System for Communication with Implantable Medical Devices Using a Bridge Device
First Claim
1. A communication bridge device for communicating with an implantable medical device and a consumer electronics device, comprising:
- a housing, wherein the housing is portable for a patient;
a first transceiver in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device in accordance with a first communication technique; and
a second transceiver in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the consumer electronics device in accordance with a second communications technique; and
a microcontroller in the housing coupled between the first transceiver and the second transceiver,wherein the microcontroller is programmed to allow the consumer electronics device to control and monitor the implantable medical device via activation of the first and second transceivers,wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a firewall between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications bridge device communicates between a consumer electronics device, such as a smart telephone, and an implantable medical device. The bridge forwards instructions and data between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device. The bridge contains a first transceiver that operates according to a communication protocol operating in the consumer electronics device (such as Bluetooth®), and second transceiver that operates according to a communications technique operating in the implantable medical device (e.g., Frequency Shift Keying). A software application is installed on the consumer electronics device, which provides a user interface for controlling and reading the implantable medical device. The software application is downloadable using standard cellular means. The bridge is preferably small, and easily and discreetly carried by the implantable medical device patient. The bridge is preferably also simple to operate, and may have only a simple user interface, or no user interface at all.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A communication bridge device for communicating with an implantable medical device and a consumer electronics device, comprising:
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a housing, wherein the housing is portable for a patient; a first transceiver in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device in accordance with a first communication technique; and a second transceiver in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the consumer electronics device in accordance with a second communications technique; and a microcontroller in the housing coupled between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to allow the consumer electronics device to control and monitor the implantable medical device via activation of the first and second transceivers, wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a firewall between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. (canceled)
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16. A system, comprising
an implantable medical device configured to provide therapy to a patient; -
a software application configured for execution by an electronics device with a user interface that is portable for a patient; and a bridge for relaying communications between the implantable medical device and the electronics device, wherein the software application is configured to configure the user interface of the electronics device to allow for controlling the therapy provided by the implantable medical device via the bridge, and to allow for monitoring the implantable medical device via the bridge. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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30. (canceled)
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35. A method for controlling an implantable medical device from a consumer electronics device, comprising:
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providing from a user interface of the consumer electronics device an instruction for the implantable medical device via a software application on the consumer electronics device, wherein the consumer electronics device is portable for a patient; wirelessly transmitting in accordance with a first protocol the instruction to a bridge that is portable for the patient, wherein the bridge is portable for the patient; wirelessly transmitting in accordance with a second protocol the instruction from the bridge to the implantable medical device; and executing the instruction at the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification