System and method for remote programming of an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A communication system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
- (a) the IMD, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, and (b) the communication module, the communication module further comprising means for at least one of updating and reprogramming at least portions of the software loaded in the IMD;
(c) a mobile telephone operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving software information therefrom or relaying software information thereto;
(e) a remote computer system capable of initiating the downloading of updated or new software to the IMD via the communication system and the communication module;
(f) a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and corresponding system for updating or installing new software loaded into the memory of an implantable medical device(IMD) implanted within a body of a patient is described. The updated or new software may be installed in the memory of the IMD without the patient having to travel to a clinic or hospital, and may be effected by employing modem telecommunication and Internet techniques in conjunction with a remote computer system.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A communication system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
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(a) the IMD, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, and (b) the communication module, the communication module further comprising means for at least one of updating and reprogramming at least portions of the software loaded in the IMD;
(c) a mobile telephone operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving software information therefrom or relaying software information thereto;
(e) a remote computer system capable of initiating the downloading of updated or new software to the IMD via the communication system and the communication module;
(f) a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A communication system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with at least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
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(a) the IMD, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body;
(b) the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprising means for at least one of updating and reprogramming at least portions of the software loaded in the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD;
(c) a remote computer system capable of initiating the downloading of updated or new software to the IMD via the communication system and the communication module; and
(d) a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A software updating communication module for use in conjunction with an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the module, a mobile telephone, a remote computer system and a communication system, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, the mobile telephone being operably connected to the communication module and capable of uploading software therefrom or downloading software thereto, the remote computer system being capable of initiating the downloading of updated or new software to the IMD via the communication system and the communication module, the communication system being capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system, the communication module further comprising means for at least one of updating and reprogramming at least portions of the software loaded in the IMD.
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57. At least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) for facilitating updating and installing new software in an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA forming a portion of a system comprising the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, a remote computer and a communication system, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprising means for at least one of updating and reprogramming at least portions of the software loaded in the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of uploading software from or downloading software to the IMD, the remote computer system being capable of initiating the downloading of updated or new software to the IMD via the communication system and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the communication system being capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.
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58. A method of updating or installing new software in an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, the IMD forming a portion of a system comprising the IMD, a communication module, a mobile telephone capable of being operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving information therefrom or relaying information thereto, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system, the method comprising:
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(a) the patient or the remote computer system determining that at least one of at least portions of the software loaded in the memory of the IMD should be updated and or changed, and (b) transmitting new or updated software to the IMD via the mobile telephone and the communication module.
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59. A method of updating or installing new software in an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient, at least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the IMD comprising a memory having software loaded therein and means for permitting the software to be at least one of updated and reprogrammed after the IMD has been implanted within the patient'"'"'s body, the IMD forming a portion of a system comprising the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, a communication system and a remote computer system, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the method comprising:
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(a) the patient or the remote computer system determining that at least one of at least portions of the software loaded in the memory of the IMD should be updated and or changed, and (b) transmitting new or updated software to the IMD via the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.
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Specification