Managing telemetry communication modes of an implantable device

• US 9,913,989 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schilling, Eric A., House, Christopher T., Kivi, Gary P., Kleckner, Karen J., Komp, John W., Wine, Nicholas C., Yoder, Matthew R., Zhang, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US15/141,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20170312530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• 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 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 : adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media facilitating management of operation of an implantable medical device (“IMD”) using a number of communication modes are provided. An IMD is configured to operate in a disabled mode wherein radio frequency (RF) telemetry communication is disabled, or operate in a first advertising mode using the RF telemetry communication. The IMD receives a clinician session request from a clinician device via an induction telemetry protocol while operating in the disabled mode or the first advertising mode, and transitions to operating from the disabled mode or the first advertising mode to operating in a second advertising mode based on receiving the clinician session request. From the second advertising mode, the IMD can establish a clinician telemetry session with the clinician device using the RF telemetry communication and a unique security mechanism facilitated by an identifier for the clinician device included in the clinician session request.

Claims

1. An implantable device, comprising:

a housing configured to be implanted at least partially within a patient;

a memory, coupled to the housing, that stores executable components;

circuitry, coupled to the housing, and configured to at least one of obtain sensed physiological data associated with the patient or deliver a therapy to the patient; and

a processor, coupled to the housing, that executes the executable components stored in the memory, wherein the executable components comprise;

a communication component configured to facilitate telemetry communication between the implantable device and one or more external devices using a first telemetry communication protocol and a second telemetry communication protocol to communicate data associated with at least one of the sensed physiological data or the delivered therapy; and

a communication mode management component configured to control operation of the implantable device in different communication modes, comprising;

a disabled mode configured to prevent telemetry communication between the implantable device and the one or more external devices according to the first telemetry communication protocol and enable telemetry communication between the implantable device and the one or more external devices according to the second telemetry communication protocol;

a first advertising mode configured to facilitate establishment of a first type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the one or more external devices using the first telemetry communication protocol; and

a second advertising mode configured to facilitate establishment of a second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the one or more external devices using the first telemetry communication protocol.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first type of telemetry communication session comprises a monitoring telemetry session wherein the implantable device and the one or more external devices are authorized to communicate first data packets according to first communication parameters, and wherein the second type of telemetry communication session comprises a clinician telemetry session wherein the implantable device and the one or more external devices are authorized to communicate the first data packets and second data packets according to second communication parameters less restrictive than the first communication parameters.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein, during the first advertising mode, the communication component is further configured to transmit one or more first advertisement data packets according to the first telemetry communication protocol at a first defined rate, and wherein, during the second advertising mode, the communication component is further configured to transmit one or more second advertisement data packets according to the first telemetry communication protocol at a second defined rate, wherein the second defined rate is faster than the first defined rate.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the disabled mode or the first advertising mode to the second advertising mode based on reception, by the communication component, of a clinician session request via the second telemetry communication protocol from a clinician device of the one or more external devices, wherein the clinician session request comprises a request to establish the second type of telemetry communication session with the implantable device using the first telemetry communication protocol and an identifier for the clinician device that restricts the establishment of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device.

5. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the communication mode management component is configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the second advertising mode to the disabled mode based on failure of the implantable device and the clinician device to establish the second type of telemetry communication session within a defined time period, and a determination that usage of the first telemetry communication protocol by the implantable device is undesirable or unsafe based on a defined context of the implantable device.

6. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the different communication modes further comprise:

a clinician mode wherein the communication component is further configured to perform the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device using the first telemetry communication protocol, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the second advertising mode to the clinician mode in response to establishment of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device based on information included in the clinician session request, and wherein the information comprises an identifier for the clinician device.

7. The implantable device of claim 6, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the clinician mode to the second advertising mode based on loss of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device.

8. The implantable device of claim 6, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the clinician mode to the first advertising mode based on closing of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device.

9. The implantable device of claim 6, wherein the different communication modes further comprise:

a standby mode wherein the communication component is configured to perform the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device with a reduced functionality relative to a functionality during the clinician mode, resulting in reduced power consumption of a power source of the implantable device during the standby mode relative to power consumption during the clinician mode.

10. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein, during the clinician mode, the communication component is configured to transmit or receive first data packets to or from the clinician device comprising actionable information, and wherein, during the standby mode, the communication component is configured to transmit idle data packets to the clinician device comprising idle information.

11. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to operate in the standby mode based on reception of a first request, from the clinician device, to enter the standby mode.

12. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the communication mode management component is configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the standby mode to the second advertising mode based on loss of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device and disablement of a magnetic imaging mode of the implantable device.

13. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the communication mode management component is further configured to transition operation of the implantable device from the standby mode to the first advertising mode based on closing the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the clinician device.

14. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first telemetry communication protocol comprises Bluetooth Low Energy communication protocol and the second telemetry communication protocol comprises an induction-based wireless communication protocol.

15. A method, comprising:

facilitating, by an implantable medical device comprising a processor, telemetry communication between the implantable medical device and one or more external devices using a radio frequency telemetry communication protocol and a non-radio frequency telemetry communication protocol; and

controlling, by the implantable medical device, operation of the implantable medical device in different communication modes, comprising;

a first advertising mode configured to facilitate establishment of a first type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the one or more external devices using the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol; and

a second advertising mode configured to facilitate establishment of a second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and a clinician device of the one or more external devices using the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol based on reception, by the implantable medical device, of a session initiation request from the clinician device via the non-radio frequency telemetry communication protocol.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first type of telemetry communication session comprises a monitoring telemetry session wherein the implantable medical device and the one or more external devices are authorized to communicate first data packets according to first communication parameters, and wherein the second type of telemetry communication session comprises a clinician telemetry session wherein the implantable medical device and the one or more external devices are authorized to communicate the first data packets and second data packets according to second communication parameters less restrictive than the first communication parameters.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling comprises:

transmitting, by the implantable medical device, one or more first advertisement data packets according to the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol at a first defined rate during the first advertising mode; and

transmitting, by the implantable medical device, one or more second advertisement data packets according to the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol at a second defined rate faster than the first defined rate during the second advertising mode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the different communication modes further comprise:

a disabled mode configured to prevent telemetry communication between the implantable medical device and the one or more external devices according to the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol and enable telemetry communication between the implantable medical device and the one or more external devices according to the non-radio frequency telemetry communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the controlling further comprises:

operating, by the implantable medical device, in the disabled mode or the first advertising mode;

receiving, by the implantable medical device, the session initiation request from the clinician device while the operating in the disabled mode or the first advertising mode; and

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the disabled mode or the first advertising mode to operating in the second advertising mode based on the receiving the session initiation request, wherein the session initiation request comprises a request to establish the second type of telemetry communication session with the implantable medical device using the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol and an identifier for the clinician device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the controlling further comprises:

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the second advertising mode to the operating in the first advertising mode based on failure of the implantable medical device and the clinician device to establish the second type of telemetry communication session within a defined time period.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the controlling further comprises:

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the second advertising mode to the operating in the disabled mode based on failure of the implantable medical device and the clinician device to establish the second type of telemetry communication session within a defined time period, and a determination that usage of the first telemetry communication protocol by the implantable device is undesirable or unsafe based on a defined context of the implantable device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the different communication modes further comprise:

a clinician mode wherein the implantable medical device performs the second type of telemetry communication session with the clinician device using the radio frequency telemetry communication protocol, and wherein the controlling further comprises;

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the second advertising mode to operating in the clinician mode in response to the establishment of the second type of telemetry communication session with the clinician device based on the identifier for the clinician device included in the session initiation request.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the controlling further comprises:

transitioning, by implantable medical device, from the operating in the clinician mode to the operating in the second advertising mode based on loss of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the clinician device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the controlling further comprises:

transitioning, by implantable medical device, from the operating in the clinician mode to the operating in the first advertising mode based on closing of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the clinician device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the different communication modes further comprise:

a standby mode wherein the implantable medical device performs the second type of telemetry communication session with the clinician device with a reduced functionality relative to a functionality during the clinician mode, resulting in reduced power consumption of a power source of the implantable medical device during the standby mode relative to a power consumption during the clinician mode, and wherein the controlling further comprises;

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the clinician mode to operating in the standby mode based on reception of a request, from the clinician device, to enter standby mode, or based on passage of a defined duration of reduced communication between the implantable medical device and the clinician device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the controlling further comprises:

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the standby mode to the operating in the second advertising mode based on loss of the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the clinician device and disablement of a magnetic imaging mode of the implantable medical device;

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the standby mode to the operating in the first advertising mode based on closing the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the clinician device; and

transitioning, by the implantable medical device, from the operating in the standby mode to the operating in the disabled mode based on closing the second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable medical device and the clinician device, and a determination that usage of the first telemetry communication protocol by the implantable device is undesirable or unsafe based on a defined context of the implantable device.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause an implantable device including at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:

operating in a disabled mode comprising preventing telemetry communication by the implantable device using a radio frequency telemetry protocol or operating in a first advertising mode, wherein the operating in the first advertising mode comprises transmitting first advertisement data packets according to the radio frequency telemetry protocol at a first defined rate;

receiving a clinician session initiation request from a clinician device via an induction telemetry protocol while operating in the disabled mode or the first advertising mode, wherein the clinician session initiation request comprises an identifier for the clinician device; and

transitioning to operating from the disabled mode or the first advertising mode to operating in a second advertising mode based on the receiving the clinician session initiation request, wherein the operating in the second advertising mode comprises transmitting second advertisement data packets according to the radio frequency telemetry protocol at a second rate.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating clinician session authorization information based on the receiving the clinician session initiation request, wherein the clinician session authorization information comprises a unique session identifier and at least one unique session key; and

employing the clinician session authorization information to facilitate establishment of a clinician telemetry session with the clinician device.

29. A system, comprising:

a first external device configured to perform telemetry communication session with other devices; and

an implantable device configured to;

operate in a first advertising mode that comprises facilitating establishment of a first type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the first external device or a second external device using a first telemetry communication protocol; and

operate in a second advertising mode that includes facilitating establishment of a second type of telemetry communication session between the implantable device and the first external device using the first telemetry communication protocol,

wherein the implantable device is configured to operate in the second advertising mode based on reception of a clinician session initiation request from the first external device via a second telemetry communication protocol.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the implantable device is further configured to:

generate authorization information based on the reception of the clinician session initiation request, wherein the authorization information comprises a unique session identifier and at least one unique session key;

employ the authorization information to establish the second type of telemetry communication session with the first external device;

operate in the first advertising mode again based on closing of the second type of telemetry communication with the first external device; and

cause the authorization information to be unusable to establish the second type of telemetry communication session with the first external device at a later time based on the closing of the second type of telemetry communication session.