Hybrid communication channel for communicating with a medical device

An apparatus for effecting communication between a medical device and a programmer, the apparatus comprising:

• a communication channel comprising a plurality of sequential communication links configured to facilitate bi-direction communication between the medical device and the programmer;
• a transceiver configured to communicate with the programmer via a first communication link of the plurality of sequential communication links;
• a telemetry device configured to communicate with the medical device via a second communication link of the plurality of sequential communication links;
• a third communication link communicatively coupling the transceiver and the telemetry device;
• and
• a power source coupled to the transceiver or to the telemetry device;
• wherein an operational status of at least one of the first and second sequential communication links can be individually determined while monitoring the communication channel between the programmer and the medical device in real-time including signals transmitted by the programmer.

A method for effecting communication between a programmer and a medical device, comprising:

• communicating between the programmer and a transceiver via a first communication link of a plurality of sequential communication links defining a communication channel between the programmer and the medical device;
• communicating between a telemetry device and the medical device via a second communication link of the plurality of sequential communication links;
• communicating between the transceiver and the telemetry device via a third communication link;
• and
• individually determining an operational status of at least one of the first and second sequential communication links while monitoring the communication channel between the programmer and the medical device in real-time including signals transmitted by the programmer.