Controlling a personal medical device
First Claim
1. Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus which may be controlled by a plurality of control sources, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) a personal medical device (PMD) adapted to be carried by a patient, either internally or externally, said PMD being alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled, said device comprising, in combination;
(i) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing medical data of the patient to, and for receiving external control signals from external control stations;
(ii) an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto;
(iii) 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 medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and
(iv) a first processor, coupled to each of(1) said first sensor circuit output,(2) said first T/R device, and(3) said treatment device,for(1) 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 medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device,(2) receiving at least one external control signal;
(3) generating at least one treatment device signal; and
(4) receiving at least one command-hierarchy setting signal; and
(b) at least two external control stations, each comprising, in combination;
(i) a Pth transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said PMD; and
(ii) a Pth processor, coupled to said Pth T/R device, for producing at least one external control signal for controlling said PMD;
wherein;
(1) said first T/R device transmits at least one first medical information signal to at least one of said external control stations;
(2) said first processor is operative to generate at least one treatment device signal in response to at least one of (a) said internal control signal, and (b) an external control signal received from at least one of a plurality of said external control stations by said first T/R device;
(3) in response to said command-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 their sources,wherein;
a treatment device signal represented by a control signal assigned a given priority level overrides a treatment device signal represented by a control signal assigned a lower priority level;
whereby said PMD delivers the therapy represented by the control signal which has been assigned the highest priority level;
thereby to establish and maintain a hierarchy among the sources of control of said PMD.
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Accused Products
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
71 Claims
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1. Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus which may be controlled by a plurality of control sources, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a personal medical device (PMD) adapted to be carried by a patient, either internally or externally, said PMD being alternatively self-controlled and remotely controlled, said device comprising, in combination; (i) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing medical data of the patient to, and for receiving external control signals from external control stations; (ii) an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to treatment device signals applied thereto; (iii) 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 medical data sensed from the patient by said first sensor circuit; and (iv) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said treatment device, for (1) 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 medical data, and (B) an internal control signal for controlling said treatment device, (2) receiving at least one external control signal; (3) generating at least one treatment device signal; and (4) receiving at least one command-hierarchy setting signal; and (b) at least two external control stations, each comprising, in combination; (i) a Pth transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said PMD; and (ii) a Pth processor, coupled to said Pth T/R device, for producing at least one external control signal for controlling said PMD; wherein; (1) said first T/R device transmits at least one first medical information signal to at least one of said external control stations; (2) said first processor is operative to generate at least one treatment device signal in response to at least one of (a) said internal control signal, and (b) an external control signal received from at least one of a plurality of said external control stations by said first T/R device; (3) in response to said command-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 their sources, wherein; a treatment device signal represented by a control signal assigned a given priority level overrides a treatment device signal represented by a control signal assigned a lower priority level; whereby said PMD delivers the therapy represented by the control signal which has been assigned the highest priority level; thereby to establish and maintain a hierarchy among the sources of control of said PMD. - 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)
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40. Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus 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; (i) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing an internal medical state of a patient to, and for receiving external control signals from, external locations; (ii) a medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to treatment device control signals applied thereto; (iii) 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 (iv) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said treatment device, for (1) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal; (2) generating an internal control signal, in response to said analysis, for controlling said treatment device; and (3) generating at least one treatment device control signal; (b) a local external control station comprising, in combination; (i) a second transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD; and (ii) a second processor, coupled to said second T/R device, for producing at least one local external control signal for controlling said IMD; and (c) a remote external control station comprising, in combination; (i) a third transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for electronic communication with said first T/R device of said IMD; and (ii) a third processor, coupled to said third T/R device, for producing at least one remote external control signal for controlling said IMD; wherein; (1) said first T/R device transmits at least one signal representing an internal medical state of said patient to at least one of said local and said remote external control stations; and (2) said first processor is operative to generate at least one treatment device control signal in response to at least one of; (a) said internal control signal, and (b) at least one external control signal received from at least one of; (i) said local external control station, and (ii) said remote external control station by said first T/R device; whereby said IMD delivers therapy in response to at least one of; the analysis of said at least one first sensor circuit output signal by said first processor, said at least one local external control signal, and said at least one remote external control signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification