Method and apparatus for communicating with an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD; and
establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD in response to detection of the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Uplink and downlink telemetry between an implantable medical device (IMD) telemetry transceiver and an external medical device (EMD) telemetry transceiver used by a patient or health care provider is facilitated by the communications system of the present invention. The IMD provides a therapy and/or measures physiologic conditions of the patient for use in formulating a therapy and/or for storage in IMD memory for later uplink telemetry transmission. The patient causes the EMD to emit encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones that are detected by an audio receiver of the IMD to enable uplink and downlink telemetry transmissions in a telemetry or communication session. Then, the patient formulates a message via a message entry mechanism of the EMD that communicates an instruction or query to the IMD. The downlink message is optionally displayed by an EMD display as it is composed by the user and is then downlink telemetered to the IMD. A responsive uplink message from the IMD is uplink telemetered, received by the EMD telemetry transceiver, stored in EMD memory and displayed by EMD display. The EMD optionally includes a DSVD/modem module for either connection to a telephone line or a cellular telephone receiver in a variety of ways that can provide two-way voice communication between the patient and a remote care provider as well as transmission of uplink telemetered IMD and patient data to a remote EMD. The IMD may further include an audio tone generator for generating a tone or series of tones indicative of operation or status of the IMD that can be heard by the patient or received and displayed by the IMD. The DTMF tones can also be employed to alter an IMD operation.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD; and
establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD in response to detection of the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
establishing a two-way communication link between the EMD and the IMD in response to detection of the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
using a message entry mechanism of the EMD, entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD;
communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD;
communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD; and
displaying one or both of the uplink and downlink messages on a display of the EMD. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for communicating between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:
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in the EMD, means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD; and
in the IMD, delivery means for delivering a therapy to the patient or monitoring a physiologic condition of the patient;
control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD;
means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD; and
uplink message means for communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for communicating between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:
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in the EMD, means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
message entry means for entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD; and
means for communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD; and
in the IMD, means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD;
delivery means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient; and
control means for modifying an operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for communicating uplink and downlink messages between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:
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in the EMD, means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
message entry means for entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD;
means for communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD; and
means for displaying one or both of the uplink and downlink messages on the display of the EMD; and
in the IMD, delivery means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient;
control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD;
means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD; and
uplink message means for communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD;
detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD; and
modifying the operation of the IMD responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A system for communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the system comprising:
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means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD;
means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD; and
means for modifying the operation of the IMD responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification