Systems and methods for initiating a communication link between an implantable medical device and an external device

• US 9,288,614 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Young, Chao-Wen, Wu, Yongjian, Sadeghi, Mostafa, Shreve, Erik, Rissing, Andrew, Yang, Jun, Hellman, Heidi, Hoberman, Katie, Shah, Samir
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US14/637,156
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for initiating a bi-directional communication link with an implantable medical device. The systems and methods configure an implantable medical device (IMD) to detect activation fields from a triggering device when the triggering device is positioned proximate to the IMD, and to identify a field characterization of the activation field. The systems and methods further configure the IMD to establish a bi-directional communication link with an external device through a select communication initialization mode form a plurality of communication initialization modes defined by a wireless protocol in response to the field characterization of the activation field.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a bi-directional communication link, the method comprising:

configuring an implantable medical device (IMD) to detect an activation field from a triggering device when the triggering device is positioned proximate to the IMD, and to identify a field characterization of the activation field;

configuring the IMD to establish a bi-directional communication link with an external device through a select communication initialization mode from a plurality of communication initialization modes defined by a wireless protocol in response to the field characterization of the activation field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the select communication initialization mode corresponds to a defined pairing procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the IMD to activate a radio frequency circuit when the activation field is detected.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the IMD to periodically transmit an advertisement notice through a dedicated advertisement channel in connection with the select communication initialization mode for a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the IMD to:

determine when a connection request is received from the external device in connection with the select communication initialization mode, wherein the connection request corresponds to a predefined pairing procedure; and

transmit passkey seed information to the external device when the connection request is received by the IMD.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising programming the IMD to at least one of disable a radio frequency circuit or end the select communication initialization mode when a connection request is not received within a predetermined period.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the passkey seed information comprises at least one of a static identification of the IMD or a dynamic seed generated by the IMD.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation field from the triggering device comprises at least one of a magnetic field, a near field communication transmission, a radio frequency identification signal, an inductive telemetry signal, or a vibration scheme.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering device comprises at least one of a magnet, inductive coil circuitry, a near field communication circuit, or an electric motor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless protocol constitutes at least one of a Bluetooth protocol, a Bluetooth low energy protocol, or a ZigBee protocol.

11. A system for initiating a bi-directional communication link comprising:

an external device;

a triggering device; and

an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising a trigger circuit, wherein the trigger circuit is configured to detect an activation field from the triggering device when the triggering device is positioned proximate to the IMD, the IMD further configured to identify a field characterization of the activation field and establish a bi-directional communication link with an external device through a select communication initialization mode from a plurality of communication initialization modes defined by a wireless protocol in response to the field characterization of the activation field.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the select communication initialization mode corresponds to a defined pairing procedure.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the IMD is further configured to activate a radio frequency circuit when the activation field is detected.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the IMD is further configured to periodically transmit an advertisement notice through a dedicated advertisement channel in connection with the select communication initialization mode for a predetermined time.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the IMD is further configured to:

determine when a connection request is received from the external device in connection with the select communication initialization mode, wherein the connection request corresponds to a predefined pairing procedure; and

transmit passkey seed information to the external device when the connection request is received by the IMD.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the IMD is further configured to at least one of disable radio frequency circuit of the IMD or end the select communication initialization mode when a connection request is not received within a predetermined period.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the passkey seed information comprises at least one of a static identification of the IMD or a dynamic seed generated by the IMD.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the activation fields from the triggering device comprises at least one of a magnetic field, a near field communication transmission, a radio frequency identification signal, inductive coil circuitry, communication transmission, or a vibration scheme.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the triggering device comprises at least one of a magnet, an inductive communication circuit, a near field communication circuit, or an electric motor.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless protocol constitutes at least one of a Bluetooth protocol, a Bluetooth low energy protocol, or a ZigBee protocol.