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AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Behm
Estimating the term…
Implantable medical device telemetry is provided between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. The implantable medical device includes a device transmitter and/or a device receiver. The external communication device includes a moveable communication head including an antenna therein connected to at least one of an external transmitter and/or an external receiver for communication with the device transmitter and/or the device receiver of the implantable medical device. A user moves the moveable head apparatus relative to the implantable medical device. Tactile feedback is provided to the user via the moveable head apparatus upon movement of the moveable head apparatus to a position where valid telemetry can be performed.
An apparatus for indicating the relative signal strength for a telemetry system when said telemetry system communicates information between an external device and an implantable medical device, comprising:
An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein a second tactile indication is provided whenever the relative signal strength decreases below a predetermined lower threshold value and said second tactile indication has a dominant frequency characteristic different than the common frequency characteristic of said first tactile indication.
An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said indicator means is coupled to a hand-held communication head of said external device or a compact member adapted to be manually coupled to a user and also to said external device.
An apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said indicator means further comprises a third tactile indication provided upon successful completion of a handshake protocol sequence between the external device and the implanted device, and wherein said third tactile indication has a dominant frequency characteristic different from the first tactile indication and said second tactile indication.
An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said indicator means further comprises a fourth tactile indication provided during operation of the handshake protocol sequence between the external device and the implanted device and wherein said fourth tactile indication has a dominant frequency characteristic different from the first tactile indication, the second tactile indication, and the third tactile indication.
An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said indicator means operates pursuant to a computer control system and further comprises at least a one of the following:
An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein in lieu of continuously providing said first tactile indication the indicating means provides said first tactile indication for a predetermined period of time and then ceases providing said first tactile indication upon expiration of said predetermined period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.