Pacemaker system with enhanced programmable modification capacity
First Claim
1. A cardiac pacemaker system, said system having an implantable pacemaker and an external programmer, whereinsaid pacemaker comprises pace means for generating pacing pulses, control means for controlling operation of said pacemaker in accord with a stored device program, first memory means for storing said device program, second memory means for storing device data representative of said implantable pacemaker, and transceiver means for transmitting data to and receiving data from said external programmer;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pacemaker system is provided which provides for more flexibility in re-programming of the control software, or program which is controlling an implanted pacemaker. The system comprises an external programmer device which is capable both of programming the implanted device in a conventional way, and also downloading new control software to the implanted device, subject to predetermined system conditions. All implanted devices, e.g., pacemakers within the system of the invention, share a hardware platform, and are identified as belonging to a given one of a plurality of groups, each group being characterized as providing therapy aimed at a different condition. Each pacemaker also carries type data, indicating the type of pacemaker within the group, and a set of permissions data representative of different types within the group to which it is permitted to be programmed. Upon interrogating the implanted device, the programmer determines whether the device is part of the system, what its group and type is, and whether it is able to modify the device.
74 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A cardiac pacemaker system, said system having an implantable pacemaker and an external programmer, wherein
said pacemaker comprises pace means for generating pacing pulses, control means for controlling operation of said pacemaker in accord with a stored device program, first memory means for storing said device program, second memory means for storing device data representative of said implantable pacemaker, and transceiver means for transmitting data to and receiving data from said external programmer; - and
said external programmer comprises programming means for programming pacemakers, storage means for storing at least a second device program, means for obtaining said device data and determining whether said implantable pacemaker can be programmed by said programmer, option means for presenting an option to download said device with another program when said pacemaker can not be programmed, and downloading means for exercising said option and for downloading said implantable device with said second device program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of changing a control program stored in an implanted medical device, comprising:
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storing in said device permission data representative of a set of permitted control programs; using an external programmer having the capacity of downloading to said device a control program; interrogating said device with said external programmer to obtain said permission data, and determining therefrom said set of permitted control programs;
comparing said selected control program with said determined set of control programs; anddownloading said selected control program to said device only when it is included in said set. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for controlled changing of a control program stored in an implantable pacemaker, comprising:
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an implantable pacemaker, said pacemaker having stimulus means for generating stimulus pulses, control means for controlling the operation of said pacemaker, said control means comprising memory for storing a device program and processor means for carrying out pacemaker functions in accord with said program, set means for storing permission data representing a set of respective device programs which said pacemaker is permitted to use, and device transceiver means for receiving program changes from an external programmer, and for transmitting data representative of said device permission set to said external programmer; and an external programmer having memory means for storing at least one device program, programmer transceiver means for transmitting data to and receiving data from a said implanted pacemaker, determining means for obtaining said permission data and for determining from said permission data whether said at least one device program is permitted for use by said pacemaker, and downloading means for downloading said at least one program to said implantable pacemaker. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification