Cardiac stimulation system with enhanced communication and control capability
First Claim
1. A cardiac system comprising:
- A. a cardiac device including an implantable housing, said implantable housing having therein;
(i) interface means for exchanging electrical signals with a patient'"'"'s heart, said electrical signals including intrinsic signals from said heart indicative of intrinsic events and stimulation signals to said heart;
(ii) control means coupled to said interface means for analyzing signals received from said heart and for generating corresponding output electrical signals;
said control means being provided to generate said stimulation signals selected to provide therapy in accordance with a plurality of programmable parameters; and
(iii) implanted transceiver means coupled to said control means for exchanging information over an RF channel, said information including said output signals and commands for modifying said programmable parameters;
B. an external device having;
(i) a cardiac portion including external transceiver means for exchanging information with said implanted transceiver means; and
(ii) a communication portion coupled to said cardiac portion for exchanging said information and for establishing communication over a standard communications channel; and
C. a remote control device disposed at a remote location from said external device, said remote control device including remote control communications means for establishing communications over said standard communications channel with said external device, said remote control device receiving said output signals from said external device over said standard communications channel and modifying an operation of said cardiac device by generating said commands.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cardiac stimulation system is provided which delivers long term cardiac therapy without a personal supervision by a physician. The system includes a cardiac stimulation device implanted in a patient and an external device in constant or periodic communication with the cardiac device. The external device is used to control the pacemaker operation. The external device receives updates of the condition of the patient and the operation of the cardiac device and the therapy provided by the cardiac device. This information is transmitted by the external device over a standard telephone network which may consist of hardwired network, a cellular network, or a combination thereof to a remote control device operating near the physician and/or a monitoring station used for monitoring and data logging information from a plurality of patients. The cardiac device, through the external device can also communicate directly and exchange information with the patient over an RF channel. Finally, the external device may be provided with ground position indication system for locating the patient geographically in an emergency.
684 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A cardiac system comprising:
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A. a cardiac device including an implantable housing, said implantable housing having therein; (i) interface means for exchanging electrical signals with a patient'"'"'s heart, said electrical signals including intrinsic signals from said heart indicative of intrinsic events and stimulation signals to said heart; (ii) control means coupled to said interface means for analyzing signals received from said heart and for generating corresponding output electrical signals;
said control means being provided to generate said stimulation signals selected to provide therapy in accordance with a plurality of programmable parameters; and(iii) implanted transceiver means coupled to said control means for exchanging information over an RF channel, said information including said output signals and commands for modifying said programmable parameters; B. an external device having; (i) a cardiac portion including external transceiver means for exchanging information with said implanted transceiver means; and (ii) a communication portion coupled to said cardiac portion for exchanging said information and for establishing communication over a standard communications channel; and C. a remote control device disposed at a remote location from said external device, said remote control device including remote control communications means for establishing communications over said standard communications channel with said external device, said remote control device receiving said output signals from said external device over said standard communications channel and modifying an operation of said cardiac device by generating said commands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cardiac stimulation system for applying therapy to a patient, said system comprising:
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a. an implantable cardiac stimulation device having means for sensing electrical activity in the heart of a patient, means for analyzing said electrical activity, means for generating first and second electrical stimulation signals for said heart to provide selectively one of a corresponding first therapy and a second therapy, means for sensing a change in a condition of the patient, means for automatically switching between said first and second therapies in response to said change in condition, and cardiac communication means for transmitting information corresponding to said switching of therapies; and b. an external device constructed and arranged for use by said patient, said external device including external communication means in communication with said cardiac communication means for receiving said information, and an annunciating means for annunciating to said patient when said therapies are switched. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing cardiac stimulation therapy to a patient comprising the steps of:
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a. implanting in said patient a cardiac stimulation device; b. sensing cardiac activity with said cardiac stimulation device; c. providing an external device for said patient for monitoring said cardiac stimulation device; d. generating cardiac stimulation signals by said cardiac stimulation device for said heart based on sensed cardiac activity and a set of functional parameters; e. initializing said cardiac device using said external device; and f. transmitting information at regular intervals from said cardiac device to said external device, said information being related to said cardiac sensing and said functional parameters. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A cardiac stimulation system for applying therapy to a patient, said system comprising:
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a. an implantable cardiac stimulation device having means for sensing electrical activity in the heart of a patient, means for analyzing said electrical activity, means for generating first and second electrical stimulation signals for said heart to provide selectively one of a corresponding first therapy and a second therapy, means for switching between said first and second therapies in response to data from said patient indicative of a change in a condition of the patient, and cardiac communication means for receiving said data; and b. an external device constructed and arranged for use by said patient, said external device including data entry means for entering said data by said patient and external communication means in communication with said cardiac communication means for transmitting said data. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of providing cardiac stimulation therapy to a patient comprising the steps of:
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a. implanting in said patient a cardiac stimulation device; b. sensing cardiac activity with said cardiac stimulation device; c. providing an external device for said patient for monitoring said cardiac stimulation device; d. generating cardiac stimulation signals by said cardiac stimulation device for said heart based on sensed cardiac activity and a set of functional parameters; e. transmitting information at regular intervals or on request from said cardiac device to said external device, said information being related to said cardiac sensing and said functional parameters; f. transmitting said information from said external device to a remote control device; and g. modifying said functional parameters by said remote control device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification