Modular patient portable communicator for use in life critical network
First Claim
1. A modular portable patient communicator (PPC) for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the PPC comprising:
- a housing configured for portability by an ambulatory patient;
a processor;
a user interface coupled to the processor;
a radio configured to effect communications only with the PIMD in accordance with program instructions of medical firmware executable by the processor;
a universal communications port supported by the housing and coupled to the processor, the communications port comprising a connector configured to detachably engage and establish signal connectivity with at least one module of a plurality of disparate modules;
the PPC devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of disparate modules configured to provide the PPC with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols;
memory provided in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory storing the medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software comprising program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor in cooperation with the at least one module of the plurality of disparate modules to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the PPC to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the PPC and CA upon successful PPC authentication; and
a power source configured to supply power for components of the PPC.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular portable patient communicator (PPC) provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the PPC with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The PPC is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the PPC to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the PPC to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the PPC and CA upon successful PPC authentication.
408 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular portable patient communicator (PPC) for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the PPC comprising:
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a housing configured for portability by an ambulatory patient; a processor; a user interface coupled to the processor; a radio configured to effect communications only with the PIMD in accordance with program instructions of medical firmware executable by the processor; a universal communications port supported by the housing and coupled to the processor, the communications port comprising a connector configured to detachably engage and establish signal connectivity with at least one module of a plurality of disparate modules; the PPC devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of disparate modules configured to provide the PPC with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols; memory provided in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory storing the medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software comprising program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor in cooperation with the at least one module of the plurality of disparate modules to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the PPC to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the PPC and CA upon successful PPC authentication; and a power source configured to supply power for components of the PPC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network, the method comprising:
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providing medical firmware and life critical network (LCN) software within a modular portable patient communicator (PPC); wirelessly interrogating a PIMD and acquiring data from the PIMD using the medical firmware and a radio of the PPC; mechanically connecting at least one detachable module of a plurality of disparate detachable modules to a universal communications port of the PPC, at least some of the plurality of detachable modules configured to provide the PPC with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols; establishing signal connectivity between the PPC and the mechanically connected detachable module, the PPC devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of the radio and the universal communications port; and executing the LCN software in cooperation with the at least one detachable module to cause the PPC to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the PPC to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the PPC and CA upon successful PPC authentication.
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a data processing arrangement disposed in a modular portable patient communicator (PPC) for performing steps comprising:
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establishing signal connectivity between a universal communications port of the PPC and at least one detachable module of a plurality of disparate detachable modules when mechanically connected to the universal communications port, at least some of the plurality of detachable modules configured to provide the PPC with an external communications facility and having disparate communication protocols, the PPC devoid of a facility to effect external communications other than by way of a radio and the universal communications port of the PPC; and executing life critical network (LCN) software stored on the medium to cause the PPC in cooperation with the at least one detachable module to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to an unsecured network, facilitate authentication of the PPC to a central authority (CA), and facilitate secured communication between the PPC and CA upon successful PPC authentication.
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Specification