Apparatus for controlling an implantable medical device
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods of maintaining communication with a medical device for exchange of information, instructions, and programs, in a highly reliable manner. Apparatus and methods for accomplishing this task include:
- 1) The inclusion of a locating device in the system, in close proximity to an implanted device, but which does not drain the implanted device battery. The locating device may be implanted or external to the body.
- 2) The use of motion detection and global positioning system devices to locate elements within a communicating system for the medical device;
- 3) The assessment of received signal quality by elements of the system;
- 4) The use of a notification system for a device user who is moving out of range of communications; and
- 5) Documenting the absolute and functional integrity of instructions received by the medical device.
6 Citations
157 Claims
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1-43. -43. (canceled)
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44. A medical treatment system having a medical device which allows a person using the device access to a medical expert that can communicate with the medical device from a remote site, said system comprising, in combination:
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(A) an electronic medical device (EMD) unit comprising, in combination; (1) a first wireless transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting information to, and for receiving at least one control signal from, a plurality of remote locations; (2) a medical treatment device, coupled to said first T/R device, for treating said person in response to control signals applied thereto; (B) a remote station (RS) unit at said remote location including; (1) a first input device, responsive to a medical expert, for producing at least one real time remote control signal for controlling said EMD; (2) a second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device, coupled to said input device, for electronic communication with the first T/R device of said remotely located EMD; and (C) at least one communication relay unit, x said communication relay unit(s) numbered from “
1”
to “
x”
, each yth communication relay unit including a (y+2)th communication relay transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for communicating with at least two of (i) the EMD, (ii) the RS, (iii) one of said communication relay units, and (iv) at least one other communication relay unit, wherein(1) x is an integer which is at least the integer 1 (2) y is an integer ranging from the integer 1 to the integer x; and wherein at least one of said units is a first unit further comprising; (a) a first global positioning system, for determining a location of said first unit; (b) a first communication quality assessment device, coupled to said first global positioning system, for assessing the expected quality of communication signals to be received by the T/R device associated with at least one of (i) said first unit and (ii) at least one other of said units, and for producing a first communication quality signal in dependence upon the respective expected quality of said communication signals; and (b) a first mode selection device coupled to said respective, associated T/R device and said first communication quality assessment device for selecting the mode of communication with at least one other one of said units, in response to receipt of said communication quality signal from said communication quality assessment device; thereby to select a mode of communication in dependence upon the current location of said unit and to improve the communication of said EMD unit and said RS unit; - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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45-47. -47. (canceled)
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59-63. -63. (canceled)
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64. A medical treatment system having a medical device which allows a person using the device access to a medical expert that can communicate with the medical device from a remote site, said system comprising, in combination:
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(1) an electronic medical device (EMD) unit comprising, in combination; (a) a first wireless transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting information to, and for receiving at least one control signal from, a plurality of remote locations; (b) a medical treatment device, coupled to said first T/R device, for treating said person in response to control signals applied thereto; (2) a remote station (RS) unit at said remote location including; (a) a first input device, responsive to a medical expert, for producing at least one real time remote control signal for controlling said EMD unit; (b) a second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device, coupled to said input device, for electronic communication with the first T/R device of said remotely located EMD unit; and (3) at least one communication relay unit, x said unit(s) numbered from “
1”
to “
x”
, each yth unit including;(a) a (y+2)th communication relay transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for communicating with at least two of (i) the EMD unit, (ii) the RS unit, (iii) one of said communication relay units, and (iv) at least one other communication relay unit; (b) a yth communication quality assessment device for assessing at least one of the expected and the actual quality of communications signals to be received by said (y+2)th communication relay T/R device from at least one of (i) said EMD unit, (ii) said RS unit, and (iii) said at least one other communication relay unit, and for producing a yth communication quality signal in dependence upon the respective assessed quality of the communication signals; and (c) a yth mode selection device coupled to each of said respective (y+2)th T/R device and said respective communication quality assessment device for selecting the mode of communication with at least one of (i) said EMD unit, (ii) said RS unit, and (iii) said at least one other communication relay unit, in response to receipt of said respective communications quality signal from said respective communication quality assessment device; wherein (1) x is an integer which is at least the integer 1, and (2) y is an integer ranging from the integer 1 to the integer x; whereby communication between said EMD and said RS may be improved.
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65-104. -104. (canceled)
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105. A medical treatment and testing apparatus, for medical treatment of a person, which allows a remote station to perform testing on the apparatus from a remote location, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(A) an electronic medical device comprising, in combination; (1) first transmitting and receiving device (T/R) device;
for transmitting information to, and for receiving at least one control signal from and a remote station;(2) at least one sensor for producing a sensor signal representing a physiologic state of a person; (3) a first processor, having an input and an output, for receiving said sensor signals, for making a decision related to medical therapy for said person, responsive to said sensor signals, and for producing a first therapy signal output representing said decision; (4) a medical treatment device, for applying medical treatment to said person; (5) an input switching device, having; (a) a plurality of inputs, including; (i) one input coupled to said first T/R device, for receipt of test signals, and (ii) at least one other input coupled to said at least one sensor, for receipt of sensor signals; (b) an output, coupled to said first processor input; said input switching device being responsive to a first control signal received from said first T/R device for selecting the input to be outputted; (6) an output switching device, having; (a) an input, coupled to said first processor output for receipt of said first processor therapy signal; (b) a plurality of outputs, including; (i) one output coupled to said medical treatment device; and (ii) one output coupled to said first T/R device, for transmission of test results; and said output switching device being responsive to a second control signal received from said first T/R device for selecting the output of said output switching device; (B) a remote station unit at said remote location, including; (1) a first input device, responsive to a technical expert, for producing at least one remote control signal for controlling and testing said medical device; (2) a second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device, coupled to said input device, for electronic communication with the first T/R device of said remotely located EMD unit; and (3) a first output device, coupled to said second T/R device, for receipt of said first therapy signal; wherein (I) In a first operating state, said input switching device; couples said sensor signal to said first processor input, and uncouples said first T/R device from said first processor input; and said output switching device; couples said first processor output to said medical treatment device; and uncouples said first processor output from said first T/R device; and (II) In a second operating state, said input switching device; uncouples said sensor signal from said first processor input, and couples said first T/R device to said first processor input; and said output switching device; uncouples said first processor output from said medical treatment device; and couples said first processor output to said first T/R device; and (III) said technical expert determines the choice of operating state by inputting control signals to said second T/R device which are transmitted to said first T/R device, and then passed to the input of each of said input switching device and said output switching device, for respective control thereof; (IV) said technical expert (a) applies test signals to said first input device, which are passed sequentially by said second T/R, said first T/R and said input switching device to said first processor input; and
(b) receives the first processor output, which is passed sequentially by said output switching device, said first T/R device, and said second T/R device, for evaluation;whereby, in said first operating state, said medical treatment device is operative to provide treatment based on said sensor signals; and
in said second operating state, said technical expert evaluates the response of said first processor to a test signal,thereby to determine whether said first processor is functioning properly.
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106-123. -123. (canceled)
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124. A medical treatment system having an implantable medical device, which provides location information pertaining to a person in whom the device is implanted, to facilitate communication between the device and a remote location, said system comprising:
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(1) electronic medical apparatus adapted to be implanted in a human, a so-called implantable medical device (“
IMD”
) comprising, in combination;(a) an IMD communications device for at least one of (i) transmitting IMD information signals to, and (ii) receiving at least one IMD control signal from at least one remote location; and (b) a medical treatment device, coupled to said IMD communications device, for treating said patient; (2) a first locator device, adapted to be located in the close vicinity of said human in whom the IMD is implanted, comprising a wireless first locator transmitting device, operative to transmit first locator signals; (3) a plurality of second locator devices, each comprising; (a) a second locator receiving device, operative to receive (i) said first locator signals, and (ii) at least one IMD signal, selected from the group consisting of (A) an IMD information signal, and (B) an IMD control signal; (b) at least one microprocessor, coupled to said second locator receiving device, for assessing the quality of the received first locator signals and for producing a communication quality signal in dependence upon said assessed quality; and (c) a second locator transmitting device, coupled to said at least one microprocessor, for transmitting (i) said communication quality signal and (ii) said at least one IMD signal when received; (4) a communication management device, comprising; (a) a communications device, for (i) receiving said communication quality signals; and (ii) transmitting a communication optimization signal; and (b) a controlling device, coupled to said communications device, for (i) analyzing said received communication quality signals; and (ii) causing said communications device to transmit said communication optimization signal providing information for optimizing communications between said IMD and a selected one of said second locator devices, based on said received communication quality signals; whereby said first and second locator devices provide information about the location of said IMD without direct interaction with the IMD, thereby to improve communication with the IMD. - View Dependent Claims (125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
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131. A medical treatment system having an implantable medical device, which provides location information pertaining to a person in whom the device is implanted, to facilitate communication between the device and a remote location, said system comprising:
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(1) electronic medical apparatus adapted to be implanted in a human person, a so-called implantable medical device (“
IMD”
) comprising, in combination;(a) an IMD communications device for at least one of (i) transmitting IMD information signals to, and (ii) receiving at least one IMD control signal from at least one remote location; (b) a medical treatment device, for treating said person; and (c) a first processor, coupled to each of said IMD communications device and said medical treatment device, wherein said processor is operative to (i) control said medical treatment device, and (ii) process said IMD signals; and (2) a first locator device, adapted to be located in the close vicinity of said human in whom the IMD is implanted, comprising a wireless first locator transmitting device, operative to repeatedly transmit first locator signals; thereby to allow for tracking of the location of said IMD without utilizing an IMD energy source. - View Dependent Claims (132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157)
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Specification