TELEMETRY DURING SAFETY MODE OPERATION

• US 20090157127A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stubbs, Scott R., Hoyme, Kenneth P., Linder, William J., Harris, Thomas J., Doshi, Hiten J., Gifford, Douglas J., Sowder, Conrad L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/4
• 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

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, n implantable device comprising a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external device, a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and the communication circuit. The processor is configured to communicate information with the external device, via the communication circuit and the logic circuit, using a set of communication messages. While in a device safety mode, the processor is held in an inactive state and the logic circuit is configured to communicate with the external device using a subset of the set of communication messages.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising:

a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external device;

a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the communication circuit; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to communicate information with the external device, via the communication circuit and the logic circuit, using a set of communication messages, and

wherein, while in a device safety mode, the processor is held in an inactive state and the logic circuit is configured to communicate with the external device using a subset of the set of communication messages.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein, while in the device safety mode, the logic circuit is configured to:

detect a request for status message from the external device; and

communicate status information to the external device.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein, while in the device safety mode, the logic circuit is configured to:

detect a reset message from the external device;

initiate a reset of the implantable device upon detecting the reset message; and

communicate an acknowledge message to the external device indicating that the reset message was received.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device includes a therapy circuit configured to provide a therapy to a subject according to a therapy mode, and wherein, while in the device safety mode, the logic circuit is configured to:

detect a therapy control request message from the external device, wherein the therapy control request message indicates an action to be taken by the logic circuit; and

change the therapy mode of the implantable device according to the indicated action.

5. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the therapy circuit is configured to provide at least one of cardioversion therapy and defibrillation therapy, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to disable the therapy circuit according to the indicated action.

6. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the implantable device is configured to provide an audio indication of the therapy, and wherein the logic circuit is configured to disable the audio indication according to the indicated action.

7. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein, while in the device safety mode, the logic circuit is configured to phase out functionality of the implantable device according to tiers of functionality, and

wherein a first tier of functionality includes reduced therapy functionality and reduced communication functionality, and

wherein a second tier of functionality includes no communication functionality.

8. A method comprising:

communicating information between a processor of an implantable device and an external device using a set of communication messages;

inactivating the processor while the implantable device is in a device safety mode; and

communicating information between the external device and a logic circuit of the implantable device using a subset of the set of communication messages while the implantable device is in the device safety mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating information using a subset of communication messages includes communicating a message that contains status information regarding the implantable device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating information using a subset of communication messages includes communicating a message that causes the implantable device to reset.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is a cardiac function management (CFM) device that provides electrical therapy to a subject according to a therapy mode, and wherein communicating information using a subset of communication messages includes communicating a message to change the therapy mode of the implantable device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein communicating a message to change the therapy mode includes communicating a therapy control request message to the logic circuit to disable the implantable device from providing at least one of cardioversion therapy and defibrillation therapy.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein communicating a message to change the therapy mode includes communicating a message to disable an audio indication provided by the implantable device during the therapy mode.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein inactivating some functionality of the implantable device while in a device safety mode includes phasing out functionality of the implantable device according to tiers of functionality, and

wherein a first tier of functionality includes reduced therapy functionality and reduced communication functionality, and

wherein a second tier of functionality includes no communication functionality.

15. A system comprising:

an implantable cardiac function management (CFM) device and an external device to communicate with the implantable device, wherein the implantable device includes;

a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external device;

a logic circuit communicatively coupled to the communication circuit; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the logic circuit and the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to communicate information with the external device, via the communication circuit and the logic circuit, using a set of communication messages, and

wherein, while in a device safety mode, the processor is held in an inactive state and the logic circuit is configured to communicate with the external device using a subset of the set of communication messages.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the external device includes a CFM device programmer.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the external device is included in a patient management system and is configured to communicate information bi-directionally between the implantable CFM device and a remote third device via a telecommunications network.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the external device is configured to communicate a request for status message to the implantable device while the implantable device is in the device safety mode and the processor is in the inactive state, and

wherein the logic circuit of the implantable device is configured to:

detect the request for status message from the external device; and

communicate status information to the external device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the external device is configured to communicate a reset message to the implantable device while the implantable device is in the device safety mode, and

wherein the logic circuit of the implantable device is configured to:

detect a reset message from the external device;

initiate a reset of the implantable device upon detecting the reset message; and

communicate an acknowledge message to the external device indicating that the reset message was received.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the external device is configured to communicate a therapy control command to the implantable device while the implantable device is in the safety mode, and

wherein the logic circuit is configured to:

determine an action from the therapy control command; and

change a therapy mode of the implantable CFM device according to the determined action.