Interactive programming and diagnostic system for use with implantable

Abstract

An analyzer-programmer system (30) for use with an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker (20). The system facilitates non-invasive communications with the implantable device and makes analysis of the operation of the implantable device easier to understand and perform. The system includes conventional processor means (42) for processing a sequence of stored instructions stored in programmable read-only memory, or ROM (40). The ROM, although designed to be accessed through predefined page of information, and blocks within such pages, is configured to allow in-page addressing within any of a plurality of pages in a linear fashion. Programmed intervals to be sent to the implantable device are displayed by the system in tabular form or as scaled time-lines or bars (FIG. 9A), with each separate interval beginning and ending in proper timed sequence, thereby providing a prediction of the expected performance. Such programmed intervals can overlay or sidelay measured performance (FIG. 9B), thereby facilitating a comparison between predicted and measured performance. The system also includes telemetry head means (28) for sending and receiving control and data signals to and from the implanted medical device ( 20). The telemetry head means (28) includes processing circuitry (FIG. 4C) that greatly simplifies the other circuitry needed in order to effectuate such communication.