Methods and systems for controlling implantable medical devices using wearable technology

• US 10,226,632 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Balinski, Peter A., Bazar, Sandeep, Nesbitt, Pamela A., Olson, John T., Patil, Sandeep R., Punadikar, Sachin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/438,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20180236242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36585 controlled by two or more physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

Embodiments for controlling an implantable cardiac device by one or more processors are described. Data from at least one wearable device sensor is received. The implantable cardiac device is controlled based on the data.

Claims

1. A method, by a one or more processors, for controlling an implantable cardiac device, comprising:

registering a wearable device including at least one wearable device sensor with the implantable cardiac device at a first time;

wherein the registering includes transmitting biometric identification data specific to a user from the wearable device to the implantable cardiac device;

receiving data from the at least one wearable device sensor at a second time, the data including the biometric identification data registered to the user, a physiological condition of the user, and a condition of the environment surrounding the user;

controlling the implantable cardiac device based on the data; and

generating an indication on the wearable device of the physiological condition of the user and the condition of the environment surrounding the user commensurate with controlling the implantable cardiac device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable device sensor is connected to the wearable device worn on a body of the user, and the implantable cardiac device is implanted within the body of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes a physiological condition of the user, wherein the physiological condition of the user includes at least one of an activity level or body temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes a condition of the environment surrounding the user, wherein the condition of the environment surrounding the user includes at least one of an altitude, barometric pressure, or the presence of a magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable cardiac device is configured to pace a heart of the user, and wherein the controlling of the implantable cardiac device includes adjusting the rate at which the implantable cardiac device paces the heart.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data further includes genetic markers on the skin of the user.

7. A system for controlling an implantable cardiac device, comprising:

a wearable device;

at least one sensor connected to the wearable device; and

at least one processor in communication with the at least one sensor and the wearable device, that

registers the wearable device including the at least one wearable device sensor with the implantable cardiac device at a first time;

wherein the registering includes transmitting biometric identification data specific to a user from the wearable device to the implantable cardiac device;

receives data from the at least one wearable device sensor at a second time, the data including the biometric identification data registered to the user, a physiological condition of the user, and a condition of the environment surrounding the user;

controls the implantable cardiac device based on the data; and

generates an indication on the wearable device of the physiological condition of the user and the condition of the environment surrounding the user commensurate with controlling the implantable cardiac device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wearable device is worn on a body of the user, and the implantable cardiac device is implanted within the body of the user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the data includes a physiological condition of the user, wherein the physiological condition of the user includes at least one of an activity level or body temperature.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the data includes a condition of the environment surrounding the user, wherein the condition of the environment surrounding the user includes at least one of an altitude, barometric pressure, or the presence of a magnetic field.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the implantable cardiac device is configured to pace a heart of the user, and wherein the controlling of the implantable cardiac device includes adjusting the rate at which the implantable cardiac device paces the heart.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the data further includes genetic markers on the skin of the user.

13. A computer program product for controlling an implantable cardiac device by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that registers a wearable device including at least one wearable device sensor with the implantable cardiac device at a first time;

wherein the registering includes transmitting biometric identification data specific to a user from the wearable device to the implantable cardiac device;

an executable portion that receives data from the at least one wearable device sensor at a second time, the data including the biometric identification data registered to the user, a physiological condition of the user, and a condition of the environment surrounding the user;

an executable portion that controls the implantable cardiac device based on the data; and

an executable portion that generates an indication on the wearable device of the physiological condition of the user and the condition of the environment surrounding the user commensurate with controlling the implantable cardiac device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the at least one wearable device sensor is connected to the wearable device worn on a body of the user, and the implantable cardiac device is implanted within the body of the user.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the data includes a physiological condition of the user, wherein the physiological condition of the user includes at least one of an activity level or body temperature.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the data includes a condition of the environment surrounding the user, wherein the condition of the environment surrounding the user includes at least one of an altitude, barometric pressure, or the presence of a magnetic field.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the implantable cardiac device is configured to pace a heart of the user, and wherein the controlling of the implantable cardiac device includes adjusting the rate at which the implantable cardiac device paces the heart.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the data further includes genetic markers on the skin of the user.