Communication device, communication system and communication method for an implantable medical device

• US 9,204,795 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Fain, Eric S., Rios, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US14/318,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for communicating with an implantable medical device are disclosed. A communication device may include an input/output interface configured to communicate with a wireless communication device, a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system, a detector configured to detect when the wireless communication device is within a range of the non-implantable communication device, wherein communication between the wireless interface and the wireless communication device is initiated upon detection by the detector that the wireless communication device is within the range of the non-implantable communication device, and a processor configured to perform an analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device. The communication device may include a user interface configured to receive data input by a user. A communication system may include a wireless communication device and the aforementioned communication device.

Claims

1. A non-implantable communication device for use with an implantable medical device, the non-implantable communication device comprising:

a wireless interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device;

a detector configured to detect when the wireless communication device is within a range of the non-implantable communication device, wherein the detector is configured to continuously or periodically search for the wireless communication device without user intervention and wherein communication between the wireless interface and the wireless communication device is initiated upon detection by the detector that the wireless communication device is within the range of the non-implantable communication device;

a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and

a processor configured to analyze data associated with the implantable medical device that is received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine, for data that may be analyzed both locally and remotely, if a local analysis is preferred over a remote analysis;

perform a local analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that local analysis is preferred over remote analysis; and

use the communication interface to transfer data to the remote system, to enable a remote analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that remote analysis is preferred over local analysis.

2. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive data input by a user and provide an output to the user.

3. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device comprises a cellular telephone; and

the wireless interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with the cellular telephone that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device.

4. The non-implantable communication device of claim 3, wherein:

the detector is configured to continuously search for the cellular telephone.

5. The non-implantable communication device of claim 3, wherein:

the detector is configured to periodically search for the cellular telephone.

6. The non-implantable communication device of claim 1, wherein the non-implantable communication device is a docking station.

7. A non-implantable communication device for use with an implantable medical device, the non-implantable communication device comprising:

a wireless interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device;

a detector configured to detect when the wireless communication device is within a range of the non-implantable communication device, wherein communication between the wireless interface and the wireless communication device is initiated upon detection by the detector that the wireless communication device is within the range of the non-implantable communication device;

a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and

a processor configured to;

determine, for data received from the wireless communication device that may be analyzed both locally and remotely, if a local analysis is preferred over a remote analysis;

perform a local analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that local analysis is preferred over remote analysis; and

use the communication interface to transfer data to the remote system, to enable a remote analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that remote analysis is preferred over local analysis.

8. The non-implantable communication device of claim 7, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive data input by a user and provide an output to the user.

9. The non-implantable communication device of claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to continuously search for the wireless communication device.

10. The non-implantable communication device of claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to periodically search for the wireless communication device.

11. The non-implantable communication device of claim 7, wherein:

the wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device comprises a cellular telephone; and

the wireless interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with the cellular telephone that wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device.

12. The non-implantable communication device of claim 11, wherein:

the detector is configured to continuously search for the cellular telephone.

13. The non-implantable communication device of claim 11, wherein:

the detector is configured to periodically, without user intervention, search for the cellular telephone.

14. The non-implantable communication device of claim 7, wherein the non-implantable communication device is a docking station.

15. A non-implantable communication system for use with an implantable medical device, the non-implantable communication system comprising:

a non-implantable communication device; and

a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly communicates with the implantable medical device,

wherein the non-implantable communication device comprises;

a wireless interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless communication device,

a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system, and

a processor configured to analyze data associated with the implantable medical device that is received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface,

wherein the wireless communication device comprises a detector configured to detect, without user intervention, when the wireless communication device is within a range of the non-implantable communication device, and

wherein communication between the wireless interface and the wireless communication device is initiated automatically upon detection by the detector that the wireless communication device is within the range of the non-implantable communication device, wherein the processor of the non-implantable communication device is configured to;

determine, for data that may be analyzed both locally and remotely, if a local analysis is preferred over a remote analysis;

perform a local analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that local analysis is preferred over remote analysis; and

use the communication interface to transfer data to the remote system, to enable a remote analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the wireless interface, if the processor determines that remote analysis is preferred over local analysis.