External data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof

• US 20080021524A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Johnson, Donald Goscha, Lisa Haeder, Marina Brockway, Muralldharan Srivathsa, Veerichetty Kadhiresan
• Original Assignee: David Johnson, Donald Goscha, Lisa Haeder, Marina Brockway, Muralldharan Srivathsa, Veerichetty Kadhiresan
• Inventors: Johnson, David, Haeder, Lisa, Goscha, Donald, Srivathsa, Muralldharan, Kadhiresan, Veerichetty, Brockway, Marina
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry

Abstract

An external data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof is presented. An external data processing device is interfaced in far field telemetric communication with an ambulatory repeater. The external data processing device receives sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable medical device over a secure connection from the ambulatory repeater. Physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater are received by the external data processing device over a non-secure connection.

Claims

1. An external data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater, comprising:

an ambulatory repeater interface in far field telemetric communication with an ambulatory repeater; and

a processor interconnected to the ambulatory repeater interface, comprising;

a secure connection module over which sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable medical device is received from the ambulatory repeater; and

a non-secure connection module over which physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device are received from the ambulatory repeater.

2. An external data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising one of:

a dedicated monitoring module matched to the implantable medical device;

a database storing the physiological measures, the processor further comprising a processing module operative on the physiological measures; and

a clinical interrogation interface to a plurality of implantable medical devices.

3. An external data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises:

a remote activation module issuing a data transfer trigger over the ambulatory repeater interface to the ambulatory repeater.

4. An external data processing device according to claim 3, wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a system-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to a device-specific circumstance.

5. An external data processing device according to claim 3, wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a health-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to at least one of a detected prescribed health status and a detected alert condition.

6. An external data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a schedule of interrogations of the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater, wherein the processor further comprises an upload module to upload the schedule to the ambulatory repeater.

7. An external data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the far field telemetry is selected from at least one of radio frequency telemetry and cellular telemetry.

8. An external data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the physiological measures comprises at least one of physiological and behavioral data.

9. A method for providing an external data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater, comprising:

interfacing with an ambulatory repeater through far field telemetric communication;

securely receiving sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable medical device via the ambulatory repeater; and

non-securely receiving physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device via the ambulatory repeater.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising one of:

providing a dedicated monitoring module matched to the implantable medical device;

storing the physiological measures, the processor further comprising a processing module operative on the physiological measures; and

providing a clinical interrogation interface to a plurality of implantable medical devices.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

issuing a data transfer trigger over the ambulatory repeater interface to the ambulatory repeater.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a system-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to a device-specific circumstance.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a health-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to at least one of a detected prescribed health status and a detected alert condition.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

scheduling interrogations of the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater; and

uploading the schedule to the ambulatory repeater.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the far field telemetry is selected from at least one of radio frequency telemetry and cellular telemetry.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the physiological measures comprises at least one of physiological and behavioral data.

17. An ambulatory repeater apparatus for providing automated patient care, comprising:

providing a sensor to directly monitor a patient and to record physiological measures on an ad hoc basis;

an implantable medical device comprising;

a sensor interface;

physiological measures periodically retrieved over the sensor interface; and

stored sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned; and

an ambulatory repeater, comprising;

an authentication module to authenticate authorization from an external data processing device to interrogate the implantable medical device;

an authentication module to securely obtain the cryptographic key;

a telemetry transceiver to interface to the implantable medical device through wireless telemetry upon securing authorization and to obtain the sensitive information and physiological measures; and

a communications module to decrypt the sensitive information using the cryptographic key and to facilitate exchange of the sensitive information and the physiological measures with an external data processing device.

18. An ambulatory repeater apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor is one of external to and integrated directly into the ambulatory repeater.

19. An ambulatory repeater apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor interface operates over at least one of inductive telemetry, radio frequency telemetry, and Bluetooth telemetry.

20. An ambulatory repeater apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the sensor is selected from at least one of weight scale, blood pressure monitor, electrocardiograph, and Holter monitor.

21. A method for providing automated patient care using an ambulatory repeater apparatus, comprising:

directly monitoring a patient via a sensor and recording physiological measures on an ad hoc basis;

providing an implantable medical device, comprising;

interfacing to the sensor and periodically retrieving the physiological measures; and

storing sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned; and

providing an ambulatory repeater, comprising;

authenticating authorization from an external data processing device to interrogate the implantable medical device;

securely obtaining the cryptographic key;

interfacing to the implantable medical device through wireless telemetry upon securing the authorization;

obtaining the sensitive information and the physiological measures from the implantable medical device;

decrypting the sensitive information using the cryptographic key; and

exchanging the secure information and the physiological measures with an external data processing device.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is one of external to and integrated directly into the ambulatory repeater.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the interfacing of the implantable medical device and the sensor operates over at least one of inductive telemetry, radio frequency telemetry, and Bluetooth telemetry.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is selected from at least one of weight scale, blood pressure monitor, electrocardiograph, and Holter monitor.