Communication system for medical devices

• US 20070123955A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Masoud, Javaid, Twetan, Len, Haubrich, Gregory, Verhoef, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.

Claims

1. A communications device for facilitating communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network, comprising:

a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices;

a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network;

a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device; and

a processor in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the computer network communication interface includes a configuration to determine communication quality with the wireless computer network and supply data representative thereof to the processor; and

the processor includes a configuration, in response to the data representative of communication quality, to determine if the communication quality is below a predetermined threshold and, if so, supply an alarm signal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the peripheral device communication interface includes a configuration to determine communication quality with the wireless peripheral device and supply data representative thereof to the processor; and

the processor is further configured, in response to the data representative of communication quality, to determine if the communication quality is below a predetermined threshold and, if so, supply an alarm signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein:

the peripheral device communication interface includes a configuration to determine communication quality between the wireless peripheral device and an external communication system and supply data representative thereof; and

the processor is further configured, in response to the data representative of signal quality, to determine if the communication quality is below a predetermined threshold and, if so, supply an alarm signal.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a primary battery operable to supply electrical power to at least the processor, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface; and

a power management module coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and configured to determine a state of charge of the primary battery and supply primary battery charge-state data representative thereof.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor receives the primary battery charge-state data and is further configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine if the primary battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state and, if so, supply an alarm signal.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor receives the primary battery charge-state data and is further configured, upon receipt thereof, to limit communication to or from one or more of the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface if the primary battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the power management module includes a configuration to determine a state of charge of a peripheral device battery installed in the wireless peripheral device and supply peripheral device battery charge-state data representative thereof.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor receives the peripheral device battery charge-state data and is further configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine if the peripheral device battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state and, if so, supply an alarm signal.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the processor is coupled to receive the peripheral device battery charge-state data and is further configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a peripheral device reconfiguration signal to the wireless peripheral device, via the peripheral device communication interface, if the peripheral device battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state; and

the wireless peripheral device, upon receipt of the reconfiguration signal, includes a reconfiguration to limit communication to or from itself.

11. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a secondary battery operable to selectively supply electrical power to at least the processor, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, the peripheral device communication interface, and the power management module.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power management module configured to selectively switch at least the processor between a communication mode and a standby mode,

wherein the processor, in the standby mode, draws less electrical power than in the communication mode.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the power management module, when the processor is in the standby mode, includes a configuration periodically switch the processor from the standby mode to the communication mode and then back to the standby mode.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein:

the processor, when periodically switched into the communication mode from the standby mode, includes a configuration to supply a communication verification signal to the computer network communication interface and the peripheral device communication interface;

the computer network communication interface further configured, in response to the communication verification signal, to determine communication quality with the wireless computer network; and

the peripheral device communication interface further configured, in response to the communication verification signal, to determine communication quality with the wireless peripheral device.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm driver coupled to receive an alarm signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply an alarm driver signal; and

an alarm indicator coupled to receive the alarm driver signal and operable, in response thereto, to generate an alarm.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive input stimulus from a user and operable, upon receipt of the stimulus, to supply a user interface signal to the processor.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable, in response to the user interface signal, to configure the telemetry circuit to wirelessly communicate with, and retrieve data from, the medical device.

18. A communications device for facilitating communication between medical device and a wireless communications network, comprising:

a primary battery operable to supply electrical power;

a telemetry circuit coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices;

a computer network communication interface coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network;

a peripheral device communication interface coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device;

a power management module coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and configured to determine a state of charge of the primary battery and supply primary battery charge-state data representative thereof; and

a processor coupled to receive electrical power from the primary battery and in operable communication with the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, the peripheral device communication interface, and the power management module, the processor further coupled to receive the primary battery charge-state data and configured, upon receipt thereof, to limit communication to or from one or more of the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface if the primary battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein:

the power management module further includes a configuration to determine a state of charge of a peripheral device battery installed in the wireless peripheral device and supply peripheral device battery charge-state data representative thereof;

the processor is coupled to receive the peripheral device battery charge-state data and is further configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a peripheral device reconfiguration signal to the wireless peripheral device, via the peripheral device communication interface, if the peripheral device battery charge state is below a predetermined threshold charge state; and

the wireless peripheral device, upon receipt of the reconfiguration signal, is reconfigured to limit communication to or from itself.

20. A method of providing bio-feedback to a patient having one or more medical devices, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying patient symptom data to a personal computer (PC), the patient symptom data representative of one or more symptoms being experienced by the patient;

transmitting medical device data from the medical device to the PC;

processing the supplied patient symptom data and the transmitted medical device data in the PC; and

based on the processed data, supplying diagnostic bio-feedback to the patient via the PC.