Interrogation of an implantable medical device using audible sound communication
First Claim
1. A method of interrogating an implantable medical device to derive implantable medical device information of an implantable medical device implanted in a patient and to communicate the implantable device information in audible sound in an audio frequency range that may be audibly heard by the patient and/or medical care provider comprising the steps of:
- providing an interrogation signal from a location outside the body of the patient to initiate an interrogation routine of the implantable medical device;
receiving the interrogation signal by receiver means located within the implantable medical device;
commencing the interrogation routine by reading implantable medical device information; and
emitting at least one audible sound from the implantable medical device that is transmitted through the patient'"'"'s body and conveys the read implantable medical device information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for interrogation of implantable medical device (IMD) information, including programmed parameter values, operating modes and programmed changes thereof and data stored in the IMD, by emission of audible sounds by the IMD are disclosed. The IMD includes an audio transducer that emits audible sounds including voiced statements or musical tones stored in analog memory correlated to a programming or interrogation operating algorithm or to a warning trigger event. The audible sounds can comprise the sole uplink transmission or may augment the contemporaneous uplink RF transmission of stored data, and/or programmed operating modes and parameters and/or device operations and states in an interrogation or during programming. To conserve energy, the audible sounds accompanying interrogation and programming of the IMD are at a low volume that preferably cannot be heard without use of an external audio amplifier or stethoscope. Voiced statements warning of battery energy depletion or imminent delivery of a therapy are emitted at a higher volume that is sufficient to be heard by the patient, so that the patient can take appropriate action. The volume of audible sounds confirming programmed changes made by a patient using a limited function programmer or magnet is also increased so that the patient can hear them.
328 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of interrogating an implantable medical device to derive implantable medical device information of an implantable medical device implanted in a patient and to communicate the implantable device information in audible sound in an audio frequency range that may be audibly heard by the patient and/or medical care provider comprising the steps of:
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providing an interrogation signal from a location outside the body of the patient to initiate an interrogation routine of the implantable medical device; receiving the interrogation signal by receiver means located within the implantable medical device; commencing the interrogation routine by reading implantable medical device information; and emitting at least one audible sound from the implantable medical device that is transmitted through the patient'"'"'s body and conveys the read implantable medical device information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In conjunction with an implantable medical device, a system for interrogating an implantable medical device to derive implantable medical device information of an implantable medical device implanted in a patient and communicating the implantable device information in audible sound in an audio frequency range that may be audibly heard by the patient and/or medical care provider, the system comprising:
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means for providing an interrogation signal from a location outside the body of the patient to initiate an interrogation routine of the implantable medical device; receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal by receiver means located within the implantable medical device; commencing means for commencing the interrogation routine by reading implantable medical device information; and audible sound emitting means for emitting at least one audible sound from the implantable medical device that is transmitted through the patient'"'"'s body and conveys the read implantable medical device information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification