System for communication with implantable medical devices using a bridge device
First Claim
1. A communication bridge device for communicating with an implantable medical device and a consumer electronics device, comprising:
- a housing, wherein the housing is portable for a patient;
first transceiver circuitry coupled to a first antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly receiving communications from the consumer electronics device in accordance with a first communications technique;
second transceiver circuitry coupled to a second antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device in accordance with a second communication technique; and
a microcontroller in the housing coupled between the first transceiver circuitry and the second transceiver circuitry,wherein the microcontroller is programmed to relay the received communications to the implantable medical device via the second transceiver circuitry to allow the consumer electronics device to control the implantable medical device, andwherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a firewall between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device, the firewall configured to perform one or more of the following;
an examination of the communications in accordance with a connection state between the consumer electronics device and the communication bridge device,an examination of the communications to determine if commands in the communications would put the implantable medical device in an unsafe condition if executed by the implantable medical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications bridge device communicates between a consumer electronics device, such as a smart telephone, and an implantable medical device. The bridge forwards instructions and data between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device. The bridge contains a first transceiver that operates according to a communication protocol operating in the consumer electronics device (such as Bluetooth®), and second transceiver that operates according to a communications technique operating in the implantable medical device (e.g., Frequency Shift Keying). A software application is installed on the consumer electronics device, which provides a user interface for controlling and reading the implantable medical device. The software application is downloadable using standard cellular means. The bridge is preferably small, and easily and discreetly carried by the implantable medical device patient. The bridge is preferably also simple to operate, and may have only a simple user interface, or no user interface at all.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A communication bridge device for communicating with an implantable medical device and a consumer electronics device, comprising:
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a housing, wherein the housing is portable for a patient; first transceiver circuitry coupled to a first antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly receiving communications from the consumer electronics device in accordance with a first communications technique; second transceiver circuitry coupled to a second antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device in accordance with a second communication technique; and a microcontroller in the housing coupled between the first transceiver circuitry and the second transceiver circuitry, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to relay the received communications to the implantable medical device via the second transceiver circuitry to allow the consumer electronics device to control the implantable medical device, and wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a firewall between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device, the firewall configured to perform one or more of the following; an examination of the communications in accordance with a connection state between the consumer electronics device and the communication bridge device, an examination of the communications to determine if commands in the communications would put the implantable medical device in an unsafe condition if executed by the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device configured to provide therapy to a patient; a software application configured for execution by a consumer electronics device with a user interface that is portable for a patient, wherein the software application configures the user interface of the consumer electronics device to allow a user to send communications to the bridge to control the therapy provided by the implantable medical device via the bridge; and a portable bridge for relaying the communications to the implantable medical device from the consumer electronics device, the bridge comprising a housing containing; first transceiver circuitry coupled to a first antenna configured to wirelessly receive the communications from the consumer electronics device, second transceiver circuitry coupled to a second antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the communications to the implantable medical device, and control circuitry comprising a firewall between the first transceiver circuitry and the second transceiver circuitry, wherein the firewall is configured to perform one or more of the following; an examination of the communications in accordance with a connection state between the consumer electronics device and the bridge, an examination of the communications to determine if commands in the communications would put the implantable medical device in an unsafe condition if executed by the implantable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification