Implantable medical device having long-term wireless capabilities
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising:
- a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating clinical data describing said measurement; and
a wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a communications link with a host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network and delivering said clinical data to said host computer over said communications link.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device is provided that is capable of utilizing a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a digital wireless telephone network, personal communication services network or pager network, to directly communicate with a host computer without the need for a repeater device. The implantable medical device includes a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic, such as temperature or electrical cardiac activity, and generating clinical data describing the measurement. The implantable medical device also includes a wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a communications link with a host computer over the long-range wireless network. The wireless transmitter/receiver unit is capable of delivering the measured clinical data to the host computer over the wireless network. The wireless transmitter/receiver unit can also periodically deliver status information regarding the operation of the implantable device to the host computer. Power to the wireless transmitter/receiver unit is turned off except when the device is communicating with the host computer in order to preserve battery life.
529 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising:
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a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating clinical data describing said measurement; and
a wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a communications link with a host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network and delivering said clinical data to said host computer over said communications link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operation for an implantable medical device comprising a processor, a sensor, and a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, said method comprising:
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measuring a body characteristic at said sensor and generating clinical data describing said measurement;
determining at said processor whether said clinical data relates to a medically significant event; and
in response to determining that said clinical data relates to a medically significant event, turning on said transmitter/receiver unit, establishing a communications link between said wireless transmitter/receiver unit and a host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, transmitting said clinical data to said host computer over said communications link, and turning off said transmitter/receiver unit upon the completion of said transmission. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operation for an implantable medical device comprising a processor, a sensor, and a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, the method comprising:
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measuring a body characteristic at the sensor and generating clinical data describing the measurement;
turning on said transmitter/receiver unit at a predetermined time;
determining whether an incoming wireless telephone call is received at said host computer while said transmitter/receiver unit is turned on; and
in response to determining that an incoming wireless telephone call has been received at said transmitter/receiver unit from said host computer, transmitting status information regarding the operation of said implantable medical device to said host computer, and turning said transmitter/receiver unit off after said status information has been transmitted to said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification