SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND MODULATION OF MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20110082520A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John T. Mcelveen Jr
• Original Assignee: John T. Mcelveen Jr
• Inventors: McElveen, John T. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/900,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A system for remotely programming a programmable medical apparatus, comprising a digital interactive communications network including an encrypted VPN tunnel interconnecting respective computers and video conferencing devices at a programming site and a remote programmed site, with VNC linkage of the interconnected computers, wherein the computers are arranged for programming the programmable apparatus from the programming site, with at least 1 megabit/second connection in both directions of interconnection, whereby audio and video signals are synchronized for the programming the programmable apparatus

Claims

1. A system for remotely programming a programmable medical apparatus, comprising a user location attendable by a user of the programmable medical apparatus, and a remote programming location that is communicationally coupled to the remote programming location by an interactive communication capability by which the remote programming location can communicatively program the programmable medical apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote programming location is communicationally coupled to the remote programming location by an interactive communications network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive communications network comprises the Internet.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the programmable medical apparatus comprises a cochlear implant.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the interactive communications network comprises a virtual private network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable medical apparatus comprises an apparatus selected from the group consisting of audiological equipment, pacemakers, intelligent prosthetics, neural prostheses of a programmable character, hearing aids, implantable pumps, deep brain stimulation apparatus, swallowable monitoring and diagnostic capsules containing programmable devices, programmable interfaces utilized in therapeutic intervention for treatment of human or veterinary subjects, health status monitors, and devices transmitting telemetry data out of a human or animal body.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable medical apparatus comprises an apparatus selected from the group consisting of cochlear implants, in-ear hearing aids, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable hearing aids, auditory feedback speech therapy devices, and voice-activated medical apparatus.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive communication capability is characterized by at least 1 Mb/second communication rate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive communication capability comprises a digital interactive communications network including an encrypted VPN tunnel interconnecting respective computers and video conferencing devices at a programming site and a remote programmed site, with VNC linkage of the interconnected computers, wherein said computers are arranged for programming the programmable apparatus from the programming site.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interactive communication capability comprises an at least 1 megabit/second connection in both directions of interconnection, whereby audio and video signals are synchronized for the programming the programmable apparatus.

11. A method of remotely programming a programmable medical device, comprising use of the system of claim 1.

12. A system for remotely programming a programmable medical apparatus, comprising a digital interactive communications network including an encrypted VPN tunnel interconnecting respective computers and video conferencing devices at a programming site and a remote programmed site, with VNC linkage of the interconnected computers, wherein said computers are arranged for programming the programmable apparatus from the programming site, with at least 1 megabit/second connection in both directions of interconnection, whereby audio and video signals are synchronized for the programming the programmable apparatus.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the programmable medical apparatus comprises an apparatus selected from the group consisting of cochlear implants, in-ear hearing aids, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable hearing aids, auditory feedback speech therapy devices, and voice-activated medical apparatus.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the programming site and remote programmed site are separated by a distance of at least 1 mile.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the programming site and remote programmed site are separated by a distance of at least 50 miles.

19. A method for remotely programming a medical apparatus, comprising use of the system as claimed in claim 12.

16. A system for remotely programming a cochlear implant, comprising a digital interactive communications network including an encrypted VPN tunnel interconnecting respective computers and video conferencing devices at a programming audiologist site and a remote audiologist patient site, with VNC linkage of the interconnected computers, wherein said computers are arranged for programming the cochlear implant from the programming audiologist site, with at least 1 megabit/second connection in both directions of interconnection, whereby audio and video signals are synchronized for the programming the cochlear implant.

17. The system of claim 16, which transmits and receives interconnection communications between the programming audiologist site and the remote audiologist patient site that are HIPPA compliant.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said digital interactive communications network includes a T1 line between the programming audiologist site and the remote audiologist patient site.

20. A method for remotely programming a cochlear implant, comprising use of the system as claimed in claim 16.