Optimizing data retrieval from an active implantable medical device

• US 9,238,144 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Greene, David A., Archer, Steve T., Mulligan, Patrick G. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US13/830,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 105, 340/870.01, 600/549, 600/551, 702/19, 374/100, 374/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry

Abstract

An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend.

Claims

1. A method of data retrieval by an external data retrieval apparatus, said method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of measures over a period of time, the measures corresponding to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device;

determining a trend in the quality of the communication channel based on the plurality of measures obtained over the period of time;

determining a preferred time during which to retrieve data over the communication channel based on the trend in the quality of the communication channel; and

wherein determining the preferred time comprises processing the plurality of measures to identify a time or time duration during which one or more of the plurality of measures indicate a higher measure of a quality of communication relative to one or more of the plurality of measures obtained during other times or time durations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of measures comprises one or more of a signal-to-noise ratio, a received signal strength indication, and a packet error rate, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time ranges from 24 hours to a plurality of days.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a trend comprises quantifying the plurality of measures as a function of sub-time periods within the time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred time corresponds to the time at which the quality of communication is at a peak.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred time corresponds to a time range during which the quality of communication satisfies a quality criterion.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interrogating the active implantable medical device to retrieve data at or during the preferred time;

monitoring for unsuccessful interrogation attempts; and

obtaining a new plurality of measures, determining a new trend and determining a new preferred time, if a prerequisite number of interrogation attempts are unsuccessful.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein obtaining the new plurality of measures is performed over a period of time less than the prior period of time during which the plurality of measures were obtained.

9. An external data retrieval apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processing system coupled to the transceiver and configured to;

obtain a plurality of measures over a period of time, the measures corresponding to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device;

determine a trend in the quality of the communication channel based on the plurality of measures obtained over the period of time;

determine a preferred time during which to retrieve data over the communication channel based on the trend in the quality of the communication channel; and

wherein to determine the preferred time, the processing system is further configured to process the plurality of measures to identify a time or time duration during which one or more of the plurality of measures indicate a higher measure of a quality of communication relative to one or more of the plurality of measures obtained during other times or time durations.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of measures comprises one or more of a signal-to-noise ratio, a received signal strength indication, and a packet error rate, or a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the period of time ranges from 24 hours to a plurality of days.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to determine a trend, the processing system is further configured to quantify the plurality of measures as a function of sub-time periods within the time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the preferred time corresponds to the time at which the quality of communication is at a peak.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the preferred time corresponds to a time range during which the quality of communication satisfies a quality criterion.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

interrogate the active implantable medical device to retrieve data at or during the preferred time;

monitor for unsuccessful interrogation attempts; and

obtain a new plurality of measures, determine a new trend and determine a new preferred time, if a prerequisite number of interrogation attempts are unsuccessful.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the new plurality of measures over a period of time less than the prior period of time during which the plurality of measures were obtained.