System for seamless and secure networking of implantable medical devices, electronic patch devices and wearable devices

• US 8,183,998 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Rao, Raman K., Rao, Sanjay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US11/805,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 340/539.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39 Heart defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 : with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes

Abstract

A system level scheme for networking of implantable devices, electronic patch devices/sensors coupled to the body, and wearable sensors/devices with cellular telephone/mobile devices, peripheral devices and remote servers is described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first medical device configured for implantation internally within a body, wherein the first medical device includes a first processor that is dynamically configurable;

a second medical device configured for implantation internally within the body, wherein the second medical device includes a second processor that is dynamically configurable, wherein the first medical device and the second medical device are coupled forming a network including at least the first medical device and the second medical device;

an external electronic patch medical device, wherein the electronic patch medical device includes a processor and where the electronic patch medical device is also configurable as a server, wherein the electronic patch medical device is further configured to sense one or more environmental parameters external to the body and to control one or more of the medical devices in response to the one or more environmental parameters; and

a remote server separate from the electronic patch medical device, wherein the electronic patch medical device is coupled to at least the first medical device and is further coupled to the remote server;

wherein each device is optimized for proximate or distant communication with one another and are linked through a defined relationship based on a unique identifier of each device, wherein the first medical device has a multichannel transmit and receive function.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic patch medical device is configured to receive one or more human body parameters and further process, measure, monitor, and/or archive the human body parameters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first medical device and the remote server are coupled as part of the network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is configured to control flow of communication between the first medical device, second medical device, and external electronic patch medical device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first medical device, the second medical device and the network are configured to have a selected level of device/user authentication.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the second medical device and the remote server are coupled as part of the network.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein the second medical device and the electronic patch medical device are coupled as part of the network.

20. The system of claim 5, wherein the device/user authentication comprises biometric authentication.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the implanted medical devices is in wireless communication with one or more peripheral devices located external to the body.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of a local printer, local TV/display, local personal computer, local server, intelligent personal health management appliance, central server, escrow server, Internet global positioning server, global positioning server/time keeping server, remote facility, health care facility, doctor'"'"'s office, local server, local personal computer, cellular telephone, mobile device, mobile health appliance utilizing a selected communication protocol.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the implanted medical devices are in communication with an external mobile device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the external mobile device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, and lap top computer.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated server implanted within the body, wherein the dedicated server is configured to control an internal communication path of information between the first and second medical device and with one or more or more external communication paths.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second implanted medical device is configured to send command instructions to a device coupled to the body.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more medical devices are coordinated to control one or more organ or bodily functions.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more medical devices is comprised of a heart pacemaker device, gastric pacemaker device, defibrillator, or RFID identification device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the one or more medical devices are configured to communicate and coordinate with one another.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more medical devices comprises a pacemaker device configured to measure cardiac activity and to control cardiac function.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more medical devices Comprises a heart pacemaker device.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the heart pacemaker device is programmed with a pacing protocol which is selectable via wired or wireless communication.

6. A method of controlling communication within a formed network, comprising:

dynamically configuring a first medical device configured for implantation internally within a body, wherein the first medical device includes a first processor; and

dynamically configuring a second medical device configured for implantation internally within the body, wherein the second medical device includes a second processor;

forming a network including at least the first medical device and the second medical device, the network comprising a coupling between the first medical device and the second medical device, wherein each device comprises a unique profile such that communication between the devices is controlled via identification of the unique profile;

sensing one or more environmental parameters external to the body via an electronic patch medical device configurable as a server and worn upon the body; and

controlling one or more of the implanted medical devices with the electronic patch medical device in response to the sensed one or more environmental parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, forming a network further comprises limiting a flow of communication between each of the devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein forming a network further comprises optimizing a communication path between each of the devices such that power consumption is minimized.

9. A system comprising:

a first medical device configured for implantation internally within a body, wherein the first medical device includes a first processor that is dynamically configurable, wherein the first medical device is configured with a first communication protocol, and wherein the first medical device is further configured with a first unique identification number;

a second medical device configured for implantation internally within a body, wherein the second medical device includes a second processor that is dynamically configurable, wherein the second medical device is configured with a second communication protocol, and wherein the second medical device is further configured with a second unique identification number; and

a remote wearable device which is sized to be worn upon the body, wherein the remote device is configurable as a server and is further configured to receive one or more human body parameters-and to further process, measure, monitor, and/or archive the human body parameters, wherein the remote device is further configured to sense one or more environmental parameters external to the body and to control one or more of the implanted medical devices in response to the one or more environmental parameters,

wherein the remote wearable device is further configured with the first and second communication protocols-and is also configured to communicate the one or more human body parameters with the first medical device and with the second medical device upon recognition of the first and second unique identification numbers.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the devices is configured with an encryption function and decryption function.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device is configured to control a power level and frequency of the first medical device and second medical device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device communicates temperature to the first medical device and to the second medical device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device communicates velocity to the first medical device and to the second medical device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device communicates altitude to the first medical device and to the second medical device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device communicates ambient pressure to the first medical device and to the second medical device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device archives blood oxygen levels from the first medical device and the second medical device.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote wearable device archives blood flow levels from the first medical device and the second medical device.