Universal external control device for use by multiple conditional access users with varying access to functionality of an implantable medical device

• US 8,229,562 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman Neuro Sciences Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ginggen, Alec, Tardy, Yanik
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIETRICH, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US11/586,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/31, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A universal external control device for use by multiple conditional access users with varying access to functionality of an implantable medical device in wireless communication therewith. Circuitry associated with the external control device is used to uniquely identify each of the conditional access users via an access device such as a key or card. Access to functionality of the implantable medical device is restricted by the universal external control device based on the conditional access user identified by the access device.

Claims

1. A universal external control device for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, comprising:

circuitry for identifying each of the plural conditional access users, determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned and restricting access for each of the plural conditional access users to that functionality associated with the implantable medical device based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned;

each of the plural conditional access users is assigned by the circuitry a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework;

wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned by the circuitry default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition in advance and is accessible by the plural conditional access users;

wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions;

wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions, and none of the conditional access functions overlap in any set of conditional access functions in the non-hierarchical network.