Implantable device and programmer system which permits multiple programmers

A multiprogrammer system for monitoring and optimizing implantable device performance, wherein the system comprises:

• an implantable device that includes:
• a memory configured to store configuration parameters;
• a telemetry module configured to transmit and receive external communications;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory to read and write configuration parameters, and further coupled to the telemetry module to send and receive configuration parameters, wherein the microprocessor is configured to perform an algorithm in a manner governed by the configuration parameters;
• and
• at least two programming devices each configurable to communicate with the telemetry module to receive configuration parameters from- the implantable device and to send updated configuration parameters to the implantable device,
• wherein each one of the programming devices is configured to verify that configuration parameters retrieved by said one of the programming devices are current before said one of the programming devices sends updated configuration parameters to the implantable device.

A programming device for an implantable device, wherein the programming device comprises:

• a user interface;
• a memory configured to store configuration parameters;
• a communications circuit configurable to communicate with an implantable device;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory to read and write configuration parameters, coupled to the user interface to display the configuration parameters, and further coupled to the communications circuit to retrieve configuration parameters from the implantable device and to send configuration parameters to the implantable device, wherein the microprocessor is configurable to retrieve, write, read, alter, and send the configuration parameters in response to input from the user interface,
• wherein the microprocessor is configured to verify that the retrieved configuration parameters are current before sending altered configuration parameters to the implantable device.

A multiprogrammer-aware implantable device which comprises:

• a memory configured to store configuration parameters;
• a telemetry module configured to transmit and receive external communications;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory to read and write configuration parameters, and further coupled to the telemetry module to send configuration parameters to a programming device and to receive configuration parameters from the programming device, wherein the microprocessor is configured to perform an algorithm in a manner governed by the configuration parameters, and
• wherein the microprocessor is configured to verify that the programming device has received a current version of the configuration parameters before accepting altered configuration parameters.

A method, comprising:

• programming parameters in a medical implant;
• determining if the parameters have been altered since the programming parameters;
• modifying the parameters if the parameters have not been altered;
• and
• halting modifying the parameters if the parameters have been altered.

A method, comprising:

• storing a program in an implantable device;
• storing configuration parameters in an implantable device, the stored configuration parameters being capable of controlling operation of the program;
• electronically transferring verification data between the implantable device and a programming device;and
• verifying the configuration parameters are current configuration parameters from a comparison of the transferred verification data with the stored data.

A programming device for an implantable device, wherein the implantable device has configuration parameters that are used by a program to control a therapy provided to a patient, wherein the programming device comprises:

• a user interface;
• a memory configured to store configuration parameters;
• a communications circuit configurable to communicate with the implantable device;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the user interface, and further coupled to the communications circuit adapted to retrieve configuration parameters from the implantable device and send configuration parameters to the implantable device;
• wherein the communication circuit is configured to electronically transfer verification data between the implantable device and the programming device, and the microprocessor compares the transferred verification data with stored data, and verifies configuration parameters of the implantable device are current configuration parameters from the comparison of the transferred verification data with the stored data.

A method, comprising:

• storing a program and programmable configuration parameters in an implantable device, the configuration parameters controlling operation of the program stored in the implantable device;
• transferring verification data between the implantable device and a programming device;
• and
• verifying that configuration parameters presently stored in the implantable device are the same configuration parameters that are known to the programming device by comparing the transferred verification data with the stored data.

An implantable device, comprising:

• a memory configured to store configuration parameters;
• a telemetry module configured to transmit and receive external communications;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the memory to read and write configuration parameters, and further coupled to the telemetry module to send configuration parameters to a programming device and to receive configuration parameters from the programming device;
• and
• wherein the microprocessor is configured to verify that the programming device has received a current version of the configuration parameters before accepting altered configuration parameters.