Secure telemetry system and method for an implantable cardiac stimulation device

• US 6,907,291 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sloman, Laurence S., Snell, Jeffery D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/464,936
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 607 30- 32, 607 59- 60, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals

Abstract

An implantable cardiac stimulation device establishes communication with at least first and second external devices which communicate using first and second communication protocols, respectively, and wherein the first and second protocols are different. The implantable device includes a pulse generator configured to generate stimulation pulses and a telemetry circuit arranged to establish communication with the first and second external devices according to the first and second communication protocols, respectively. A control circuit coupled to the telemetry circuit and the pulse generator detects the first and second external devices based upon the protocol used in establishing communication to provide a first response when the first external device is detected and a second response when the second external device is detected.

Claims

1. An implantable cardiac stimulation device to establish communication with at least first and second external devices, the implantable device comprising:

a pulse generator to generate stimulation pulses;

a telemetry circuit arranged to establish communication with the first and second external devices and to allow transmission of a first set of information for the first external device and transmission of a second set of information for the second external device, wherein the first set of information is different from the second set of information, and wherein the telemetry circuit uses a secure form of communication; and

a control circuit, coupled to the telemetry circuit and the pulse generator, arranged to detect the first and second external devices, and to trigger the first set of information when the first external device is detected and to trigger the second set of information when the second external device is detected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second set of information is a subset of the first set of information.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second protocols for selectively communicating with the first and second external devices, respectively.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second encoding schemes for selectively communicating with the first and second external devices, respectively.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second data transmission rates for selectively communicating with the first and second external devices, respectively.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second access codes for selectively communicating with the first and second external devices, respectively.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second access code verifiers for selectively verifying the first and second access codes with the first and second external devices, respectively.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising first and second access code generators that change a respective access code in accordance with a respective one of the first and second protocols.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second access code generators are arranged to change a respective access code between transmissions by the respective external device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second telemetry circuits for selectively communicating with the first and second external devices, respectively.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the secure form of communication comprises first and second deactivating circuits for selectively deactivating the first and second telemetry circuits, respectively, after a predetermined time after completion of communication.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the secure form of communication comprises first and second areas in memory that are selectively applicable to the first and second external devices, respectively; and

the control circuit enables access to the first and second areas in memory when the respective external device is detected.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the secure form of communication comprises first and second access codes in memory that are applicable to the first external device and a third access code that is applicable to the second external devices.

14. A method for an implantable cardiac stimulation device to communicate with at least first and second external devices, the method comprising:

detecting at least one of the first and second external devices;

communicating with the detected external device in a manner that allows transmission of a first set of information for the first external device and that allows transmission of a second set of information for the second external device, wherein the first set of information is different from the second set of information; and

transmitting at least a portion of the first set of information when the first external device is detected and at least a portion of the second set of information when the second external device is detected;

wherein the communicating comprises communicating using a different protocol for each of the first and second external devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communicating using the different protocol comprises:

communicating using at least one of a different encoding scheme, a different data transmission rate, a different access code, a different access code verifier, a different access code generator, and a different number of access codes for each of the first and second external devices.

16. A method for an implantable cardiac stimulation device to communicate with at least first and second external devices, the method comprising:

detecting at least one of the first and second external devices;

communicating with the detected external device in a manner that allows transmission of a first set of information for the first external device and that allows transmission of a second set of information for the second external device, wherein the first set of information is different from the second set of information; and

transmitting at least a portion of the first set of information when the first external device is detected and at least a portion of the second set of information when the second external device is detected;

wherein the communicating comprises selectively communicating using separate hardware systems for each of the first and second external devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein communicating using separate hardware systems comprises:

selectively communicating using a separate telemetry circuitry, separate deactivating circuits, or separate areas in memory for each of the first and second external devices; and

selectively enabling access to the respective hardware systems when the one of the first or second external device is detected.

18. An implantable cardiac stimulation device which establishes communication with at least first and second external devices, the implantable device comprising:

means for establishing communication with the first and second external devices;

means for allowing transmission of a first set of information for the first external device and a second set of information for the second external device, wherein the first set of information is different from the second set of information; and

means for detecting at least one of the first and second external devices, and for triggering the first set of information when the first external device is detected and for triggering the second set of information when the second external device is detected.