Medical information device

• US 6,356,789 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEDTRONIC,INC., ORGA KARTENSYSTEME GMBH
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zollner, Heinz Michael, Hinssen, Hans-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/182,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/32, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Described is a data processing unit for the telemetric adjustment of an implant and for telemetric communication between the implant and a data device. The data device comprises a control unit for processing the data entered, a memory unit for saving the data supplied, an entry unit for entry of data, a display unit for display of data, a telemetry unit for transfer of data to the implant or vice versa; and at least one reading device to read and/or write on a first and second data carrier, whereby, on the first data carrier, one can store the status data transferred to the implant, and, on the second data carrier, the administrative data pertaining to the implant.

Claims

1. An external data device for programming and storing information relating to an implantable medical device, comprising:

(a) means for entering administrative data into the external data device;

(b) means for displaying data operatively coupled to the entry means;

(c) mean s for telemetrically communicating with implantable medical device and for sending data to and receiving patient status data from the implantable medical device;

(d) a control unit for processing the entered, sent or received data, the control means being operatively connected to the telemetry means;

(e) a memory unit, operatively coupled to the control unit, for storing the entered, sent or received data;

(f) a first reading device operatively connected to the control unit and configured to at least one of read patient data from and write patient data to a first data carrier, the first data carrier being transportable and removable from the first reading device, and

(g) a second reading device operatively connected to the control unit and configured to at least one of read administrative data from and write administrative data to a second data carrier, the second data carrier being permanently connected to the second reading device.

2. The external data device of claim 1, wherein the memory unit further comprises a first memory region for storing patient status data and a second memory region for storing administrative data.

3. The external data device of claim 1, wherein the second reading device further comprises means for at least one of reading initial patient status data from and writing initial patient status data to the second reading device.

4. The external data device of claim 1, wherein the first reading device is a card reading device and the first data carrier is a chip card comprising a microprocessor.

5. The external data device of claim 4, wherein the card reading device is integrated into the external data device as a PCMCIA interface.

6. The external data device of claim 4, wherein software-based functions stored in the implantable medical device may be activated by means, integral to the external data device, for generating an activation signal, the software-based functions being stored as administrative data on the second data carrier when the activation signal is generated.

7. The external data device of claim 6, further comprising means for at least one of revising and expanding the software-based functions stored in the implantable medical device when the activation signal is generated.

8. The external data device of claim 1, wherein the second data carrier comprises means for storing administrative data from a plurality of implant procedures.

9. The external data device of claim 1, further comprising means for updating the patient status data and transferring same to the implantable medical device for storage therein and to the first data carrier for storage thereon, and means for storing the administrative data on the second data carrier as soon as the patient status data are stored for the first time in one of the memory unit and the first data carrier.

10. The external data device of claim 1, further comprising means for transferring and storing the administrative data in another external data device when the administrative data are stored for the first time on the second data carrier.

11. The external data device of claim 1, further comprising means for transferring the administrative data to the second data carrier and storing same thereon when the first data carrier is initially used to store patient status data thereon.

12. The external data device of claim 1 further comprising means for storing the patient status data in the implantable medical device first, followed by storing the patient status data on the first data carrier.