Plug-In Accessory for Configuring a Mobile Device into an External Controller for an Implantable Medical Device

• US 20150231402A1
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Aghassian, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Disclosed is a plug-in accessory for operating a mobile device as an external controller for an Implantable Medical Device (IMD). The accessory includes a connector insertable into a port on the mobile device. Accessory circuitry can be powered by a battery or by the mobile device. An application on the mobile device in conjunction with the accessory configures the mobile phone for immediate use as an IMD external controller. When the accessory is inserted into the port or a switch on the accessory pressed, the application operates to validate the accessory; to unlock the phone; to secure the mobile device; and to render a graphical user interface on the mobile device for communicating with the IMD. The accessory can additionally include telemetry circuitry and an antenna for communicating with the IMD, rather than using short-range communication means provided in the mobile device itself.

Claims

1. An accessory coupleable to a mobile device to enable wireless communications with a medical device of a patient, the accessory comprising:

a housing;

control circuitry within the housing; and

a coaxial audio connector on the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the coaxial audio connector is configured for connection to a port on a mobile device,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate via the coaxial audio connector with the mobile device to assist in configuring the mobile device into an external controller to allow the patient to transmit and receive data along a communication link to and from the medical device.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to assist in configuring the mobile device by causing an application on the mobile device to provide a graphical user interface, wherein the patient can use the graphical user interface to thereby transmit and receive the data along the communication link to and from the medical device.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to assist in configuring the mobile device by causing an application in the mobile device to enable an antenna in the mobile device to thereby allow the patient to transmit and receive the data along the communication link to and from the medical device.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive data via the coaxial audio connector from the mobile device via an audio output channel of the coaxial audio connector.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is configured to transmit data via the coaxial audio connector to the mobile device via an audio input channel of the coaxial audio connector.

6. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising power supply circuitry configured to produce a power supply voltage for circuitry in the accessory including the control circuitry.

7. The accessory of claim 6, further comprising a battery with the housing, wherein the power supply circuitry is configured to produce the power supply voltage from the battery.

8. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the power supply circuitry is further configured to receive a power signal from the mobile device at the coaxial audio connector, and wherein the power supply circuitry is configured to produce the power supply voltage from the power signal.

9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the power signal comprises an audio signal.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to assist in configuring the mobile device by providing information to the coaxial audio connector.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the information comprises validation information usable by the mobile device to validate the accessory.

12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide the information to the coaxial audio connector in response to an instruction received from the mobile device at the coaxial audio connector.

13. The accessory of claim 10, further comprising a switch on the housing, wherein the control circuitry provides the information to the coaxial audio connector when the switch is activated.

14. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna with the housing, and telemetry circuitry within the housing electrically coupled to the at least one antenna and the control circuitry, wherein the telemetry circuitry enables the at least one antenna to transmit and receive the data along the communication link to and from the medical device.

15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the transmitted and received data are respectively received from the mobile device and transmitted to the mobile device via the coaxial audio connector.

16. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive data from the mobile device to be transmitted along the communication link to the medical device via an audio output channel of the coaxial audio connector, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit data to the mobile device received from the medical device along the communication link via an audio input channel of the coaxial audio connector.

17. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one antenna comprises a first and second antenna to transmit and receive the data along the communication link to and from the medical device.

18. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one antenna comprises a first and second antenna, wherein the first antenna transmits and receives the data along the communication link to and from the medical device in accordance with a first communication scheme, and wherein the second antenna transmits and receives other data along another communication link in accordance with a second communication scheme.

19. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one antenna comprises a coil, an RF antenna, or both.

20. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory electrically coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the memory comprises patient therapy settings for the medical device.

21. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory electrically coupled to the control circuitry wherein the memory comprises a Medical Device Application (MDA), wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide the MDA to the coaxial audio connector, wherein the MDA when executed by the mobile device configures the mobile device into the external controller.

22. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted to the medical device along the communication link adjusts a therapy that the medical device provides to the patient.