Implantable device and programmer system which permits multiple programmers

• US 20050022181A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermedics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intermedics Incorporated
• Inventors: Rottenberg, William B., Thome, Bryan J., Fox, James K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

A multiprogrammer system, for monitoring and optimizing implant performance, includes at least two programmers and an implant. Each programmer may perform inquiry and programming operations on the implant. In an inquiry operation, the programmer retrieves some or all of the configuration parameters from the implant. In a programming operation, the programmer provides one or more modified parameters to the implant. As part of the programming operation, the programmer is configured to verify that it is aware of the implant'"'"'s current parameters before sending modified parameters. The current programmer verifies that the implant'"'"'s parameters have not been altered since the current programmer'"'"'s last interaction with the implant. If the parameters have been altered, the current programmer aborts the programming operation and provides notification. The verification may be performed by the implant, i.e., it may verify that the programmer is aware of the current device parameters before the implant accepts modified parameters.

Claims

1-43. -43. (Canceled)

44. A method, comprising:

programming parameters in a medical implant;

determining if the parameters have been altered since the programming parameters;

modifying the parameters if the parameters have not been altered; and

halting modifying the parameters if the parameters have been altered.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein programming parameters includes programming the parameters with a programmer, and wherein halting modifying the parameters includes notifying an operator that the programmer was not a last device to interact with the medical implant.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein programming parameters includes programming the parameters with a first programmer and subsequently altering the parameters with a second programmer.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein modifying the parameters includes modifying the parameters with the second programmer.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein halting modifying the parameters includes halting modifying the parameters when modification is attempted using the first programmer.

49-57. -57. (Canceled)

58. A method, comprising:

storing a program in an implantable device;

storing configuration parameters in an implantable device, the stored configuration parameters being capable of controlling operation of the program;

electronically transferring verification data between the implantable device and a programming device;

verifying the configuration parameters are current configuration parameters from a comparison of the transferred verification data with the stored data, wherein verifying configuration parameters includes verifying operational parameters that control therapy provided by an implantable pacemaker are current.

59. A method, comprising:

storing a program in an implantable device;

storing configuration parameters in an implantable device, the stored configuration parameters being capable of controlling operation of the program;

electronically transferring verification data between the implantable device and a programming device;

verifying the configuration parameters are current configuration parameters from a comparison of the transferred verification data with the stored data, wherein verifying configuration parameters includes verifying configuration parameters that control the therapy provided by an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator are current.

60-68. -68. (Canceled)

69. A programming device for an implantable device, wherein the implantable device has configuration parameters that are used by a program to control a therapy provided to a patient, wherein the programming device comprises:

a user interface;

a memory configured to store configuration parameters;

a communications circuit configurable to communicate with the implantable device; and

a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the user interface, and further coupled to the communications circuit adapted to retrieve configuration parameters from the implantable device and send configuration parameters to the implantable device;

wherein the communication circuit is configured to electronically transfer verification data between the implantable device and the programming device, and the microprocessor compares the transferred verification data with stored data and verifies configuration parameters of the implantable device are current configuration parameters from the comparison of the transferred verification data with the stored data, and

wherein the microprocessor verifies that the retrieved configuration parameters are current by retrieving the current configuration parameters from the implantable device and comparing the current configuration parameters to the previously retrieved configuration parameters.

70-76. -76. (Canceled)