System and method for emergency communication between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider

• US 20020052539A1
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belltower Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Belltower Associates LLC
• Inventors: Ferek-Petric, Bozidar, Donders, Adrianus P., Haller, Markus
• Application Number:
  US09/764,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052539A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A emergency medical information communication system and corresponding methods are described. The system permits an emergency alert to be issued on the basis of information sensed or processed by an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient. The IMD is capable of bidirectional communication with a communication module, a mobile telephone and/or a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located outside the patient'"'"'s body. The communication module, a mobile telephone or a PDA is capable of communicating an emergency alert generated by the IMD to a remote computer via a communication system. At the remote computer system it may be determined that emergency remedial action is required. If so, the action is executed remotely from the remote computer system in the IMD via the communication system.

Claims

1. A system for emergency communication between an implantable medical device implanted with a body of a patient, the IMD being capable of bidirectional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

(a) the IMD;

(b) the communication module, the communication module comprising;

(a) means for detecting the presence of a health condition in the patient or an operating condition in the IMD that requires the execution of an emergency remedial response; and

(b) means for issuing an alert to a remote computer system via a mobile telephone and a communication system that the execution of a remedial response is required;

(c) the mobile telephone, the mobile telephone being operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving information therefrom or relaying information thereto;

(e) the remote computer system;

(f) the communication system, the communication system being capable of bidirectional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is incorporated into the mobile telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone further comprises a Personal Data Assistant (PDA).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a device separate and apart from the mobile telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the IMD and the communication module communicate with one another using radio-frequency telemetry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a controller, a CPU, a computer readable memory operably connected to a processor, and at least one RF communications circuit for transmitting information to and receiving information from the IMD.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises a data output port, cable and connector for connection to a mobile telephone data input port of the mobile telephone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises in a memory thereof computer readable software for initiating and maintaining communications with the mobile telephone using standardized handshake protocols.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises at least one of a telemetry signal strength indicator and a telemetry session success indicator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises at least one of volatile RAM, non-volatile RAM, ROM, EEPROM, a hard or floppy disk, and flash memory for storing at least one of patient data, IMD data, and software.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises at least one of a real-time clock, a battery, a serial output interface and a parallel output interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is plug-and-play compatible with the mobile telephone.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module, upon receiving instruction from the patient, the remote computer system or a remote health care provider, further comprises means for interrogating the IMD to assess the operational performance thereof, upload data therefrom, or assess the health status of the patient.

14. The system of claim 13, the wherein communication module further comprises means for storing information obtained from the IMD in a computer readable medium.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication module further comprises means for relaying information obtained from the IMD to the remote computer via the mobile telephone.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module, upon receiving instruction from the remote computer or a remote health care provider, further comprises means for interrogating the IMID to assess the operational performance thereof, upload data therefrom, or assess the health status of the patient.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication module further comprises means for storing information obtained from the IMD in a computer readable medium.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication module further comprises means for relaying information obtained from the IMD to the remote computer via the mobile telephone.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication system further comprises at least one of a mobile telephone network, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LANs), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), a wireless network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and a satellite.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises means for managing and updating software relating to at least one of the operational and functional parameters of the communication module or the IMD.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises means for defecting a fault in the operation or circuitry thereof.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication module further comprises means for correcting a detected fault in operation or circuitry the communication module and means for notifying the remote computer system or the patient that the fault has been detected or corrected.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further comprises means for defecting a fault in the operation or circuitry of the IMD.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication module further comprises means for correcting a detected fault in the operation or circuitry of the IMD and means for notifying the remote computer system or the patient that a fault has been detected or corrected.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for mining at least one of patient history, performance parameter integrity and software status from the communication module.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises at least one of means for monitoring the performance of the IMD, and means for monitoring physiologic signals or data indicative of the patient'"'"'s health status.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication module and the at least of the mobile telephone and the PDA comprises means for the patient to initiate the alert.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the PDA is incorporated into the mobile telephone.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the PDA is operably connected to the mobile telephone.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the IMD and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA communicate with one another using radio-frequency telemetry.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a controller, a CPU, a computer readable memory operably connected to a processor, and at least one RF communications circuit for transmitting information to and receiving information from the IMD.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises a data output port, cable and connector for connection to an external device.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises in a memory thereof computer readable software for initiating and maintaining communications with the IMD using standardized handshake protocols.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises at least one of a telemetry signal strength indicator and a telemetry session success indicator.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises at least one of volatile RAM, non-volatile RAM, ROM, EEPROM, a hard or floppy disk, and flash memory for storing at least one of patient data, IMD data, and software.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises at least one of a real-time clock, a battery, a serial output interface and a parallel output interface.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA is adapted to receive electrical power from at least one of a portable energy source disposed therewithin or connected thereto and household line ac power.

39. The system of claim 28, wherein the PDA is plug-and-play compatible with the mobile telephone.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, upon receiving instruction from the patient, the remote computer system or a remote health care provider, further comprises means for interrogating the IMD to assess the operational performance thereof, upload data therefrom, or assess the health status of the patient.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for storing information obtained from the IMD in a computer readable medium.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for relaying information obtained from the IMD to the remote computer via the mobile telephone.

43. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, upon receiving instruction from the remote computer or a remote health care provider, further comprises means for interrogating the IMD to assess the operational performance thereof, upload data therefrom, or assess the health status of the patient.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for storing information obtained from the IMD in a computer readable medium.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for relaying information obtained from the IMD to the remote computer via the mobile telephone.

46. The system of claim 28, wherein the communication system further comprises at least one of a mobile telephone network, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LANs), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), a wireless network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and a satellite.

47. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA farther comprises means for managing and updating software relating to at least one of the operational and functional parameters of the communication module or the IMD.

48. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for defecting a fault in the operation or circuitry thereof.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for correcting a detected fault in operation or circuitry the communication module and means for notifying the remote computer system or the patient that the fault has been detected or corrected.

50. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for defecting a fault in the operation or circuitry of the IMD.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA further comprises means for correcting a detected fault in the operation or circuitry of the IMD and means for notifying the remote computer system or the patient that a fault has been detected or corrected.

52. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for mining at least one of patient history, performance parameter integrity and software status from the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.

53. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA comprises at least one of means for monitoring the performance of the IMD, and means for monitoring physiologic signals or data indicative of the patient'"'"'s health status.

54. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA comprises means for the patient to initiate the alert.

28. A system for emergency communication between an implantable medical device implanted with a body of a patient, 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;

(b) at least one of a mobile telephone and a PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD, the at least one of a mobile telephone and a PDA comprising;

(a) means for detecting the presence of a health condition in the patient or an operating condition in the IMD that requires the execution of an emergency remedial response; and

(b) means for issuing an alert to a remote computer system via a mobile telephone and a communication system that the execution of a remedial response is required;

(c) a remote computer system;

(d) a communication system capable of bidirectional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.

57. A method of initiating the potential execution of an emergency medical remedial action to a patient, an implantable medical device (IMD) being implanted in the patient, the method utilizing a system for communicating between the IMD and a remote computer system, the IMD being capable of bidirectional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the 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 bidirectional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system, the method comprising:

(a) the patient or the IMD determining that the emergency medical remedial action should be provided to the patient;

(b) in response to the determination, uploading data from the IMD to the communication module;

(c) transferring the data from the communication module to the mobile telephone and thence on to the remote computer system via the communication system;

(d) remotely analyzing the data;

(e) determining on the basis of the analyzed data whether emergency remedial action respecting at least one of the IMD and the patient is required, and

(f) remotely executing the determined emergency remedial action via the communication system.

58. A method of initiating the potential execution of an emergency medical remedial action to a patient, an implantable medical device (IMD) being implanted in the patient, the method utilizing a system for communicating between the IMD and a remote computer system, the IMD being capable of bidirectional communication with at least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, 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 bidirectional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA the method comprising:

(a) the patient or the IMD determining that the emergency medical remedial action should be provided to the patient;

(b) in response to the determination, uploading data from the IMD to the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA;

(c) transferring the data from the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA to the remote computer system via the communication system;

(d) remotely analyzing the data;

(e) determining on the basis of the analyzed data whether emergency remedial action respecting at least one of the IMD and the patient is required, and

(f) remotely executing the determined emergency remedial action via the communication system.