Use case-based services

• US 9,031,652 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoyme, Kenneth P., Kalgren, James, LaLonde, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US13/892,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 607 4- 5, 607/30, 607 59- 60
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/88 Medical equipments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an external device for communication with an implantable device. The external device includes a communication circuit configured to receive a communication signal from at least a third device separate from the external device and the implantable device, a locating circuit configured to determine a location of the external device using the received communication signal, a port configured to receive user identity information into the external device, and a control circuit electrically coupled to the communication circuit, the locating circuit, and the port. The control circuit is configured to allow user access to an implantable device feature according to the determined location and received user identity information.

Claims

1. An external device for communication with an implantable device, the external device comprising:

a communication circuit configured to receive a communication signal from at least a third device separate from the external device and the implantable device;

a locating circuit configured to determine a location of the external device using the received communication signal;

a port configured to receive user identity information into the external device, wherein first user identity information received at the port allows access to a different set of device features than second user identity information; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the communication circuit, the locating circuit, and the port, wherein the control circuit is configured to reconfigure a device user interface to change user access to an implantable device feature according to the determined location and received user identity information.

2. The external device of claim 1,

wherein the communication circuit is configured to:

transmit access information receivable by a fourth device that is associated with the user identity information; and

receive the access information into the external device, and

wherein the control circuit is configured to;

verify that the received access information corresponds to the transmitted access information; and

allow user access to the implantable device feature according to the verification.

3. The external device of claim 2, including a scanning circuit,

wherein the communication circuit is configured to transmit a barcode receivable by a telephone associated with the user identity information,

wherein the scanning circuit is configured to scan a barcode displayed on the telephone, and

wherein the control circuit is configured to verify that the scanned barcode is the same as the transmitted barcode.

4. The external device of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to receive biometric information of a user.

5. The external device of claim 1, including a camera, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

initiate obtaining an image of a user given access to the external device; and

include the image in a record of access to the external device.

6. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

detect a change in location of the external device; and

change user access to one or more implantable device features according to the changed location and identity information.

7. The external device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to disable the external device when determining that the location of the external device is outside of an approved area for the user identity information.

8. The external device of claim 1, wherein the locating circuit is configured to determine the location of the external device using at least one of a global positioning system (GPS), wireless fidelity (WiFi) network mapping, cellular telephone tower identification, and local area network (LAN) identification.