Methods, devices, and systems for communicating with an implantable medical device of a last far field communication session during a subsequent far field communication session while using a same session key
First Claim
1. A method of an external device communicating with an implantable medical device where the external device includes a proximity communication circuit, a far field communication circuit, and a controller that is coupled to and controls the proximity communication circuit and the far field communication circuit, the method comprising:
- exchanging a key with the implantable medical device over a first proximity communication;
beginning a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device and exchanging communications during the first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the implantable medical device implements the key when exchanging the communications;
terminating the first far field communication session;
sending a second key from the external device over a second proximity communication after terminating the first communication session;
sending a first far field communication from the external device in an attempt to begin a second far field communication session where the external device expects communications of the second far field communication session, including a response to the first far field communication, to use the second key;
determining if the response to the first far field communication is received and if no response to the first far field communication is received, then sending a second far field communication from the external device in an attempt to begin the second far field communication session where the external device expects communications of the second far field communication session, including a response to the second far field communication, to use the first key; and
determining if the response to the second far field communication is received and if the response that uses the first key is received in response to the second far field communication, then conducting the second far field communication session where communications of the second far field communication session use the first key.
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Abstract
An external device transfers a key to an implantable medical device over a proximity communication and then establishes a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the key is used for the first communication session. This first communication session may occur before implantation while the implantable medical device is positioned outside of the sterile field so that using a proximity communication is easily achieved. Once the implantable medical device is passed into the sterile field for implantation, the external device may then establish a second far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the last key that was used for the first communication session is again used for the second communication session which avoids the need for another proximity communication to occur within the sterile field.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of an external device communicating with an implantable medical device where the external device includes a proximity communication circuit, a far field communication circuit, and a controller that is coupled to and controls the proximity communication circuit and the far field communication circuit, the method comprising:
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exchanging a key with the implantable medical device over a first proximity communication; beginning a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device and exchanging communications during the first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the implantable medical device implements the key when exchanging the communications; terminating the first far field communication session; sending a second key from the external device over a second proximity communication after terminating the first communication session; sending a first far field communication from the external device in an attempt to begin a second far field communication session where the external device expects communications of the second far field communication session, including a response to the first far field communication, to use the second key; determining if the response to the first far field communication is received and if no response to the first far field communication is received, then sending a second far field communication from the external device in an attempt to begin the second far field communication session where the external device expects communications of the second far field communication session, including a response to the second far field communication, to use the first key; and determining if the response to the second far field communication is received and if the response that uses the first key is received in response to the second far field communication, then conducting the second far field communication session where communications of the second far field communication session use the first key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An external device that communicates with an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a proximity communication circuit; a far field communication circuit; a controller coupled to the proximity communication circuit and the far field communication circuit, the controller being configured to; exchange a key with the implantable medical device over a first proximity communication, begin a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device and exchange communications during the first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the implantable medical device implements the key when exchanging the communications, terminate the first far field communication session, send a second key over a second proximity communication after terminating the first communication session, after sending the second key, send a first far field communication in an attempt to begin a second far field communication session where the controller expects communications of the second session, including a response to the first far field communication, to use the second key, determining if the response to the first far field communication is received and if no response to the first far field communication is received, then send a second far field communication in an attempt to begin the second far field communication session where the controller expects the communications of the second session, including the response to the second far field communication, to use the first key, and determine if the response to the second far field communication is received and if the response that uses the first key is received in response to the second far field communication, then conduct the second far field communication session where communications of the second far field communication session use the first key. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device; and an external device, the external device comprising a proximity communication circuit, a far field communication circuit, and a controller coupled to the proximity communication circuit and the far field communication circuit, the controller being configured to; exchange a key with the implantable medical device over a first proximity communication, begin a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device and exchange communications during the first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the implantable medical device implements the key when exchanging the communications, terminate the first far field communication session, send a second key over a second proximity communication after terminating the first communication session, after sending the second key, send a first far field communication in an attempt to begin a second far field communication session where the controller expects communications of the second session, including a response to the first far field communication, to use the second key, determining if the response to the first far field communication is received and if no response to the first far field communication is received, then send a second far field communication in an attempt to begin the second far field communication session where the controller expects the communications of the second session, including the response to the second far field communication, to use the first key, and determine if the response to the second far field communication is received and if the response that uses the first key is received in response to the second far field communication, then conduct the second far field communication session where communications of the second far field communication session use the first key. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification