Implantable medical device configured to establish a communication link to another implantable medical device

A system of implantable medical devices, comprising:

• a first implantable medical device having first control circuitry and first communication circuitry with a first transmitter and a first receiver;
• a second implantable medical device having second communication circuitry with a second transmitter and a second receiver;
• said first transmitter, for establishing a communication link with said second implantable medical device, is configured to transmit a plurality of transmit communication signals, wherein each transmit communication signal is associated with a dedicated sub-range of a predefined frequency range;
• said second receiver is configured to receive the transmit communication signal of the plurality of transmit communication signals;
• said second transmitter is configured to transmit, in response to receiving the transmit communication signal, a response communication signal;
• said first receiver is configured to receive the response communication signal;
• and
• said first control circuitry is configured to determine whether the response communication signal in response to the transmit communication signal associated with the dedicated sub-range has been received, and to establish the communication link based on a determination.

A method for establishing a communication link between an implantable medical device and another implantable medical device, which comprises the steps of:

• transmitting, using a transmitter of communication circuitry of the implantable medical device, a plurality of transmit communication signals, wherein each of the transmit communication signals is associated with a dedicated sub-range of a predefined frequency range;
• receiving, using a receiver of the communication circuitry of the implantable medical device, a response communication signal in response to a transmit communication signal;
• and
• determining, using control circuitry of the implantable medical device, whether the response communication signal in response to the transmit communication signal associated with the dedicated sub-range has been received, and establishing the communication link based on a determination.