Medtronic, Inc.

William D Verhoef

Gregory John Haubrich

Javaid Masoud

Garry L Dublin

Len D Twetan

Piotr J Przybyszewski

Eric D Corndorf

Michael E Nowak

Rodney S Wallace

Joyce Yamamoto

George C Rosar

Christopher Coy Fuller

Christine Gale Kronich

Michael William Barror

Robert S Wentink

Christopher M Petersen

Eugene Kuschnir

Chris C Fuller

Bonnie Dougherty, Legal Representative

System and method for interfacing with a medical device having a host device and a communication module. The host device has a user interface configured to input and display information relating to the interfacing with the medical device. The communication module is locally coupled to the host device and configured to communicate wirelessly with the medical device. The system, implemented by the host device and the communication module, is configured to communicate with the medical device with functions. The system, implemented by at least one of the host device and the communication module, has a security condition. At least one of the functions is disabled, at least in part, from operating on the system based upon the security condition.

Application limitations for a medical communication module and host device

A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode.

Preselector interference rejection and dynamic range extension

An implantable medical device ('IMD') is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing.

External RF telemetry module for implantable medical devices

A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.

Communication system for medical devices

A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.

In-home remote monitor with smart repeater, memory and emergency event management

An implantable device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD) includes at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas and may additionally include an RF communication circuit. The RF antennas are spatially diverse, are disposed adjacent a housing, and are each configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source. The RF communication circuit, if included, is disposed within the housing and is configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas.

Implantable device including multiple communication antennas

An implantable medical device ('IMD') configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, a dielectric sheath located around at least a portion of the housing and/or around at least a portion of the header block, and a telemetry antenna located within the dielectric sheath. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is configured as a balanced antenna having two separate antenna elements driven 180 degrees out of phase. Each of the antenna elements has a feed point on a perimeter edge of the IMD housing and a floating endpoint. A number of alternate embodiments are also provided.

Compact and conformal telemetry antennas for implantable medical devices

An implantable medical device ('IMD') configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, and an optional telemetry antenna coupled to the header block. The optional antenna assembly is suitably configured to support the intended IMD application (e.g., the desired telemetry range, the intended IMD implant location, or other practical considerations). The optional antenna assembly may be utilized by itself or in cooperation with a permanent telemetry antenna of the IMD. In one practical embodiment, the optional antenna assembly has a connection end that is compliant with known pacemaker electrode lead standards, which allows the IMD to leverage existing connection methodologies.

Optional telemetry antenna for implantable medical devices

Improved telemetry antennas and methods of fabrication for an implantable medical device (IMD) for use in uplink telemetry (UT) and downlink telemetry (DT) transmissions between the IMD and an external medical device (EMD) are disclosed. A first telemetry antenna element is supported to extend in a first direction along a minor side of the IMD housing by a first header segment, and a second antenna element is supported to extend in a second direction along a second minor side of the IMD housing by a second header segment. The first and second antenna elements are supported to extend apart at substantially 90&#xb0; to one another, i.e., substantially orthogonally, in substantially a common plane to optimize UT transmission and DT reception of UHF telemetry signals by at least one of the first and second antenna elements depending upon the mutual spatial orientation with the antenna elements of an EMD antenna.

Growing community of inventors

Andover, MN, United States of America

William D Verhoef