A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE USING GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION

摘要

A programmer for an implantable medical device is described. It includes means for displaying a graphical representation of a quantity influenced by the operation of the medical device and means for associating parameters relating to the control of the device with portions of said graphical representations. An operator can add graphical elements representing variations in the quality caused by functions of the medical device to the representation to generate a modified graphical representation. The arrangement responds to this modification by associating new or modified parameters with the modified representation. This enables an operator to generate custom graphical representations that illustrate the effect achieved by a medical device, rather than setting parameter values and then observing the effect. The resulting system is thus not only more intuitive and thus easier to use for a medical practitioner, it will also be safer for the patient, since there is less likelihood of the operator programming unsuitable parameter values.