Method and apparatus for communicating with an implantable medical device with DTMF tones

A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
• detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
• establishing a two-way communication link between the EMD and the IMD in response to detection of the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
• using a message entry mechanism of the EMD, entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD;
• communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD;
• communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD;
• and
• displaying one or both of the uplink and downlink messages on a display of the EMD.

A system for communicating between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:

• in the EMD, means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
• and
• in the IMD,
• delivery means for delivering a therapy to the patient or monitoring a physiologic condition of the patient;
• control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD;
• means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD;
• and
• uplink message means for communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD.

A system for communicating between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:

• in the EMD,
• means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
• message entry means for entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD;
• and
• means for communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD;
• and
• in the IMD,
• means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD;
• delivery means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient;
• and
• control means for modifying an operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD.

A system for communicating uplink and downlink messages between an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted in a patient and an external medical device (EMD) having a display comprising:

• in the EMD,
• means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD to enable commencement of a communication session with the IMD;
• message entry means for entering a downlink message to be communicated to the IMD;
• means for communicating the downlink message from the EMD to the IMD;
• and
• means for displaying one or both of the uplink and downlink messages on the display of the EMD;
• and
• in the IMD,
• delivery means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient;
• control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to a downlink message received from the EMD;
• means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones generated by the EMD and for establishing a communication link between the EMD and the IMD;
• and
• uplink message means for communicating an uplink message from the IMD to the EMD.

A method of communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD;
• detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
• and
• modifying the operation of the IMD responsive to received DTMF tone sequences, wherein the IMD and EMD further include a telemetry system and wherein modifying the operation of the IMD comprises modifying operation of the telemetry system responsive to received DTMF tone sequences.

A system for communicating between an external medical device (EMD), and an implantable medical device (IMD) including means for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control means for modifying operation of the IMD in response to control instructions received from the EMD, the system comprising:

• means for generating encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones from the EMD;
• means for detecting the encoded DTMF tones by the IMD;
• and
• means for modifying the operation of the IMD responsive to received DTMF tone sequences, wherein the IMD and EMD further include a telemetry system and wherein the means for modifying the operation of the IMD comprises means for modifying operation of the telemetry system responsive to received DTMF tone sequences.