Implantable medical device telemetry control systems and methods of use

An implantable medical device for implantation within a body, the device comprising:

• a housing;
• sensor circuitry coupled to the housing and operable to determine the occurrence of a medical event;
• therapy delivery circuitry within the housing operable to deliver therapy to the body;
• control circuitry within the housing operable to control delivery of therapy by the therapy delivery circuitry;
• and
• a transmitter associated with the housing operable to provide an event signal to a vehicle control module located outside the body when the sensor circuitry determines the occurrence of the medical event;
• wherein the control circuitry is adapted to coordinate delivery of the therapy with the vehicle control module upon the occurrence of the medical event.

A method of delivering therapy to a patient during operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing an implantable medical device within a body, the implantable medical device having a device transmitter;
• providing a vehicle, comprising:
• a vehicle control module;
• and
• a telemetry communication module associated with the vehicle control module, the telemetry communication module having a telemetry receiver capable of receiving one or more event signals from the device transmitter and providing the one or more event signals to the vehicle control module;
• detecting a medical event with the implantable medical device and generating an event signal in response thereto;
• transmitting the event signal from the device transmitter to the telemetry receiver;
• and
• manipulating the status of one or more vehicle subsystems with the vehicle control module in response to the event signal.

A vehicle control module for use with an implantable medical device, the vehicle control module comprising:

• a telemetry communication module;
• is control circuitry coupled to the telemetry communication module, the telemetry communication module adapted to receive one or more event signals from the implantable medical device and provide the one or more event signals to the control circuitry;
• and
• a command output coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the command output is adapted to manipulate one or more vehicle subsystems in response to the one or more event signals.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a prime mover;
• two or more ground engaging traction wheels wherein at least one wheel is coupled to the prime mover;
• and
• a vehicle control module, comprising:
• a telemetry communication module having a receiver for receiving event signals from an implantable medical device representative of an occurrence of a medical event;
• and
• control circuitry to receive the event signals and provide, in response to the event signals, a command output, wherein the command output is adapted to manipulate one or more vehicle subsystems in response to the event signals.

A method for providing therapy to a patient-driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing an implantable medical device in the patient-driver, the implantable medical device capable of sensing a medical event and delivering a therapy in response to the medical event, wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a device transmitter for transmitting an event signal representative of the medical event;
• providing a vehicle control module coupled to the vehicle for controlling one or more vehicle subsystems, the vehicle control module associated with a telemetry communication module having a telemetry receiver for receiving the event signal from the implantable medical device;
• sensing a medical event with the implantable medical device;
• generating an event signal with the implantable medical device;
• and
• transmitting the event signal with the device transmitter to the telemetry receiver.