In-home remote monitor with smart repeater, memory and emergency event management

• US 20060074462A1
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Verhoef, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.

Claims

1. A system for remote patient monitoring, comprising:

a medical device for collecting and storing medical data;

a plurality of external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the medical device and for communication with at least one other of the plurality of external monitoring devices;

a data communications network coupled to at least one of the plurality of external monitoring devices; and

a centralized patient management system coupled to the data communications network for transferring data to or from the at least one of the plurality of external monitoring devices.

2. A communication system for remote patient monitoring, comprising:

a first wireless communication unit implemented in a medical device;

a plurality of second wireless communication units implemented in a plurality of external monitoring devices and adapted for bidirectional communication with the first wireless communication unit at a first transmission frequency; and

a plurality of third wireless communication units implemented in the plurality of external monitoring devices and adapted for bidirectional communication with each other at a second transmission frequency.

3. The communication system of claim 2, further including a data communication unit included in at least one of the external monitoring devices and adapted for coupling to a data communications network.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the data communications network is further coupled to a central patient management system.

5. A method for remote patient monitoring, comprising:

detecting a transmission signal strength between a medical device wireless communication unit and multiple, networked, external monitoring device wireless communication units;

selecting the external monitoring device associated with the highest transmission signal strength; and

transferring data between the medical device and the selected external monitoring device.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

monitoring the transmission signal strength between the selected external monitoring device and the medical device during data transferring;

detecting a decrease in transmission signal strength during data transferring; and

switching the data transfer from the selected external monitoring device to a second external monitoring device associated with a higher transmission signal strength.

7. The method of claim 5, further including transferring data from the selected external monitoring device to a central patient management system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transferring data from the selected external monitoring device to a centralized patient management system includes:

transferring data from the selected external monitoring device to a master external monitoring device; and

transferring data from the master external monitoring device to the centralized patient management system.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the data transfer includes transferring physiologic data acquired by the medical device from the medical device to the external monitoring device.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the data transfer includes transferring device-related data from the medical device to the external monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the data transfer includes transferring remote programming data from the external monitoring device to the medical device.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the data transfer is triggered to occur upon detection of a predetermined condition by the medical device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data transfer includes an alert signal transferred from the medical device to the external monitoring device.

14. The method of claim 13, further including sending an alert signal notification from the external monitoring device to communication network destination.

15. A system for remote patient monitoring, comprising:

means for acquiring medical data implemented in a medical device;

means for bidirectional communication at a first transmission frequency between the medical device and an external monitoring device for transferring the medical data;

means for bidirectional communication at a second transmission frequency between multiple external monitoring devices,

means for determining which of the multiple external monitoring devices is associated with the highest transmission signal strength between the external monitoring device and the medical device, and

means for selecting the external monitoring device associated with the highest transmission signal strength for transmitting data to or from the medical device.

16. A computer readable medium for storing a set of instructions which when implemented in a remote patient monitoring system cause the system to:

detect a transmission signal strength between a medical device and multiple, networked external monitoring devices;

select one of the multiple, networked external monitoring devices associated with the highest received signal strength to communicate with the medical device for transferring data;

monitor the transmission signal strength during communication between the selected external monitoring device and the medical device to detect a weakening of the transmission signal strength;

if a weakening of the transmission signal strength is detected, select a different one of the multiple networked external monitoring device associated with a higher received signal strength to communicate with the medical device for transferring data.

17. A monitor for use in a remote patient monitoring system, comprising:

a first telemetry unit for communicating with a medical device at a first transmission frequency;

a second telemetry unit for communicating with at least one other monitor at a second transmission frequency.

18. The monitor of claim 17 further comprising a communication unit for coupling to a communication network.

19. The monitor of claim 17 further comprising a memory for storing data received from a medical device.

20. The monitor of claim 17 further comprising a display.

21. The monitor of claim 17 further comprising an interface for coupling the monitor to an electronic appliance.