Management of implantable devices
First Claim
1. A method for organizing not yet implanted implantable medical devices each having a telemetry unit associated therewith, comprising the steps of:
- wirelessly transmitting a first inquiry signal from a local administration unit to the telemetry unit associated with one of said not yet implanted medical devices;
wirelessly transmitting a return signal, in response to said first inquiry signal, from said telemetry unit of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices to said local administration unit and thereby informing said local administration unit of the existence of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices;
supplying a second inquiry signal to said local administration unit containing identity information for a not yet implanted implantable medical device;
in said local administration unit, matching said identity information in said second inquiry signal with an identity of said at least one not yet implanted medical device; and
determining a pre-implantation action to be taken for said one of said medical devices as a result of said matching.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method and a system for organizing not yet implanted implantable medical devices, each having a telemetry unit associated therewith, a local administration unit transmits an inquiry signal to at least one of the telemetry units and receives a return signal therefrom in response to the inquiry signal. The return signal establishes the existence of the medical device, and the local administration unit, or a remote external unit in communication with the local administration unit, can then determine a course of action to be taken, such as a recall procedure, invoicing or taking inventory, based on the return signal from the medical device.
29 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for organizing not yet implanted implantable medical devices each having a telemetry unit associated therewith, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting a first inquiry signal from a local administration unit to the telemetry unit associated with one of said not yet implanted medical devices; wirelessly transmitting a return signal, in response to said first inquiry signal, from said telemetry unit of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices to said local administration unit and thereby informing said local administration unit of the existence of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices; supplying a second inquiry signal to said local administration unit containing identity information for a not yet implanted implantable medical device; in said local administration unit, matching said identity information in said second inquiry signal with an identity of said at least one not yet implanted medical device; and determining a pre-implantation action to be taken for said one of said medical devices as a result of said matching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable medium encoded with a data structure for organizing not yet implanted implantable medical devices each having a telemetry unit associated therewith, said data structure programming a local administration unit to:
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wirelessly transmit a first inquiry signal from the local administration unit to the telemetry unit associated with one of said not yet implanted medical devices; wirelessly receive a return signal, in response to said first inquiry signal, from said telemetry unit of said one of said medical devices at said local administration unit and thereby informing said local administration unit of the existence of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices; receive a second inquiry signal at said local administration unit containing identity information for a not yet implanted implantable medical device; match said identification unit in said second inquiry signal with an identity of said at least one not yet implanted medical device; and determine a pre-implantation action to be taken for said one of said not yet implanted medical devices as a result of said matching.
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9. A system for organizing not yet implanted implantable medical devices, comprising:
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a plurality of not yet implanted implantable medical devices, each having a telemetry unit associated therewith; a local administration unit having a wireless interface for communicating with each of said telemetry units, said local administration unit wirelessly transmitting a first inquiry signal to one of said medical devices via the telemetry unit associated therewith, and receiving a return signal in response thereto from said one of said not yet implanted medical devices, thereby establishing existence of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices in said local administration unit; a remote external unit in communication with said local administration unit, said external unit communicating a second inquiry signal from said external unit to said local administration unit containing identity information for a not yet implanted medical device; said local administration unit matching said identity information to said existence of said one of said not yet implanted medical devices; and said external unit determining a pre-implantation action to be taken for said one of said not yet implanted medical devices dependent on said matching in said local administration unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A local administration unit for communicating administrative signals pertaining to organization of not yet implanted implantable medical devices, each of said medical devices having a telemetry unit associated therewith, said local administration unit comprising:
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a network interface adapted to receive an inquiry signal from a remote external unit; a signal generator for generating a further inquiry signal dependent on said inquiry signal; a wireless interface adapted for wireless communication with at least one of said telemetry units for communicating said further inquiry signal thereto and for receiving a return signal therefrom in response thereto; a matching unit for matching registered device identities for respective not yet implanted medical devices against information contained in said inquiry signal and said further inquiry signal; and said signal generator generating a further return signal dependent on said matching forming a basis for a pre-implantable course of action to be taken for the not yet implanted medical device from which the return signal was received. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification