System and method for transferring information relating to an implantable medical device to a remote location

• US 6,250,309 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Webb, James David, Krichen, Jack P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/358,081
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 128/899, 128/904, 607/4, 607/5, 607/9, 607/30-32, 607/59-60, 600/300
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method of and a system for transferring information from an implantable medical device to a remote location. The system includes a first extensible mark-up language converter for converting information related to the implantable medical device from an initial format to an extensible mark-up language format. A programmer is electrically connected to the implantable medical device and is capable of temporarily saving selected information related to the implantable medical device and capable of transferring the selected information to a remote location. A second extensible mark-up language converter located at the remote location is connected to the programmer and converts the selected information from the extensible mark-up language format to a final format. The selected information can then be manipulated at the remote location.

Claims

1. A system for transferring information from an implantable medical device to a remote location, the system comprising:

a first extensible mark-up language converter located within the implantable medical device for converting information relating to the implantable medical device from an initial format to an extensible mark-up language format;

a programmer for data communication with the implantable medical device, the programmer capable of temporarily saving selected information relating to the implantable medical device within the programmer and capable of transferring the selected information to a remote location; and

a second extensible mark-up language converter located at the remote location and connected to the programmer for converting the selected information from the extensible mark-up language format to a final format.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a database for receiving the selected information from the second extensible mark-up language converter and for storing the selected information.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a report generator mechanism for receiving the selected information from the second extensible mark-up language converter and for generating a report based upon the selected information.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the initial format is an American Standard Code for Information Interchange format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmer further comprises:

a communications module for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

6. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a communications module located at the remote location for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmer is capable of transferring the selected information to the remote location via a local area network connection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmer is capable of transferring the selected information to the remote location via a telephone line connection.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the programmer is capable of transferring the selected information to the remote location via a radio frequency connection.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to demographics of a patient.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to a specific test procedure of the implantable medical device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to general procedures of the implantable medical device.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first computer located at the remote location for data communication with the programmer and for receiving the selected information from the programmer.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a second computer located at the remote location for data communication with the first computer and for receiving the selected information from the first computer.

15. A system for transferring information from an implantable medical device to a remote location, the system comprising:

a first extensible mark-up language converter located within the programmer for converting information relating to the implantable medical device from an initial format to an extensible mark-up language format;

a programmer for data communication with the implantable medical device, the programmer capable of temporarily saving selected information relating to the implantable medical device within the programmer and capable of transferring the selected information to a remote location; and

a second extensible mark-up language converter located at the remote location and connected to the programmer for converting the selected information from the extensible mark-up language format to a final format.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a database for receiving the selected information from the second extensible markup language converter and for storing the selected information.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a report generator mechanism for receiving the selected information from the second extensible mark-up language converter and for generating a report based upon the selected information.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the initial format is an American Standard Code for Information Interchange format.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the programmer further comprises:

a communications module for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a communications module located at the remote location for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a local area network connection.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a telephone line connection.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a radio frequency connection.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to demographics of a patient.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to a specific test procedure of the implantable medical device.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to general procedures of the implantable medical device.

27. The system of claim 15 further comprising a first computer located at the remote location for data communication with the programmer and for receiving the selected information from the programmer.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising a second computer located at the remote location for data communication with the first computer and for receiving the selected information from the first computer.

29. A system for transferring information from an implantable medical device to a remote location, the system comprising:

a first extensible mark-up language converter for converting information relating to the implantable medical device from an initial format to an extensible mark-up language format;

a programmer for data communication with the implantable medical device, the programmer capable of temporarily saving selected information relating to the implantable medical device within the programmer and capable of transferring the selected information to a remote location; and

a second extensible mark-up language converter located within a computer positioned at the remote location and connected to the programmer for converting the selected information from the extensible mark-up language format to a final format.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

a database for receiving the selected information from the second extensible markup language converter and for storing the selected information.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

a report generator mechanism for receiving the selected information from the second extensible mark-up language converter and for generating a report based upon the selected information.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the initial format is an American Standard Code for Information Interchange format.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the programmer further comprises:

a communications module for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

34. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

a communications module located at the remote location for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a local area network connection.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a telephone line connection.

37. The system of claim 29 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a radio frequency connection.

38. The system of claim 29 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to demographics of a patient.

39. The system of claim 29 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to a specific test procedure of the implantable medical device.

40. The system of claim 29 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to general procedures of the implantable medical device.

41. The system of claim 29 further comprising a first computer located at the remote location for data communication with the programmer and for receiving the selected information from the programmer.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising a second computer located at the remote location for data communication with the first computer and for receiving the selected information from the first computer.

43. A system for transferring information from an implantable medical device to a remote location, the system comprising:

a first extensible mark-up language converter for converting information relating to the implantable medical device from an initial format to an extensible mark-up language format;

a programmer for data communication with the implantable medical device, the programmer capable of temporarily saving selected information relating to the implantable medical device within the programmer and capable of transferring the selected information to a remote location; and

a second extensible mark-up language converter located within a second programmer positioned at the remote location having data communications with the programmer for converting the selected information from the extensible mark-up language format to a final format.

44. The system of claim 43 further comprising:

a database for receiving the selected information from the second extensible markup language converter and for storing the selected information.

45. The system of claim 43 further comprising:

a report generator mechanism for receiving the selected information from the second extensible mark-up language converter and for generating a report based upon the selected information.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the initial format is an American Standard Code for Information Interchange format.

47. The system of claim 43 wherein the programmer further comprises:

a communications module for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

48. The system of claim 43 further comprising:

a communications module located at the remote location for providing a connection between the programmer and the remote location.

49. The system of claim 43 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a local area network connection.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a telephone line connection.

51. The system of claim 43 wherein the programmer transfers the selected information to the remote location via a radio frequency connection.

52. The system of claim 43 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to demographics of a patient.

53. The system of claim 43 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to a specific test procedure of the implantable medical device.

54. The system of claim 43 wherein the information relating to the implantable medical device further comprises information relating to general procedures of the implantable medical device.

55. The system of claim 43 further comprising a first computer located at the remote location for data communication with the programmer and for receiving the selected information from the programmer.

56. The system of claim 55 further comprising a second computer located at the remote location for data communication with the first computer and for receiving the selected information from the first computer.