COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20140313051A1
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fain, Eric S., Rios, Ronald R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

A communication device for an implantable medical device may include: an input/output interface configured to communicate with a wireless communication device; a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and a processor configured to perform an analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device. The communication device may include a user interface configured to receive data input by a user. A communication system may include a wireless communication device and the aforementioned communication device. A communication method for an implantable medical device may include: providing a communication device that is configured to communicate with a wireless communication device, to communicate with a remote system and to perform an analysis of data; communicating data associated with an implantable medical device from a wireless device to the communication device; and analyzing the received data at the communication device.

Claims

1. A non-implantable communication device for use with an implantable medical device, the non-implantable communication device comprising:

a wireless interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device;

a detector configured to detect when the wireless communication device is within a range of the non-implantable communication device, wherein communication between the wireless interface and the wireless communication device is initiated upon detection by the detector that the wireless communication device is within the range of the non-implantable communication device;

a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and

a processor configured to analyze data associated with the implantable medical device that is received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface.

2. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, for data that may be analyzed both locally and remotely, if a local analysis is preferred over a remote analysis;

perform a local analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that local analysis is preferred over remote analysis; and

use the communication interface to transfer data to the remote system, to enable a remote analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that remote analysis is preferred over local analysis.

3. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive data input by a user and provide an output to the user.

4. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device comprises a cellular telephone; and

the wireless interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with the cellular telephone that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device.

5. A docking station device comprising:

an input/output interface configured to communicate with a cellular telephone that wirelessly communicates with an implantable medical device, to thereby receive data associated with the implantable medical device from the cellular telephone;

a connector configured to be connected with a port or interface of the cellular telephone and thereby provide a communication path between the input/output interface and the cellular telephone;

a charging component configured to supply power to and/or charge the cellular telephone while the cellular telephone is connected with the connector;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the remote system; and

a processor configured to perform a local analysis of data received from the cellular telephone via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device, wherein the local analysis is performed without the remote system; and

wherein the processor is also configured to use the communication interface to communicate with the remote system to enable a remote analysis of data received from the cellular telephone via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device.

6. The docking station device of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, for data that may be analyzed both locally and remotely, whether to perform a local analysis or a remote analysis;

perform a local analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface, if the processor determines that local analysis is to be performed; and

use the communication interface to transfer data to the remote system, to enable a remote analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface, if the processor determines that remote analysis is to be performed.