MODULAR PATIENT COMMUNICATOR FOR USE IN LIFE CRITICAL NETWORK
First Claim
1. A modular patient communicator for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the communicator comprising:
- a housing;
a processor;
a user interface coupled to the processor;
a radio configured to effect communications only with the PIMD in accordance with program instructions of medical firmware executable by the processor;
a universal communications port supported by the housing and coupled to the processor, the communications port comprising a connector configured to detachably engage and establish signal connectivity with at least one module of a plurality of disparate modules;
the communicator devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of disparate modules configured to provide the communicator with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols;
memory provided in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory storing the medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software comprising program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor in cooperation with the at least one module of the plurality of disparate modules to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication; and
a power source configured to supply power for components of the communicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular patient communicator for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the communicator comprising:
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a housing; a processor; a user interface coupled to the processor; a radio configured to effect communications only with the PIMD in accordance with program instructions of medical firmware executable by the processor; a universal communications port supported by the housing and coupled to the processor, the communications port comprising a connector configured to detachably engage and establish signal connectivity with at least one module of a plurality of disparate modules; the communicator devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of disparate modules configured to provide the communicator with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols; memory provided in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory storing the medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software comprising program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor in cooperation with the at least one module of the plurality of disparate modules to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication; and a power source configured to supply power for components of the communicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the method comprising:
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providing medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software within a modular patient communicator; wirelessly interrogating a PIMD and acquiring data from the PIMD using the medical firmware and a radio of the communicator; mechanically connecting at least one detachable module of a plurality of disparate detachable modules to a universal communications port of the communicator, at least some of the plurality of detachable modules configured to provide the communicator with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols; establishing signal connectivity between the communicator and the mechanically connected detachable module, the communicator devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port; and executing the LCN software in cooperation with the at least one detachable module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
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20. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a data processing arrangement disposed in a modular patient communicator for performing steps comprising:
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establishing signal connectivity between a universal communications port of the communicator and at least one detachable module of a plurality of disparate detachable modules when mechanically connected to the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of detachable modules configured to provide the communicator with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols, the communicator devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of a radio and the universal communications port of the communicator; and executing life critical network (LCN) software stored on the medium to cause the communicator in cooperation with the at least one detachable module to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to an unsecured network, facilitate authentication of the communicator to a central authority (CA), and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
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Specification