RECOGNITION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20150039052A1
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: van Dijk, Bastiaan, Gibson, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/461,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039052A1
• 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. 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;

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

comparing, by the external device, the identifier of the internal device to a list of known identifiers to confirm that the internal device is known; and

selecting and utilizing, by the external device, a set of operating parameters stored on the external device, the operating parameters corresponding to the internal device, and enabling the external device to operate with the internal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal device is a stimulator/receiver unit of a cochlear implant and the external device is a cochlear implant speech processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, which electrodes to stimulate, type of speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a transmitted identification signal.

5. The method of claim 1, 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 an ear of a recipient of the implanted internal device.

6. The method according claim 1, 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.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

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

9. 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 configured 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.

10. The external device of claim 9, wherein the internal device is a cochlear implant and the external device is a speech processor.

11. The external device of claim 9, 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.

12. The external device of claim 9, wherein the identifier is selected from a set of measured parameters related to one of either the internal device and physiological properties of an ear of a recipient of the implanted internal device.

13. The external device of claim 9, wherein the external device is configured to allow a recipient to manually select a set of operating parameters to be utilized by the external device.