Implantable Medical Device with Variable Data Retransmission Characteristics Based Upon Data Type

• US 20080103551A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Patrias, Robert A., Masoud, Javaid, Dudding, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,420,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• 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: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein includes an adjustable data retransmission scheme, which controls the manner in which data is retransmitted by the IMD. The retransmission feature can be adjusted in a dynamic manner based upon the type, context, or meaning of the telemetry data transmitted by the IMD. The IMD may process contextual meaning information that influences its data retransmission configuration. Such adjustability enables the IMD to satisfy minimum telemetry requirements in a manner that does not waste power, thus extending the IMD battery life.

Claims

1. A method for operating an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

), the method comprising;

obtaining contextual meaning information for data to be transmitted via telemetry communication from the IMD;

adjusting a data retransmission configuration for the IMD in response to the contextual meaning information; and

managing retransmission of the data to be transmitted, in accordance with the data retransmission configuration.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a priority for the data to be transmitted, wherein:

the contextual meaning information indicates the priority; and

the data retransmission configuration is based upon the priority.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the contextual meaning information indicates a data type category for the data to be transmitted; and

the data retransmission configuration is based upon the data type category.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising maintaining a list of data type categories for the IMD, the data type category being included in the list.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the data retransmission configuration comprises setting a maximum number of retransmission attempts for the IMD.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the data retransmission configuration comprises disabling a data retransmission function of the IMD.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the IMD performs a redundant transmission procedure for data transmitted via telemetry communication from the IMD, and the method further comprises:

receiving a successful transmission indication for a quantity of data previously transmitted via telemetry communication from the IMD; and

disabling, in response to the successful transmission indication, the redundant transmission procedure for the quantity of data.

8. An implantable medical device (“

IMD”

) comprising;

a data context module configured to process contextual meaning information for data to be transmitted by the IMD;

a data retransmission module coupled to the data context module, the data retransmission module being configured to adjust a data retransmission configuration for the IMD in response to the contextual meaning information; and

a transmitter coupled to the data retransmission module, the transmitter being controlled to manage retransmission of the data to be transmitted, in accordance with the data retransmission configuration.

9. An IMD according to claim 8, further comprising prioritization logic coupled to the data context module, and configured to generate a priority for the data to be transmitted, wherein:

the contextual meaning information indicates the priority; and

the data retransmission configuration is based upon the priority.

10. An IMD according to claim 8, wherein:

the contextual meaning information indicates a data type category for the data to be transmitted; and

the data retransmission configuration is based upon the data type category.

11. An IMD according to claim 10, further comprising memory coupled to the data context module, and configured to store a list of data type categories for the IMD, the data type category being included in the list.

12. An IMD according to claim 8, wherein the data retransmission module is configured to adjust the data retransmission configuration by setting a maximum number of retransmission attempts for the IMD.

13. An IMD according to claim 8, wherein the data retransmission module is configured to adjust the data retransmission configuration by disabling a data retransmission function of the IMD.

14. A method for operating an implantable medical device (“

IMD”

), the method comprising;

creating a data packet that contains data to be transmitted via telemetry communication from the IMD;

associating a retransmission priority to the data packet, based upon contextual meaning information for the data to be transmitted;

transmitting the data packet; and

retransmitting the data packet as needed and in accordance with the retransmission priority.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising obtaining the contextual meaning information for the data to be transmitted.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising adjusting a data retransmission configuration for the IMD in response to the retransmission priority.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the contextual meaning information indicates a data type category for the data to be transmitted.

18. A method according to claim 14, further comprising setting a maximum number of retransmission attempts for the data packet, the maximum number being influenced by the retransmission priority.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising preventing retransmission of the data packet if the maximum number is less than one.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the IMD performs a redundant transmission procedure for data transmitted via telemetry communication from the IMD, and the method further comprises:

receiving a successful transmission indication for the data packet; and

disabling, in response to the successful transmission indication, the redundant transmission procedure for the data packet.