# US 2014/0153719 A1 · Proximity signature for secure communication with implantable medical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153719 A1 - Document ID: US20140153719A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/170,709 - Filed: 2014-02-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-25 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic, Inc. - Inventors: Scott L. Kalpin; Patrick S. Leong; Scott A. Sarkinen; Earle T. Roberts; William J. Mitchell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153719A1 ## CPC - H04L 9/0819: {Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) (network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062)} - H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload} - H04L 2209/88: Medical equipments - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -8. (canceled) ### Claim 9 A method of establishing secure communication between an implantable medical device and an external device, the method being performed by the implantable medical device and comprising: determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received; transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key; determining whether a distance telemetry communication containing information encrypted according to the encryption key is being received; and establishing secure distance communication with the external device if the distance telemetry communication contains information encrypted according to the encryption key. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising declining to establish secure distance communication with the external device if the distance telemetry communication does not contain information encrypted according to the encryption key. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key comprises transmitting the encryption key. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining whether the coded proximity telemetry signal matches a coding signature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining at least one of a clock rate, a duty cycle, and an on-off key rate of the coded proximity telemetry signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises comparing the coded proximity telemetry signal to one or more stored signatures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received comprises determining whether information received via distance telemetry matches the coding of the coded proximity telemetry signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the coded proximity telemetry signal comprises a coded magnetic field. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key comprises transmitting, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key in response to determining that a predetermined coded proximity telemetry signal is being received. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request for secure distance communication that includes information regarding the code of the coded proximity telemetry signal. ### Claim 19 An implantable medical device, comprising: a receiver module; a transceiver module configured to transmit, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key; and a processor configured to: determine whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received from another device by the receiver module, determine whether a distance telemetry communication containing information encrypted according to the encryption key is being received from the other device, and establish secure distance communication with the other device if the second distance telemetry communication contains information encrypted according to the encryption key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein the transceiver module is a radio frequency transceiver module. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein the receiver module is an inductive receiver module. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to compare signals obtained from the transceiver module to signals obtained from the receiver module to determine whether the coded proximity telemetry signal is being received. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to compare signals received by the receiver module to stored signatures to determine whether the coded proximity telemetry signal is being received. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein the transceiver module is configured to transmit the encryption key. ### Claim 25 A system, comprising: an external device; and an implantable medical device, comprising: a receiver module; a transceiver module configured to transmit, via distance telemetry, information regarding an encryption key to the external device; and a processor configured to: determine whether a coded proximity telemetry signal is being received from the external device by the receiver module, determine whether a distance telemetry communication containing information encrypted according to the encryption key is being received from the external device, and establish secure distance communication with the external device if the second distance telemetry communication contains information encrypted according to the encryption key. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the external device comprises a programming device configured to program the implantable medical device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the external device comprises a radio frequency transceiver module configured to transmit the distance telemetry communication. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the external device comprises an inductive transmitter module configured to transmit the coded proximity telemetry signal.