Implantable medical device having long-term wireless capabilities
First Claim
1. A method of operation for an implantable medical device comprising a processor, a sensor, and a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, said method comprising:
- measuring a body characteristic at said sensor and generating clinical data describing said measurement;
determining at said processor whether said clinical data relates to a medically significant event; and
in response to determining that said clinical data relates to a medically significant event, turning on said transmitter/receiver unit, establishing a communications link between said wireless transmitter/receiver unit and a host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, transmitting said clinical data to said host computer over said communications link, and turning off said transmitter/receiver unit upon the completion of said transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device is capable of utilizing a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a digital wireless telephone network, personal communication services network or pager network, to directly communicate with a host computer without the need for a repeater device. The device includes a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic, such as temperature or electrical cardiac activity, and generates clinical data describing the measurement. The device also includes a wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a communications link with a host computer over the long-range wireless network. The wireless transmitter/receiver unit is capable of delivering the measured clinical data to the host computer over the wireless network. The wireless transmitter/receiver unit can also periodically deliver status information regarding the operation of the implantable device to the host computer.
116 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method of operation for an implantable medical device comprising a processor, a sensor, and a wireless transmitter/receiver unit, said method comprising:
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measuring a body characteristic at said sensor and generating clinical data describing said measurement; determining at said processor whether said clinical data relates to a medically significant event; and in response to determining that said clinical data relates to a medically significant event, turning on said transmitter/receiver unit, establishing a communications link between said wireless transmitter/receiver unit and a host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network, transmitting said clinical data to said host computer over said communications link, and turning off said transmitter/receiver unit upon the completion of said transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification