System and method of automated invoicing for communications between an implantable medical device and a remote computer system or health care provider

• US 20010051787A1
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Published: 12/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belltower Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ferek-Petric, Bozidar, Donders, Adrianus P., Haller, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• 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 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for automatically generating invoices when medical services are provided to a patient are described. Invoices are automatically generated by the system, for example, when monitoring of certain aspects of the performance of an implantable medical device(IMD) implanted within a body of a patient is initiated by the patient or remotely, or when the delivery of a therapy to the patient through the IMD is initiated locally or remotely. The IMD is capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module, a mobile telephone and/or a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located outside the patient'"'"'s body. The system invoicing system may comprise the IMD, the communication module and/or a mobile telephone and/or a PDA, means for generating an invoice, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication, where the communication module, the mobile telephone and/or the PDA is capable of receiving information from the IMD or relaying information thereto.

Claims

1. A communication system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

(a) the IMD;

(b) the communication module;

(c) a mobile telephone operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving information therefrom or relaying information thereto;

(d) a remote computer system;

(e) a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system; and

(f) means for generating an invoice when communication is one of initiated between the IMD and the remote computer system, the IMD and the communication module, the communication module and the remote computer system, and the communication module and the communication system.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into the communication system.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into a telephone system included in the communication system.

4. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising means for electronically transmitting generated invoices to at least one predetermined location for further processing and billing.

5. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising means for calculating the amount of each invoice in accordance with the number, type or frequency of services provided to the patient by the system.

6. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising means for calculating the amount of each invoice in accordance with the type or identification indicia stored in communication module 100 or IMD 10.

7. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the remote computer system further comprises means for making a remote diagnostic assessment of the patient'"'"'s condition on the basis of the information relayed thereto by at least one of the IMD and the communication module.

8. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the means for generating an invoice further comprises means for generating an invoice in response to the remote diagnostic assessment being made.

9. The system of

claim 7

, wherein the remote computer system farther comprises means for remotely executing a remedial response or therapy on the basis of the information relayed thereto by at least one of the IMD and the communication module.

10. The system of

claim 9

, wherein the means for generating an invoice further comprises means for generating an invoice in response to the remote diagnostic assessment being made.

11. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the communication module is incorporated into the mobile telephone.

12. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the mobile telephone further comprises a Personal Data Assistant (PDA).

13. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the IMD and the communication module communicate with one another using radio-frequency telemetry.

14. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into at least one of a mobile telephone network, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LANs), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), a wireless network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and a satellite.

15. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the means for generating invoices further comprises means for generating automatic invoices in response to a patient-initiated, IMD-initiated, remote computer system-initiated, communication module-initiated, mobile phone-initiated and a PDA-initiated transmission or reception of information that one of originates in or relates to the IMD.

16. A communication system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with at least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:

(a) the IMD;

(b) the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD;

(c) a remote computer system;

(d) a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.

(e) means for generating an invoice when communication is one of initiated between the IMD and the remote computer system, the IMD and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA and the remote computer system, and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA and the communication system.

17. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into the communication system.

18. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into a telephone system included in the communication system.

19. The system of

claim 16

, further comprising means for electronically transmitting generated invoices to at least one predetermined location for further processing and billing.

20. The system of

claim 16

, further comprising means for calculating the amount of each invoice in accordance with the number, type or frequency of services provided to the patient by the system.

21. The system of

claim 16

, further comprising means for calculating the amount of each invoice in accordance with the type or identification indicia stored in communication module 100 or IMD 10.

22. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the remote computer system further comprises means for making a remote diagnostic assessment of the patient'"'"'s condition on the basis of the information relayed thereto by at least one of the IMD and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.

23. The system of

claim 22

, wherein the means for generating an invoice further comprises means for generating an invoice in response to the remote diagnostic assessment being made.

24. The system of

claim 22

, wherein the remote computer system further comprises means for remotely executing a remedial response or therapy on the basis of the information relayed thereto by at least one of the IMD and the communication module.

25. The system of

claim 24

, wherein the means for generating an invoice further comprises means for generating an invoice in response to the remote diagnostic assessment being made.

26. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the mobile telephone and the Personal Data Assistant (PDA) for a single unit.

27. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the IMD and the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA communicate with one another using radio-frequency telemetry.

28. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the means for generating an invoice is incorporated into at least one of a mobile telephone network, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LANs), a Wide Area Network (WAN), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), a wireless network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and a satellite.

29. The system of

claim 16

, wherein the means for generating invoices further comprises means for generating automatic invoices in response to a patient-initiated, IMD-initiated, remote computer system-initiated, communication module-initiated, mobile phone-initiated and a PDA-initiated transmission or reception of information that one of originates in or relates to the IMD.

30. A communication module for use in a system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the communication module, a mobile telephone capable of being operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving information therefrom or relaying information thereto, means for generating an invoice in response to information relating to the IMD being relayed or transmitted from or to the mobile phone, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system.

31. At least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) for use in a system for at least one of monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD, means for generating an invoice in response to information relating to the IMD being relayed or transmitted from or to the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA.

32. A method of generating an invoice for the provision of medical services relating to communicating information between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and a remote computer system, the method utilizing a system for at least one of monitoring the performance of the IMD, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module located external to the patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising the IMD, the communication module, a mobile telephone capable of being operably connected to the communication module and capable of receiving information therefrom or relaying information thereto, means for generating an invoice in response to information relating to the IMD being relayed or transmitted from or to the mobile phone, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the mobile phone and the remote computer system, the method comprising:

(a) at least one of the patient and the IMD determining that medical attention should be provided;

(b) in response to the determination made in step (a), uploading data from the IMD to the communication module;

(c) transferring the data from the communication module to the mobile telephone and thence on to the remote computer system via the communication system;

(d) remotely analyzing the data;

(e) determining on the basis of the analyzed data whether remedial action respecting at least one of the IMD and the patient is required;

(f) remotely executing the determined remedial action via the communication system, and

(g) automatically generating an invoice in response to at least one of steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) being carried out.

33. A method of communicating information between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and a remote computer system, the method utilizing a system for at least one of monitoring the performance of the IMD, monitoring the health of the patient and remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD, the IMD being capable of bi-directional communication with at least one of a mobile telephone and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the system comprises the IMD, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA being capable of receiving information from or relaying information to the IMD, means for generating an invoice in response to information relating to the IMD being relayed or transmitted from or to the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication with the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA the method comprising:

(a) the patient or the IMD determining that medical attention should be provided;

(b) uploading data from the IMD to the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA communication module;

(c) transferring the data from the at least one of the mobile telephone and the PDA to the remote computer system via the communication system;

(d) remotely analyzing the data;

(e) determining on the basis of the analyzed data whether remedial action respecting at least one of the IMD and the patient is required;

(f) remotely executing the determined remedial action via the communication system, and

(g) automatically generating an invoice in response to at least one of steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) being carried out.