification markers in said memory which mark selected portions of said information stored in said memory, said selected portions being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 30

The analyzer of claim 27, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display symbols on said compressed graphical representation of said information stored in said memory, said symbols being representative of said identification markers.

Claim 31

The analyzer of claim 28, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a second selected segment of said information stored in said memory, said second selected segment containing information identified by one of said identification markers.

Claim 32

The analyzer of claim 26 further comprising circuitry for receiving said information from a source selected from the group consisting of a wireless communication link, a unit of memory storage media and a modem.

Claim 33

The analyzer of claim 26, wherein said processor circuit: causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display an image comprising a representation of said information stored in said memory; receives a hand-written annotation associated with said displayed representation of said information stored in said memory, said annotation received through said integrated digitizer display device by use of said digitizer pen input device; links said annotation with a selected portion of said information stored in said memory; and stores said linked annotation in said memory.

Claim 34

The analyzer of claim 31, wherein said processor circuit creates one or more page-images to be printed, said page-images containing said linked annotation and said selected portion of said information stored in said memory.

Claim 35

The analyzer of claim 31, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display said linked annotation with said selected portion of said information stored in said memory.

Claim 36

The analyzer of claim 33, wherein said processor circuit selectively deletes portions of said linked annotation in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device without deleting any of said information stored in said memory or any of said displayed graphical representation of said first selected segment of said information stored in said memory.

Claim 37

The analyzer of claim 31, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a marker with said selected portion of said information, said marker being representative of said linked annotation.

Claim 38

The analyzer of claim 31, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display the representation of said selected portion of said information, wherein the selection for display of said selected portion of said information is based on the existence of said linked annotation, and the selection of said selected portion of said information is in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 39

The analyzer of claim 31, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a note pad for receiving said annotation of said displayed representation of said information stored in said memory.

Claim 42

The method of claim 38 wherein: said step of receiving information comprises the step of receiving a plurality of channels of information; said step of displaying an image comprises the step of concurrently displaying images representative of at least two of said plurality of channels of information on a common time line; and said step of modifying comprises the step of repositioning one of said images representative of one of said channels of information relative to another of said images representative of another of said channels of information.

Claim 43

The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of: selecting commands to be transmitted to said implantable medical device based on input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device; transmitting said selected commands to said implantable medical device using said telemetry circuit, said transmitted commands defining operating characteristics of said implantable medical device.

Claim 44

The method of claim 38, wherein said step of modifying comprises the step of modifying said said displayed image and said stored information in response to a gesture input through use of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 45

The method of claim 38, wherein said step of displaying an image comprises the steps of: displaying a graphical representation of said stored information on said integrated digitizer display screen unit in a compressed format; and concurrently displaying a first selected segment of said information in an expanded format, said first selected segment being selected in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 46

The method of claim 38 wherein: said step of displaying an image comprises the step of displaying an image that includes a region defining a button; and said step of modifying comprises the step of modifying said said displayed image and said stored information in response to input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device, wherein said input device provides input when said pen tip of said digitizer pen input device is placed on said digitizer display screen unit in a vicinity of said button.

Claim 47

The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of receiving a hand-written annotation associated with said displayed representation of said stored information, said annotation received through said integrated digitizer display screen unit by use of said digitizer pen input device.

Claim 48

The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of: linking said annotation with a selected portion of said displayed representation of said stored information, said selected portion being selected by input provided to said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device; and storing said linked annotation in said memory.

Claim 49

An analyzer-programmer for use with an implantable medical device, said analyzer-programmer comprising: circuitry for receiving information pertaining to a patient's medical condition and an implantable medical device implanted in said patient, said circuitry for receiving information including a telemetry circuit for enabling transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device; a digitizer pen input device; an integrated digitizer display screen unit for displaying an image representative of said information and for receiving hand-written input through use of said digitizer pen input device by direct placement of a pen tip of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and a processor circuit for selectively adjusting said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in accordance with input received by said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device; and wherein said processor circuit responds to a hand-written gesture input through use of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and adjusts said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in response to said gesture input to said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 50

An analyzer-programmer for use with an implantable medical device, said analyzer-programmer comprising: circuitry for receiving information pertaining to a patient's medical condition and an implantable medical device implanted in said patient, said circuitry for receiving information including a telemetry circuit for enabling transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device; a digitizer pen input device; an integrated digitizer display screen unit for displaying an image representative of said information and for receiving hand-written input through use of said digitizer pen input device by direct placement of a pen tip of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and a processor circuit for selectively adjusting said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in accordance with input received by said integrated digitizer display screen unit through use of said digitizer pen input device; and wherein said processor circuit responds to a hand-written gesture input through use of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and adjusts said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in response to said gesture input to said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 51

The analyzer-programmer of claim 46, wherein said processor circuit: responds to a gesture input through use of said digitizer pen input device on said integrated digitizer display screen unit; and adjusts said displayed image and said transmissions between said analyzer-programmer and said implantable medical device in response to said gesture input to said integrated digitizer display screen unit.

Claim 52

The analyzer-programmer of claim 46, wherein said processor circuit causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a first segment of said information as a graph having a dependent variable axis and an independent variable axis and causes said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a second segment of said information in place of said first segment in response to said gesture input.

Claim 53

The analyzer-programmer of claim 48, wherein said second segment includes a portion of said first segment.

Claim 54

The analyzer-programmer of claim 49, wherein said processor circuit in causing said integrated digitizer display screen unit to display a first segment of said information, selects an end of said second segment based on a location of said gesture on said integrated digitizer display screen unit.