RECOGNITION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20090306742A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Van Dijk, Bastiaan, Gibson, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,784,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36039 fitting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• 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 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

Controlling the interaction between an external device and an implanted device, including a method of controlling interaction between an external device and an implanted device, the method including at least the steps of: establishing communications between the implanted device and the external device; the external device determining an identification of the implant and comparing the identification with identifications in a stored list; if the device matches one of said identifications, then using a corresponding set of operating parameters to interact with said implant; and otherwise, not interacting with said device.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for controlling operation of an external device with an implanted internal device, comprising:

establishing communications between the external device and the internal device;

the external device determining at least one identifier of the internal device;

the external device comparing the determined identifier of the internal device to identifiers contained in a stored list of identifiers each corresponding to a known internal device; and

when the internal device is determined to be a known internal device, the external device selecting and utilising a set of operating parameters stored on the external device, said operating parameters corresponding to the internal device and allowing the external device to operate with the internal device;

otherwise, the external device not operating with the internal device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the internal device is a stimulator/receiver unit of a cochlear implant and the external device is a cochlear implant speech processor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, selection of electrodes to stimulate, speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier is a transmitted identification signal.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier is determined from a set of measured parameters related to one or more of either the internal device and physiological properties of the ear.

22. The method according claim 17, wherein the identifier is an identification tag or device operating independently of the normal communication path between the implanted internal device and the external device.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the external device displaying a message on a display means, said message indicating at least that the external device is not operating with the internal device.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

the external device allowing a recipient to manually select a set of operating parameters corresponding to the internal device.

25. An external device adapted to interact with an implanted internal device, the internal device having at least one identifier, and the external device having a stored set of operating parameters;

the external device being adapted to detect the identifier from the internal device, determine if the identifier corresponds to one of a plurality of identifiers, and if the identifier does correspond, select and utilize a stored set of operating parameters corresponding to said corresponding identifier to allow the external device to operate with the internal device.

26. The external device of claim 25, wherein the internal device is a cochlear implant and the external device is a speech processor.

27. The external device of claim 25, wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, selection of electrodes to stimulate, speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies.

28. The external device of claim 25, wherein the identifier is selected from a set of measured parameters related to one of either the internal device and physiological properties of the ear.

29. The external device of claim 25, wherein the external device further comprises:

means for allowing a recipient to manually select a set of operating parameters to be utilized by the external device.

30. An external hearing device adapted to interact with an implanted internal device, the external device being able to be operatively positioned to interact with either a left ear or right ear implanted device, said external device including detector means operatively adapted to detect whether the external device is positioned to interact with the left ear or the right ear internal device, and in response to said detection, select and utilise a stored set of operating parameters corresponding to the left ear or the right ear internal device to allow the external device to operate with the internal device.

31. The external device according to claim 30, wherein the internal device is a cochlear implant and the external device is a speech processor.

32. The external device according to claim 30, wherein the detector means includes one or more of a proximity sensor, a thermal sensor or a source localization algorithm stored in the external device.

33. The external device according to claim 30, wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, selection of electrodes to stimulate, speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies.

34. The external device according to claim 30, wherein the external device includes means for allowing a user to manually select whether the set of operating parameters corresponding to the left ear or the right ear internal device are utilised by the external device.