CONTROLLING A PERSONAL MEDICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising an implantable medical device (IMD), which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled by two control sources situated at external locations, said device comprising, in combination:
- (a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing an internal medical state of a patient to, and for receiving a first external control signal from a first external source and for receiving a second external control signal from a second external source;
(b) a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto;
(c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and
(d) a first processor, coupled to each of(1) said first sensor circuit output,(2) said first T/R device, and(3) said treatment device,for(1) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one first medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device;
(2) generating at least one treatment device signal; and
(3) selecting an operating state, in response to a state control signal, said operating state indicating a hierarchy among the sources of IMD control, said operating state selected from the group consisting of;
(i) a first operating state, in which(I) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any, and(II) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any;
(ii) a second operating state, in which(I) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any, and(II) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any;
(iii) a third operating state, in which(I) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any, and(II) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any;
(iv) a fourth operating state, in which(I) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any, and(II) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any;
(v) a fifth operating state, in which(I) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any, and(II) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any;
(vi) a sixth operating state, in which(I) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any, and(II) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any; and
(vii) said first processor is operative to select the control signal with the highest priority among all such control signals to generate said at least one treatment device signal, in accordance with the operating state;
whereby said first processor selects the source of control of said IMD from among;
(A) said internal control signal;
(B) said first external control signal; and
(C) said second external control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus, which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, includes a “personal medical device” (PMD) or an “implantable medical device” (IMD), respectively carried by, or implanted in, a patient. The PMD/IMD is alternatively self-controlled or controlled by one or more local external control stations, at or near the location of the patient, and/or one or more remote external control stations, remote from the patient. Either or both of the local and remote stations may be operated by a person, such as the patient, a patient facilitator and/or a medical professional, or the stations may operate automatically. Since the device is controlled by multiple sources, hierarchies are used to select the source of control.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising an implantable medical device (IMD), which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled by two control sources situated at external locations, said device comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing an internal medical state of a patient to, and for receiving a first external control signal from a first external source and for receiving a second external control signal from a second external source; (b) a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and (d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said treatment device, for (1) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one first medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device; (2) generating at least one treatment device signal; and (3) selecting an operating state, in response to a state control signal, said operating state indicating a hierarchy among the sources of IMD control, said operating state selected from the group consisting of; (i) a first operating state, in which (I) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any, and (II) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any; (ii) a second operating state, in which (I) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any, and (II) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any; (iii) a third operating state, in which (I) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any, and (II) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any; (iv) a fourth operating state, in which (I) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said second external control signal, if any, and (II) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any; (v) a fifth operating state, in which (I) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any, and (II) said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any; (vi) a sixth operating state, in which (I) said second external control signal, if any, takes priority over said first external control signal, if any, and (II) said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal control signal, if any; and (vii) said first processor is operative to select the control signal with the highest priority among all such control signals to generate said at least one treatment device signal, in accordance with the operating state; whereby said first processor selects the source of control of said IMD from among; (A) said internal control signal; (B) said first external control signal; and (C) said second external control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. Apparatus comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled by at least one external control source situated at an external location, said IMD comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing an internal medical state of a patient to, and for receiving a first external control signal from a first external control source; (b) a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and (d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said treatment device, for (1) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one first medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device, (2) generating at least one treatment device signal; and (3) selecting one of at least three operating states in response to a received state control signal; wherein; (i) in a first operating state, the therapy choice indicated by said internal control signal, if any, takes priority over the therapy choice indicated by said first external control signal, if any, for determining the treatment; (ii) in a second operating state, the therapy choice indicated by said first external control signal, if any, takes priority over the therapy choice indicated by said internal control signal, if any, for determining the treatment; (iii) in a third operating state, both the therapy choice indicated by said first external control signals and the therapy choice indicated by said internal control signal determine the treatment; whereby said first processor selects the source of control of said IMD from among; (A) said internal control signal; and (B) said first external control signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Apparatus comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled by at least one control source situated at an external location, said IMD comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting a signal representing internal medical data of a patient to, and for receiving an external control signal and a state control signal from, at least one external location; (b) a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and (d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said treatment device, for (1) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device, (2) generating at least one treatment device signal; and (3) selecting one of four operating states, in response to a received state control signal; wherein; (i) in a first operating state, said treatment device signals are produced only in response to said internal control signal; (ii) in a second operating state, said treatment device control signals are produced only in response to said external control signal; (iii) in a third operating state, said internal control signal, if any, controls said treatment device, unless an external control signal is received; and
if said external control signal is received, it takes priority over said internal control signal for determining the choice of treatment, if any, administered by said electronic medical treatment device;(iv) in a fourth operating state, said external control signal, if any, controls said treatment device, unless an internal control signal is produced; and
if said internal control signal is produced, it takes priority over said external control signal, if any, for determining the choice of treatment administered by said electronic medical treatment device; and(v) said first processor selects one of said four operating states in response to a received first state control signal; whereby; (i) in said first operating state, only said internal control signal controls said IMD, (ii) in said second operating state, only said external control signal controls said IMD, (iii) in said third operating state, said external control signal takes priority over said internal control signal, and (iv) in said fourth operating state, said internal control signal takes priority over said external control signal; thereby to cause said first processor to select the source of control of said IMD from among (A) said internal control signal, and (B) said external control signal, in response to said state control signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50-152. -152. (canceled)
Specification