Multi-mode coordinator for medical device function

• US 20070055324A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Greeninger, David Thompson, Koen Weijand
• Original Assignee: Daniel Greeninger, David Thompson, Koen Weijand
• Inventors: Thompson, David, Weijand, Koen, Greeninger, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/554,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The invention is directed to an externally applied coordinator for communication and/or control of 2 or more implantable medical devices that may utilize different telemetry communication techniques. The coordinator receives telemetry signals from 2 or more implantable medical devices and provides functional direction to each of the devices to provide coordinated therapy and/or diagnostic function. The coordinator automatically configures itself for communication with a given medical device based either on the telemetry signal it receives or programmed by the physician. Specifically the coordinator is implemented as a software based, power efficient receiver/transmitter based upon an inexpensive, simple motor-controller DSP.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first implanted medial device;

a second implanted medial device; and

a coordinator that receives data via a first communication signal from the first medial device, produces a function command, generates a second communication signal and sends the function command via the second communication signal to the second medical device.

2. The first implantable medical device of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter/defibrillator, a drug pump, a neuro stimulator, an ILR and a remote sensor.

3. The second implantable medical device of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter/defibrillator, a drug pump, a neuro stimulator, an ILR and a remote sensor.

4. The function command of claim 1 coordinates therapy between the first and second implantable medical devices.

5. The therapy of claim 4 selected from the group consisting of pacing, cardioversion/defibrillation, neuro stimulation and drug delivery.

6. The function command of claim 1 coordinating sensing and monitoring between the first and second implantable medical devices.

7. The function command of claim 1 providing pain suppression to the patient from a first implantable medical device prior to or during therapy from the second implantable medical device.

8. The function command of claim 1 providing reduced defibrillation or pacing threshold of the patient from a first implantable medical device prior to or during therapy from the second implantable medical device.

9. The function command of claim 1 providing remote sensor data from the first implantable medical device to the second medical device.

10. The function command of claim 1 providing device protection to the first implantable medical device during therapy delivery from the second implantable medical device.

11. The remote sensor data of claim 9 selected from the group consisting of acceleration, pressure, O₂sat, pH, flow, dP/dt, acoustic (sound), Doppler ultrasound, impedance plethsymmography and piezo-electric.

12. The coordinator of claim 1 mounted externally to the patient.

13. The coordinator of claim 12 selected from the group consisting of a wrist watch, a belt, a necklace, a piece of jewelry, an adhesive patch, a pager, a key fob, an identification card, a laptop computer, an interrogator and a hand-held computer.

14. The first and second communication signals from the coordinator of claim 1 consisting of a trancutaneous telemetry transmission.

15. The first and second communication signals of claim 14 selected from the group consisting of RF, electromagnetic, ionic and acoustic.

16. The coordinator of claim 1 communicating between 2 IMDs selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker and ICD, a pacemaker and drug pump, an ICD and drug pump, a pacemaker and neuro stimulator, an ILR and pacemaker, an ILR and ICD, an ILR and neuro stimulator, an ILR and drug pump and an ICD and neuro stimulator.

17. The neuro stimulator of claim 16 providing therapy to the patient'"'"'s vagus nerve or brain.

18. The pacing therapy of claim 5 selected from the group consisting of ATP pacing, overdrive pacing and bradycardia pacing.

19. The reduced ICD pain delivery of claim 7 selected from the group consisting of a neuro stimulator and drug pump.

20. The reduced defibrillation shock threshold of claim 8 reduced by therapy delivered from an IMD selected from the group consisting of a neuro stimulator, a drug pump and a pacemaker.

21. The coordinated sensing of physiologic data of claim 6 selected from the group consisting of cardiac signals, respiration signals and EEG signals.

22. The neuro stimulator or drug pump of claim 5 providing therapy for a disease selected from the group consisting of Parkinson'"'"'s and epilepsy.

23. The communication system of claim 1 with telemetry setup selected from the group consisting of automatic setup, physician programmed and implant detect and automatic setup.

24. The coordinator of claim 1 including a digital signal processor (DSP) circuit comprising:

means for receiving a data signal from a first IMD;

means for generating a control command; and

means for modulating a second signal with said function command and transmitting said second signal to a second IMD.

25. The coordinator of claim 24 further comprising:

an antenna system;

a receiver in operable communications with the antenna for receiving and amplifying of said data signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting a function command to said one of IMDs.

26. The coordinator of claim 24 further comprising:

a patient activated push button for providing manual input by the patient selected from the group consisting of arrhythmia onset, the feeling of light-headedness, the beginning of a meal, chest pains, to manually activate diagnostic data recording and initiate therapy delivery.

27. The monitoring therapy of claim 6 selected from the group consisting of EEG, cardiac, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central apnea and neurogenic pulmonary edema.

28. A method of coordinating the function of 2 IMDs implanted in a patient, comprising:

receiving a communication signal from a first IMD;

decoding the data from said communication signal;

utilizing said decoded data to generate a function command for said second IMD;

modulating a second communication signal with said data;

transmitting said second communication signal to said second IMD;

receiving said second communication signal by said second IMD; and

causing the second IMD to operate in a specific function/method.