Repeater providing data exchange with a medical device for remote patient care and method thereof

• US 8,451,113 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mazar, Scott T., Manicka, Yatheendhar D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/371,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

A repeater providing data exchange with a medical device for remote patient care and method thereof are provided. The repeater includes a transmission device configured to send the data over a wireless medium to a data repository and a processing device configured to detect conditions in respect of an associated communication medium that could affect data exchange, where the processing device is configured to send the data based at least in part on the conditions. The processing device is further configured to analyze the data from the medical device to detect a problem with the medical device.

Claims

1. A repeater for relaying data to a repository from a medical device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data from an implantable cardiac rhythm management device;

a memory configured to maintain the data once it has been received;

a transmission device configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium; and

a processing device configured to;

detect conditions of the communication medium that could affect data exchange and send the data based at least in part on the conditions,

recognize a problem with the cardiac rhythm management device, and

consider a degree of urgency and send the data based at least in part on the degree of urgency.

2. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to recognize a problem with the cardiac rhythm management device comprising a broken cardiac lead.

3. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the transmission device is configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium comprising a telephone line.

4. The repeater of claim 3, wherein the processing device is configured to detect conditions of the communication medium that could affect exchange comprising the telephone line being already in use.

5. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive data from the cardiac rhythm management device through inductive coupling.

6. The repeater of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to receive the degree of urgency from a user.

7. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform analysis of the data to determine the degree of urgency.

8. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the transmission device configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium comprising a wireless communication medium.

9. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to perform self-diagnostic tests to detect conditions of the communication medium.

10. The repeater of claim 1, further comprising an annunciation interface in communication with the processing device, wherein the annunciation interface configured to annunciate warnings to a user.

11. A system for relaying data to a repository from a medical device, comprising:

a cardiac rhythm management device configured for implantation in a user;

a receiver configured to receive data from the cardiac rhythm management device;

a memory configured to maintain the data once it has been received;

a transmission device configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium; and

a processing device configured to;

detect conditions of the communication medium that could affect data exchange and send the data based at least in part on the conditions,

recognize a problem with the cardiac rhythm management device, and

consider a degree of urgency and send the data based at least in part on the degree of urgency.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is configured to recognize a problem with the cardiac rhythm management device comprising a broken cardiac lead.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmission device is configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium comprising a telephone line.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is configured to detect conditions of the communication medium that could affect exchange comprising the telephone line being in-use.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver is configured to receive data from the cardiac rhythm management device through inductive coupling.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising an interface configured to receive the degree of urgency from a user.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to perform analysis of the data to determine the degree of urgency.

18. The system of claim 11, the transmission device configured to send the data to a data repository over a communication medium comprising a wireless communication medium.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further configured to perform self-diagnostic tests to detect conditions of the communication medium.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising an annunciation interface in communication with the processing device, wherein the annunciation interface is configured to annunciate warnings to a user.