Sterilizable hand-held programmer/interrogator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sterilizable hand-held programmer/interrogator for communicating with an implanted medical device in a sterile environment comprising:
- a sealed housing having dimensions such that the housing is small enough to be hand-held, the sealed housing including;
processor means for controlling the operation of the programmer/interrogator;
transceiver means connected to the processor means for transmitting and receiving data between the programmer/interrogator and the implanted medical device;
memory means connected to the processor means for storing control algorithms for the processor means and data communicated with the implanted device;
display means connected to the processor means for displaying operating information for the programmer/interrogator and data communicated with the implanted device; and
switch pad means connected to the processor means for manually providing control and data information to the programmer/interrogator,such that the programmer/interrogator is sterilizable prior to use within the sterile environment to allow the programmer/interrogator to be used during the implantation of the implantable device in order to directly communicate with and program the implantable device without physically connecting the programmer/interrogator to another device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sterilizable hand-held programmer/interrogator for communication with an implanted defibrillator, including follow-up. An electromechanical key allows the programmer/interrogator to function fully as a data programmer and as a data interrogator. A removable electromechanical key controlled by a surgeon allows a limited number of programmable functions and only a certain amount of data to be revealed when the device is interrogated by the patient. Interrogated data from the programmer/interrogator can be linked directly to the surgeon via a modem.
111 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A sterilizable hand-held programmer/interrogator for communicating with an implanted medical device in a sterile environment comprising:
-
a sealed housing having dimensions such that the housing is small enough to be hand-held, the sealed housing including; processor means for controlling the operation of the programmer/interrogator; transceiver means connected to the processor means for transmitting and receiving data between the programmer/interrogator and the implanted medical device; memory means connected to the processor means for storing control algorithms for the processor means and data communicated with the implanted device; display means connected to the processor means for displaying operating information for the programmer/interrogator and data communicated with the implanted device; and switch pad means connected to the processor means for manually providing control and data information to the programmer/interrogator, such that the programmer/interrogator is sterilizable prior to use within the sterile environment to allow the programmer/interrogator to be used during the implantation of the implantable device in order to directly communicate with and program the implantable device without physically connecting the programmer/interrogator to another device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for communicating with an implanted medical device in a sterile environment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a programmer/interrogator in a sealed housing having dimensions such that the housing is small enough to be hand-held; (b) sterilizing the programmer/interrogator prior to use within in the sterile environment; (c) using the programmer/interrogator to directly communicate with and program the implantable device within the sterile environment during an implantation of the implanted device without physically connecting the programmer/interrogator to another device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for allowing two separate users to communicate with an implanted medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a programmer/interrogator that directly communicate with and program the implantable device during an implantation of the implanted device without physically connecting the programmer/interrogator to another device; (b) inserting a key into the programmer/interrogator prior to using the programmer/interrogator during the implantation of the implantable device to enable a full operation mode; (c) having a physician use the programmer/interrogator in the full operation mode to directly communicate with and program the implantable device during the implantation of the implanted device; (d) removing the key from the programmer/interrogator after the implantation of the implanted device to allow only a limited interrogation mode; and (e) providing the programmer/interrogator to a patient such that the programmer/interrogator operates in only the limited interrogation mode operable by the patient, such that the same device may be used by the physician to program and interrogate the implantable device during implantation and by the patient to only interrogate the implantable device after implantation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification