Controlling a personal medical device
First Claim
1. A medical monitoring and treatment system which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, said system comprising, in combination:
- (a) an implantable medical device (IMD), which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled, said device comprising, in combination;
a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing internal medical data of a patient to, and for receiving external control signals from, at least one external control station, and for receiving at least one hierarchy setting signal from at least one external command station;
a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to a treatment device signal applied thereto;
a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and
a first processor, coupled to each ofsaid first sensor circuit output,said first T/R device, andsaid treatment device,foranalyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one first medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signalreceiving at least one external control signal;
receiving at least one hierarchy-setting signal; and
based on said hierarchy setting signal, generating said treatment device signal in response to a selected one of said internal and received external control signals; and
(b) at least one external control station, each comprising, in combination;
a (P+1)th transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD; and
a (P+1)th processor, coupled to said (P+1)th T/R device, for producing at least one external control signal for controlling said IMD;
wherein P is an integer with a value of at least the number one, and at most the number of said external control stations; and
(c) at least one external command station, each comprising, in combination;
a command station transmitting device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD;
a command station processor, coupled to said command station transmitting device, for producing at least one hierarchy-setting signal for setting at least one hierarchy among said internal and external control signals, for controlling said IMD; and
a command station input device, coupled to said command station processor, for inputting at least one hierarchy-setting command specifying said at least one hierarchy;
Wherein said first T/R device transmits at least one first medical information signal to at least one of said external control stations;
wherein said first processor is operative to receive said at least one hierarchy-setting signal received from at least one of said external command stations by said first T/R device;
wherein in response to said at least one hierarchy-setting signal said first processor is operative to assign a unique priority level to each of said internal and external control signals, wherein the values of said assigned priority levels indicate a control hierarchy among all such control signals; and
wherein based on said assignment, said first processor is operative to generate said treatment device signal in response to the control signal with the highest assigned priority level from among said internal and received external control signals;
thereby to control the treatment provided by said IMD in accordance with the hierarchy.
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Abstract
Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus, which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, includes a “personal medical device” (PMD) or an “implantable medical device” (IMD), respectively carried by, or implanted in, a patient. The PMD/IMD is alternatively self-controlled or controlled by one or more local external control stations, at or near the location of the patient, and/or one or more remote external control stations, remote from the patient. Either or both of the local and remote stations may be operated by a person, such as the patient, a patient facilitator and/or a medical professional, or the stations may operate automatically. Since the device is controlled by multiple sources, hierarchies are used to select the source of control.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A medical monitoring and treatment system which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, said system comprising, in combination:
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(a) an implantable medical device (IMD), which is alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled, said device comprising, in combination; a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing internal medical data of a patient to, and for receiving external control signals from, at least one external control station, and for receiving at least one hierarchy setting signal from at least one external command station; a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to a treatment device signal applied thereto; a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal at said first sensor circuit output in response to the internal medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and a first processor, coupled to each of said first sensor circuit output, said first T/R device, and said treatment device, for analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal and, based on the analysis, generating (A) at least one first medical information signal representing said internal medical data, and (B) an internal control signal receiving at least one external control signal; receiving at least one hierarchy-setting signal; and based on said hierarchy setting signal, generating said treatment device signal in response to a selected one of said internal and received external control signals; and (b) at least one external control station, each comprising, in combination; a (P+1)th transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD; and a (P+1)th processor, coupled to said (P+1)th T/R device, for producing at least one external control signal for controlling said IMD; wherein P is an integer with a value of at least the number one, and at most the number of said external control stations; and (c) at least one external command station, each comprising, in combination; a command station transmitting device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD; a command station processor, coupled to said command station transmitting device, for producing at least one hierarchy-setting signal for setting at least one hierarchy among said internal and external control signals, for controlling said IMD; and a command station input device, coupled to said command station processor, for inputting at least one hierarchy-setting command specifying said at least one hierarchy; Wherein said first T/R device transmits at least one first medical information signal to at least one of said external control stations; wherein said first processor is operative to receive said at least one hierarchy-setting signal received from at least one of said external command stations by said first T/R device; wherein in response to said at least one hierarchy-setting signal said first processor is operative to assign a unique priority level to each of said internal and external control signals, wherein the values of said assigned priority levels indicate a control hierarchy among all such control signals; and wherein based on said assignment, said first processor is operative to generate said treatment device signal in response to the control signal with the highest assigned priority level from among said internal and received external control signals; thereby to control the treatment provided by said IMD in accordance with the hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification