US 5,720,770 AGranted

Cardiac stimulation system with enhanced communication and control capability

AssigneePacesetter, Inc.

InventorsTibor A. Nappholz, Peter Crosby

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Abstract

A cardiac stimulation system is provided which delivers long term cardiac therapy without a personal supervision by a physician. The system includes a cardiac stimulation device implanted in a patient and an external device in constant or periodic communication with the cardiac device. The external device is used to control the pacemaker operation. The external device receives updates of the condition of the patient and the operation of the cardiac device and the therapy provided by the cardiac device. This information is transmitted by the external device over a standard telephone network which may consist of hardwired network, a cellular network, or a combination thereof to a remote control device operating near the physician and/or a monitoring station used for monitoring and data logging information from a plurality of patients. The cardiac device, through the external device can also communicate directly and exchange information with the patient over an RF channel. Finally, the external device may be provided with ground position indication system for locating the patient geographically in an emergency.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A cardiac system comprising:

A. a cardiac device including an implantable housing, said implantable housing having therein:
(i) interface means for exchanging electrical signals with a patient's heart, said electrical signals including intrinsic signals from said heart indicative of intrinsic events and stimulation signals to said heart;
(ii) control means coupled to said interface means for analyzing signals received from said heart and for generating corresponding output electrical signals;
said control means being provided to generate said stimulation signals selected to provide therapy in accordance with a plurality of programmable parameters;
and
(iii) implanted transceiver means coupled to said control means for exchanging information over an RF channel, said information including said output signals and commands for modifying said programmable parameters;
B. an external device having:
(i) a cardiac portion including external transceiver means for exchanging information with said implanted transceiver means;
and
(ii) a communication portion coupled to said cardiac portion for exchanging said information and for establishing communication over a standard communications channel;
and
C. a remote control device disposed at a remote location from said external device, said remote control device including remote control communications means for establishing communications over said standard communications channel with said external device, said remote control device receiving said output signals from said external device over said standard communications channel and modifying an operation of said cardiac device by generating said commands.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/540,416Filed 6 Oct 1995
Granted: 24 Feb 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

A61N 1/37282
Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data: characterised by…
G16H 40/67
For the operation of medical equipment or devices: for remote operation
H04L 67/04
Protocols: specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
H04L 67/12
Protocols: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in…