Server for communication with an implantable medical device

• US 9,244,898 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vamos, George, McClure, Kelly H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US14/696,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an implantable medical device; and

a remote control device configured to communicate with the implantable medical device, wherein the remote control device comprises a server configured to communicate with an external computer in accordance with a markup language protocol, and wherein the server is configured to receive a request from the external computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the implantable medical device and the external computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to transmit information to the external computer in response to the request.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the information is one or more of status information pertaining to the implantable medical device, a security token, a device control token, and a communication termination control token.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the information comprises information interpretable by a browser program of the external computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information comprises a login form.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the markup language protocol is an HTTP protocol.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to communicate directly with the external computer in accordance with the markup language protocol.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate directly with the implantable medical device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes a URL of the remote control device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is further configured to receive from the external computer operational parameters for the implantable medical device after receipt of the request, and wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the request comprises operational parameters for the implantable medical device, and wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is hand-holdable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is portable.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to be worn by a user.

16. A remote control device, comprising:

telemetry circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with an implantable medical device and with an external computer;

a server configured to receive via the telemetry circuit a request from a web browser of the external computer and to transmit via the telemetry circuitry information to the web browser in response in accordance with a markup language protocol; and

a portable, hand-holdable housing containing the telemetry circuitry and the server.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the information is one or more of status information pertaining to the implantable medical device, a security token, a device control token, and a communication termination control token.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the information comprises a login form.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the markup language protocol is an HTTP protocol.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate directly with the external computer.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate directly with the implantable medical device.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the request includes a URL of the remote control device.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured to receive from the external computer operational parameters for the implantable medical device after receipt of the request, and wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein the request comprises operational parameters for the implantable medical device, and wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to be worn by a user.

26. A method, comprising:

wirelessly communicating with an implantable medical device using a remote control device;

wirelessly receiving a request from an external computer at a server of the remote control device in accordance with a markup language protocol; and

wirelessly sending information from the server of the remote control device to the external computer in response to the request in accordance with the markup language protocol.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the information is one or more of status information pertaining to the implantable medical device, a security token, a device control token, and a communication termination control token.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the information comprises information interpretable by a browser program of the external computer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information comprises a login form.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the markup language protocol is an HTTP protocol.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the request includes a URL of the remote control device.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving from the external computer at the server operational parameters for the implantable medical device after receipt of the request, and wherein wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device comprises transmitting the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the request comprises operational parameters for the implantable medical device, and wherein wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device comprises transmitting the operational parameters to the implantable medical device.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote control device is hand-holdable and portable.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote control device is worn by a user.