Apparatus, system, method and computer program product for controlling bio-enhancement implants

• US 6,539,947 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPG Healthcare 501 Limited (Coller IP Capital Limited)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Philip S., Moskowitz, Paul A., Grey, William, Dinkin, Sam, Boies, Stephen J., Greene, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veniaminov; Nikita R
• Application Number:
  US09/736,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 607/27,32,30,9,55-57,60,25 600/558,485,510,521 128/899
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for monitoring and controlling bio-enhancement implants is provided. With the apparatus, system, method and computer program product, a user may control the operation of implantable devices within the user'"'"'s body by operation of a personal digital device. The personal digital device may obtain operational settings of the various implantable devices based on information stored within the personal digital device and/or information obtained from a network. The settings of the various implants are established in view of the possible interactions of the implants with one another. The personal digital device further monitors the operation of the implantable devices and the user'"'"'s biological indicia. Based on the monitoring, the operation of the implantable devices are modified to obtain a desired result. If an emergency situation is encountered, the personal digital device may contact emergency response services with the location of the user so that emergency personnel are dispatched accordingly.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:

obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices;

obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and

determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user'"'"'s weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes:

sending the activity information and the configuration information to a server; and

receiving the setting for the one or more implantable devices from the server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server includes information identifying settings of implantable devices associated with the one or more registered users.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and

controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices includes:

obtaining operation information from the one or more implantable devices; and

sending commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices;

determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and

notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes obtaining a location of the user from a global positioning device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation includes:

comparing measured operational parameters of the biological system to a threshold; and

determining if an emergency situation is present based on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and

uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a personal digital device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a client-server distributed data processing system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in one of a personal digital assistant, a hand-held computer, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.

22. An apparatus for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:

a first interface for obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices;

a second interface for obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and

a computing device for determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user'"'"'s weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second interface is an input interface through which the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second interface is a transceiver through which configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the computing device determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a transceiver, wherein the computing device is a server and wherein the activity information and the configuration information is transmitted to the server.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

a monitoring device for monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and

a controller for controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller includes a receiver for receiving operation information from the one or more implantable devices, wherein the controller transmits, via the transmitter, commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a monitor device for monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices;

means for determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and

means for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes a global positioning device for obtaining a location of the user.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

means for deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and

means for uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.

36. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is a personal digital device.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is part of a client-server distributed data processing system.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.

40. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for controlling one or more implantable devices, comprising:

first instructions for obtaining activity information identifying a physical activity to be performed by a user of the one or more implantable devices;

second instructions for obtaining configuration information for the one or more implantable devices; and

third instructions for determining a setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information and the configuration information.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the activity information includes at least one of an indicator of the activity, starting elevation, ending elevation, length of the activity, a user'"'"'s weight, ambient temperature, and period of time of the activity.

42. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is obtained from inputs received from a user.

43. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is obtained from interrogating the one or more implantable devices.

44. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the third instructions for determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes instructions for taking into consideration possible interactions of implantable devices identified in the configuration information.

45. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the third instructions for determining the setting for the one or more implantable devices includes:

instructions for sending the activity information and the configuration information to a server; and

instructions for receiving the setting for the one or more implantable devices from the server.

46. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the server determines the setting for the one or more implantable devices based on the activity information, the configuration information and history information compiled from one or more registered users of the server.

47. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising fourth instructions for transmitting the setting for the one or more implantable devices to the one or more implantable devices.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, further comprising:

fifth instructions for monitoring an operation of the one or more implantable devices; and

sixth instructions for controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices to obtain a desired operation.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein controlling the operation of the one or more implantable devices includes:

seventh instructions for obtaining operation information from the one or more implantable devices; and

eighth instructions for sending commands to the one or more implantable devices based on a comparison of the operation information to the desired operation.

50. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising:

fourth instructions for monitoring an operation of a biological system of a user of the one or more implantable devices;

fifth instructions for determining if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation; and

sixth instructions for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user if the operation of the biological system indicates an emergency situation.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the sixth instructions for notifying emergency personnel of a location of the user includes instructions for obtaining a location of the user from a global positioning device.

52. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising fourth instructions for activating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, further comprising:

fifth instructions for deactivating use of the setting by the one or more implantable devices; and

sixth instructions for uploading a history report of an operation of the one or more implantable devices and an operation of a corresponding biological system to a server.

54. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the computer program product is executed in a personal digital device.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the personal digital device is one of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a hand held computer, a Web appliance, a cellular telephone, and a wearable computer.

56. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the computer program product is executed in a client-server distributed data processing system.

57. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein the setting is an optimal setting.

58. A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of implantable devices implanted in a human user, comprising:

obtaining configuration information from the plurality of implantable devices; and

determining a setting for a selected implantable device of the plurality of implantable devices taking into consideration possible interactions of the operation of the selected implantable device on the operation of the other implantable devices of the plurality of implantable devices.