Universal external control device for use by multiple conditional access users with varying access to functionality of an implantable medical device

• US 20080103531A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman Neuro Sciences Sarl
• Inventors: Tardy, Yanik, Ginggen, Alec
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A universal external control device for use by multiple conditional access users with varying access to functionality of an implantable medical device in wireless communication therewith. Circuitry associated with the external control device is used to uniquely identify each of the conditional access users via an access device such as a key or card. Access to functionality of the implantable medical device is restricted by the universal external control device based on the conditional access user identified by the access device.

Claims

1. A universal external control device for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, comprising:

circuitry for identifying each of the plural conditional access users, determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned and restricting access for each of the plural conditional access users to that functionality associated with the implantable medical device based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned;

each of the plural conditional access users is assigned by the circuitry a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned by the circuitry default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition and is accessible by the plural conditional access users.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes Hall sensors for uniquely identifying each of the plural conditional access users.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein any one set of conditional access functions may overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions.

4. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. A method for using a universal external control device for permitting wireless functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, comprising the steps of:

assigning to each of the plural conditional access users functionality associated with the implantable medical device to which that user is permitted conditional access;

the assigning step comprises assigning to each of the plural conditional access users a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework;

determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned; and

restricting access to the functionality associated with the implantable medical device for each of the plural conditional access users based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users is permitted conditional access.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions.

13. The method in accordance wit claim 12, wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions.

16. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein any one set of conditional access functions may overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions.

17. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises reading from an access device in communication with the universal external control device that functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned.

18. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition and is accessible by the plural conditional access users.

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

19. A system for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an unplantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, the system comprising:

a plurality of access devices one for identifying each of the plural conditional access users; and

a universal external control device including circuitry for identifying the conditional access user based an the associated access device when placed in communication with the universal external control device, determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned and restricting access for each of the plural conditional access users to that functionality associated with the implantable medical device based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned;

each of the plural conditional access users is assimied by the circuitry a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the access device permits access to more than one function of the implantable medical device.

21. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein any one set of conditional access functions may overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions.

22. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the non-bieraithical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions.

23. The device in accordance with claim 22, wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions.