Methods and devices for secure communication with and operation of an implant

A communication system for enabling communication between a user display device, a patient external device and an implantable medical device, the communication system comprising:

• the user display device comprising a display and an input device for receiving input from a user, and a wireless communication unit configured for wireless communication with the patient external device, and an encryption unit configured to encrypt data destined for the implantable medical device,
• the patient external device comprising at least one wireless communication unit configured for wireless transmission to the implantable medical device,
• the implantable medical device comprising a decryption unit and a wireless communication unit configured for wireless communication with the patient external device,
• wherein the at least one communication unit of the patient external device enables wireless transmission of the encrypted data from the user display device and wireless transmission of the encrypted data to the implantable medical device, the patient external device is configured to act as a router transferring the encrypted data from the user display device to the implantable medical device without full decryption, and the implantable medical device is configured to decrypt the decrypted data using the decryption unit.