Remote support system for programming active implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiovertors or multisite devices

• US 20040010297A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sorin CRM USA (MicroPort Scientific Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sorin CRM USA (MicroPort Scientific Corp.)
• Inventors: Ripart, Alain, Poulet, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network

Abstract

A remote support system for programming active implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, cardioverters or multisite devices. A station is equipped with a programmer that is able to read by telemetry information stored in an implantable device and transmit over a telephone line, the information thus read, namely patient data and/or internal parameters for operating the programmer or programming parameters of the implant. A remote analysis station is configured to receive the information sent on the telephone line and display and/or analyze the transmitted information. The programmer includes an input to collect a voice signal and a multiplexor so that the data and/or parameters and the voice signal collected, are delivered at the multiplexor output as a multiplexed signal that, in turn, is applied to a tele-transmission circuit, e.g., a modem. The analysis station includes a circuit to restore the audio and a demultiplexor to receive the signal on the telephone line and deliver at the separate output channels the data and/or parameters and, in addition, the aforementioned voice signal. The data and/or parameters delivered by the multiplexor are applied to a display and/or an analysis circuit to analyze the patient data, and the voice signal is applied to a restitution circuit to provide an audio signal, enabling bidirectional real time voice communications over the same transmission line carrying the patient data.

Claims

1. A system for remote support for the programming of an active implantable medical device having a memory for storing information selected from among patient data and an internal control parameter, comprising:

a station equipped with a programmer, a distant analysis station, and a single telephone link connecting the station and the analysis station;

the programmer of the station further comprising;

means for reading by telemetry the information stored in said device, and

means for tele-transmission towards the distant site said read information, said tele-transmission means being coupled with said telephone line,

means for collecting and digitizing a voice signal, and

a multiplexor having a first input to receive the information read from said device memory, a second input to receive the collected and digitized voice signal, and an output to provide a multiplexed signal to the means for tele-transmission; and

the distant analysis station comprising;

means for receiving said teletransmission of information over said telephone line;

a demultiplexor having an input to receive the signal on the telephone line and to deliver at a first output said information and at a second output said digitized voice signal,

means responsive to the demultiplexor first output for displaying and/or analyzing of the information thus transmitted, and

a circuit responsive to said digitized voice signals at said demultiplexor second output to restore audio signals,

wherein the multiplexor and demultiplexor cooperate to provide bidirectional voice communications over said single telephone line.