SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FACILITATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE AND AN EXTERNAL DEVICE

• US 20170056677A1
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zhang, Bo, Yoder, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,844,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• 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 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Techniques for facilitating communication between an implantable device and an external device are provided. In one example, an implantable device includes a data packet component and a communication component. The data packet component can insert information associated with the implantable device in a defined service field of an advertising data packet. The defined service field can be selected from one or more service fields of the advertising data packet based on the information associated with the implantable device. The communication component can transmit the advertising data packet. The external device can include a scanning component that can scan one or more service fields of the advertising data packet via an advertising communication channel, and a communication component that can establish a communication link with the implantable device in response to a determination that a criterion associated with a service field is satisfied.

Claims

1. An implantable device, comprising:

a memory that stores executable components; and

a processor that executes the executable components stored in the memory, wherein the executable components comprise;

a data packet component configured to insert information associated with the implantable device in a defined service field of an advertising data packet, wherein the defined service field is selected from one or more service fields of the advertising data packet based on the information associated with the implantable device; and

a communication component configured to transmit the advertising data packet.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the data packet component is configured to encode the information associated with the implantable device as a universally unique identifier.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the data packet component is configured to encode the information associated with the implantable device as a bit value that is greater than or equal to a 16-bit value.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the data packet component is configured to insert information indicative of a status of the implantable device in the defined service field of the advertising data packet.

5. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the data packet component is configured to insert information associated with presence of the implantable device in the defined service field of the advertising data packet.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the communication component is configured to sequentially transmit the advertising data packet via a set of advertising communication channels.

7. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the communication component is configured to transmit the advertising data packet via an advertising communication channel associated with a communication protocol utilizing low energy consumption.

8. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the communication component is further configured to establish, via a communication channel different than an advertising communication channel associated with the advertising data packet, a wireless communication link with an electronic device external to a body in which the implantable device is located.

9. The implantable device of claim 8, wherein the communication component is further configured to receive a response data packet from the electronic device in response to receipt of the advertising data packet by the electronic device.

10. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a therapy delivery component configured to output one or more electrical pulses to a region of a body in which the implantable device is located to facilitate medical treatment of a condition associated with the region of the body.

11. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical sensing component configured to detect one or more electrical signals in a body in which the implantable device is located, wherein the one or more electrical signals is indicative of a medical condition of the body.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores executable components; and

a processor that executes the executable components stored in the memory, wherein the executable components comprise;

a scanning component configured to scan one or more service fields of an advertising data packet associated with an implantable device via an advertising communication channel; and

a communication component configured to establish a communication link with the implantable device via a communication channel different than the advertising communication channel in response to a determination that a criterion associated with a service field of the one or more service fields is satisfied.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scanning component is further configured to identify one or more unique identifiers included in the advertising data packet.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scanning component is further configured to scan for a defined one of the one or more service fields via the advertising communication channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication component is further configured to establish the communication link in response to a determination that information indicative of a status of the implantable device is included in the service field.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication component is further configured to establish the communication link in response to a determination that information indicative of an alert associated with the implantable device is included in the service field.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication component is further configured to establish the communication link in response to a determination that information associated with a presence of the implantable device is included in the service field.

18. A method, comprising:

determining, by a device comprising a processor, information associated with an implantable device;

selecting a service field of an advertising data packet from a set of service fields of the advertising data packet based on the information associated with the implantable device;

inserting the information associated with the implantable device into the service field of the advertising data packet; and

transmitting the advertising data packet.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the inserting comprises encoding the information associated with the implantable device as a universally unique identifier.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the inserting comprises encoding the information associated with the implantable device as a bit value that is greater than or equal to a 16-bit value.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the inserting comprises inserting information indicative of a status of the implantable device in the service field of the advertising data packet.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the inserting comprises inserting information indicative of medical data associated with the implantable device in the service field of the advertising data packet.

23. A system, comprising:

an apparatus configured to;

select a service field of an advertising data packet from one or more service fields of the advertising data packet based on a status of an implantable device;

generate first information indicative of a first status of the implantable device in the service field of the advertising data packet; and

transmit the advertising data packet during a defined interval of time; and

an electronic device configured to;

scan for the one or more service fields of the advertising data packet associated with the implantable device; and

establish a communication link with the implantable device in response to a determination about the first information indicative of the first status of the implantable device in the service field.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further configured to receive second information for the one or more service fields from a server, wherein the second information differs from the first information and is indicative of a second status of the implantable device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is further configured to update a mapping table of the apparatus with the second information indicative of the second status.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the server is configured to randomly generate second information for the one or more service fields.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a server configured to randomly generate second information for the one or more service fields.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the advertising data packet utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy communication protocol.