Channel occupancy in multi-channel medical device communication
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining a communication session between an external programmer device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other external programmer devices, comprising:
- communicating data from a first external IMD programmer device to an IMD via a communication channel controlled by a control unit; and
transmitting idle messages from the external device via the communication channel during gaps within the data communication to reduce the potential for conflict with one or more other external IMD programmer devicesestablishing a communication session accordance with a frame-based protocol in which each frame has a downlink communication and an uplink communication to communication the data from the external device to the implantable medical device;
communicating the idle messages during the downlink communications of the frames;
transmitting the downlink communications of the frames with the medical device at a first rate; and
receiving the downlink communications with the implantable medical device at a second rate slower than the first rate to receive only the downlink communications carrying data and not the idle messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, channel occupancy techniques for multi-channel medical device communication are provided. More specifically, techniques are described for maintaining a communication session between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other programmers. A device, such as an external device, includes a transmit module to transmit telemetry signals to an implantable medical device over a communication channel, and a control unit that communicates data to the IMD via the transmit module. The control unit communicates idle messages over the communication channel during gaps within the data communication to the IMD.
137 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a communication session between an external programmer device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other external programmer devices, comprising:
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communicating data from a first external IMD programmer device to an IMD via a communication channel controlled by a control unit; and
transmitting idle messages from the external device via the communication channel during gaps within the data communication to reduce the potential for conflict with one or more other external IMD programmer devicesestablishing a communication session accordance with a frame-based protocol in which each frame has a downlink communication and an uplink communication to communication the data from the external device to the implantable medical device; communicating the idle messages during the downlink communications of the frames; transmitting the downlink communications of the frames with the medical device at a first rate; and receiving the downlink communications with the implantable medical device at a second rate slower than the first rate to receive only the downlink communications carrying data and not the idle messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for maintaining a communication session between an external programmer device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other external programmer devices, comprising:
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transmitting downlink communications from a first external programming device to an implantable medical device (IMD) at a first rate, wherein the downlink communications include data messages and idle messages; and receiving the downlink communications with the (IMD) at a second rate slower than the first rate to receive the data messages and not the idle messages to reduce the potential for communication conflict between the first external programming device, the IMD, and other programming devices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A device adapted for maintaining a communication session between an external programmer device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other external programmer devices, comprising:
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a transmit module to transmit telemetry signals to an IMD over a communication channel; and a control unit adapted to communicate data to the IMD via the transmit module, and to communicate idle messages via the transmit module over the communication channel during gaps within the data communication to the IMD, wherein the control unit establishes a communication session in accordance with a frame-based protocal in which each frame has a downlink communication and an uplink communication to communicate the data to the implantible medical device, and communicates the idle messages during the downlink communications of the frames, wherein the control unit outputs the downlink communications of the frames to include the idle messages and the data at a transmit rate that exceeds a receive rate of the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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an external device to transmit downlink communications including data messages and idle messages through a communication channel at a first rate; and an implantable medical device to receive the downlink communications at a second rate slower than the first rate to receive the data messages and not the idle messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to maintain a communication sessions between a first external programmer device and an implantable medical device (IMD) to reduce the potential for conflict with other external programmer devices, comprising:
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executable instructions for communicating data from an external device to an implantable medical device (IMD) using a wireless communication channel; and executable instructions for transmitting idle messages from the external devices to the IMD via the communication channel during gaps within the data communication to reduce the potential for conflict with one more other external programmer devices; executable instruction for establishing a communication session in according with a frame-based protocol in which each frame has a downlink communication and an uplink communication to communicate the data from the external device to the IMD; executable instructions for communicating the idle messages during the downlink communication of the frames; executable instructions for transmitting the downlink communications of the frames with the IMD at a first rate; and executable instructions for receiving the downlink communications by the IMD at a second rate slower than the first rate to receive only the downlink communications carrying data and not the idle messages. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification