Apparatus and method for remote self-identification of components in medical device systems

• US 20020040234A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Linberg, Kurt R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,754,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/32
• 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: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for providing automated self-identification information of a remote medical component of an implantable medical device system to a centralized computer is disclosed. The system includes a memory component of the remote medical component containing self-identification information. An information network of the centralized expert data center is globally located relative to the programmer. An interface between the programmer and the information network is established for transmitting the self-identification information from the programmer component to the information network. An information identification module located in the information network recognizes the self-identification information of the components of the programmer.

Claims

1. In a bi-directional communication system wherein a web-based remote expert data center is linked in remote communication with a programmer, the programmer being associated with at least one IMD, a system for providing automated self-identification information of the programmer to the expert data center, the automated self-identification information comprising:

a memory component of the programmer containing identification information;

an information network located on the expert data center;

an interface between the programmer and the information network for transmitting the identification information from the programmer to the information network; and

an information identification module located on the information network for recognizing the identification information of the programmer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network further comprises a local area network communications link.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between programmer and the information network further comprises an intemet communications link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network further comprises a telephone line communications link.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network is a satellite communications link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network is a global positioning system communications link.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network includes at least two communication links selected from a group of communication links consisting of a telephone line link, an intranet link, an internet link, a satellite link, a global positioning system link, and a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer includes wireless communications with a plurality of IMDs.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer further comprises an analyzer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer further comprises a radio frequency head.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmer further comprises an implantable medical device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a pacemaker.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a defibrillator.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory component of the remote medical component further comprises a microprocessor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network further comprises a local area network communications link.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between the programmer and the information network further comprises an internet communications link.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between programmer and the information network further comprises a telephone line communications link.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between the programmer system and the information network is a satellite communications link.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network is a global positioning system communications link.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes at least two communication links selected from a group of communication links consisting of a telephone line link, an intranet link, an internet link, a satellite link, a global positioning system link, and a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmer further comprises an IMD.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmer further comprises an analyzer.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmer further comprises a radio frequency head for telemetry.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmer further comprises an implantable medical device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the programmer further comprises a pacemaker.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a defibrillator.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory component of the programmer further comprises a microprocessor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network further comprises a local area network communications link.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the connection between the implantable medical device system and the information network further comprises an internet communications link.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the connection between the implantable medical device system and the information network further comprises a telephone line communications link.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network is a satellite communications link.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network is a global positioning system communications link.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes at least two communication links selected from a group of communication links consisting of a telephone line link, an intranet link, an internet link, a satellite link, a global positioning system link, and a combination thereof.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the programmer further comprises a programmer.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the programmer further comprises an analyzer.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the programmer further comprises an radio frequency head for telemetry.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the remote medical component further comprises an implantable medical device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a pacemaker.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a defibrillator.

42. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory component of the remote medical component further comprises a microprocessor.

15. A system for providing an automated self-identification information of a programmer to a remote expert data center, the system comprising:

a memory component of the programmer containing identification information;

an information network located on the remote expert data center;

an interface between the programmer and the information network for transmitting the identification information from the programmer to the information network;

an information identification module located on the information network for identifying the identification information; and

a data storage module located on the information network for storing the identification information on the information network.

29. A system for providing a software update from a centralized computer to a programmer of an implantable medical device system, the system comprising:

a memory component of the programmer containing self-identification information;

an information network located on the centralized computer positioned at a distal location relative to the implantable medical device system;

an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network for transmitting the identification information from the programmer to the information network;

an information identification module located on the information network for identifying the identification information; and

an update software module located on the information network for updating the programmer via the interface between the information network and the remote medical instrument system based upon the identification information.

43. A method of providing automated self-identification information of programmer component of an implantable medical device system to a remote expert data center, the method comprising the steps of:

programming self-identification information into a memory component of the programmer;

initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and an information network located on the remote expert data center positioned at a distal location relative to the implantable medical device system; and

transmitting the self-identification information of the programmer component to the information network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating a local area network communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating an internet communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating a telephone line communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating a satellite communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating a global positioning system communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the information network includes the further step of:

initiating a communications link between the remote medical instrument system and the information network comprising at least two communication links selected from the group of communication links consisting of a telephone line link, a local area network link, an internet link, a satellite link, a global positioning system link, and a combination thereof.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of programming self-identification information includes the further step of:

programming the self-identification information into a memory component of a programmer.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of programming self-identification information includes the further step of:

programming the self-identification information into a memory component of an analyzer.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of programming self-identification information includes the further step of:

programming the self-identification information into a read-only memory component of the remote medical component.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of programming identification information includes the further step of:

programming the self-identification information into a memory component of a radio frequency head.

54. The method of claim 43, and including the further step of:

storing the self-identification information in a data storage module in the information network.

55. The method of claim 43, and including the further step of:

comparing the self-identification information to stored information in the remote expert data center.

56. The method of claim 43, and including the further step of:

providing updated software to the programmer component based upon the self-identification information.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating a local area network communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating an internet communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating a telephone line communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating a satellite communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating a global positioning system communications link between the implantable medical device system and the information network.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and the remote expert data center further comprises:

means for initiating a link between the programmer and the information network comprising at least two communication links selected from the group of communication links consisting of a telephone line link, a local area network link, an internet link, a satellite link, a global positioning system link, and a combination thereof.

64. The system of claim 57, and further comprising:

means for storing the self-identification information in a data storage module in the centralized computer.

65. The system of claim 57, and further comprising:

means for comparing the self-identification information to stored information in the remote expert data center.

66. The system of claim 57, and further comprising:

means for providing updated software to the remote expert data center based upon the self-identification information.

57. A system for providing automated self-identification information of a programmer component of an implantable medical device system to a remote expert data center, the system comprising:

means for programming self-identification information into a memory component of the programmer component;

means for initiating an interface between the implantable medical device system and an information network located on the remote expert data center positioned at a distal location relative to the implantable medical device system; and

means for transmitting the self-identification information of the programmer component to the information network.