IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising:
- a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement;
a processor configured to analyze the data signal and configured to identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient;
a first non-rechargeable battery configured to power at least the sensor and the processor; and
a first communications unit configured to be powered by the first non-rechargeable battery comprising a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer using said first communications link; and
a second rechargeable battery; and
a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer over said second communications link.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described, including a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement, and a processor configured to analyze the data signal and identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient. The implantable medical device further includes a first non-rechargeable battery configured to power at least the sensor and the processor. In addition, a first communications unit is configured to be powered by the first non-rechargeable battery and includes a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer. The implantable medical device also includes a second rechargeable battery and a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery. The second communications unit is capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network, to deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising:
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a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement; a processor configured to analyze the data signal and configured to identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient; a first non-rechargeable battery configured to power at least the sensor and the processor; and a first communications unit configured to be powered by the first non-rechargeable battery comprising a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer using said first communications link; and a second rechargeable battery; and a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer over said second communications link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communication between an implantable medical device for use in a patient management system and a host computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an implantable medical device and a host computer, the implantable medical device comprising a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal that describes the measurement, a processor configured to analyze the data signal and configured to identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient, a first non-rechargeable battery and a second rechargeable battery; identifying an occurrence of the one or more significant events; wirelessly transmitting notification of the occurrence of the one or more significant events by a first communication unit to an external local receiver, when said first communication unit is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver at least said notification to the host computer; providing power from the first battery to the sensor, processor and first communications unit; and when said first communication unit is out of range of the local receiver, wirelessly transmitting notification of the occurrence of the one or more significant events from the implantable medical device to a host computer by a second communications unit over a pervasive wireless communications network; and providing power from the second rechargeable battery to the second communications unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising:
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a cardiac sensor capable of measuring a cardiac characteristic and generating a cardiac activity signal that corresponds to cardiac characteristic; a processor configured to analyze the cardiac activity signal and configured to identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient; a therapy device for determining an appropriate electrical pulse therapy in response to a condition detected by the cardiac sensor and delivering the appropriate electrical pulse therapy to two or more implanted electrodes; a first non-rechargable battery configured to power at least the cardiac sensor, the therapy device and the processor; and a first communications unit configured to be powered by the first battery comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local transceiver, when said first wireless transmitter/receiver unit is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local transceiver, to deliver at least the cardiac activity signal and notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer using said first communications link; and a second rechargeable battery; a second communications unit powered by the second rechargeable battery comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a wireless telephone network to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer over said second communications link; and a third communications unit powered by the first non-rechargeable battery, wherein the third communications unit comprises a third transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing an inductive third communications link with an inductive external local transmitter/receiver unit.
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Specification