Method and apparatus for monitoring and communicating with an implanted medical device

A method of monitoring arid reprogramming at least one device implanted within a living being, the method comprising the steps of:

• sensing actions performed by the at least one implanted device and physiologic signals from the living being;
• compiling information defining the performed actions and physiological signals into a data report;
• storing the data report;
• analyzing the data report to determine whether the at least one implanted device operates properly;
• and
• remotely reprogramming the at least one implanted device if it is determined in the analyzing step that the at least one implanted device is not operating properly.

A method of monitoring and responding to the physical condition of a patient, wherein the patient has one or more devices implanted in the patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• sensing actions performed by the one or more implanted devices and physiologic signals from the patient;
• compiling information defining the performed actions and physiological signals into a data report;
• storing the data report;
• analyzing the data report to determine whether the at least one implanted device operates properly and whether the patient needs medical treatment;
• notifying medical personnel if it is determined that the implanted device in not operating properly;
• and
• alerting medical personnel if it is determined that the patient needs medical treatment.

A system for notifying medical personnel of a patient's medical needs, wherein the patient has at least one device implanted in the patient's body, comprising:

• a monitor located external to the patient's body;
• a transceiver located so as to transmit and receive signals between the transceiver and the implanted device, and so as to transmit and receive signals between the transceiver and the monitor such that device operation information is communicated from the implanted device via the transceiver to the monitor, and such that control signals are communicated from the monitor via the transceiver to the implanted device;
• and
• a monitoring center configured so as to receive the device operation information from the monitor, and so as to notify a first contact medical personnel that the patient needs medical treatment, and so as to notify a second medical personnel that the patient needs treatment if the first contact medical personnel does not respond to notification, and so as to notify subsequent contact medical personnel if previous contact medical personnel do not respond to notification.

A method of notifying medical personnel of a patient's medical needs, wherein the patient has at least one device implanted in the patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• determining that the patient needs medical treatment;
• sending an alert message to a medical contact;
• and
• sending a subsequent alert message to a subsequent medical contact if a response message in response to a previously sent alert message is not received.

A system for monitoring and reprogramming at least one device implanted within a living being comprising:

• means for sensing actions performed by the at least one implanted device and physiologic signals from the living being;
• means for compiling information defining the performed actions and physiological signals into a data report;
• means for storing the data report;
• means for analyzing the data report to determine whether the at least one implanted device operates properly;
• and
• means for remotely reprogramming the at least one implanted device if it is determined by the analyzing means that the at least one implanted device is not operating properly.

A system for monitoring and responding to the physical condition of a patient, wherein the patient has one or more devices implanted in the patient's body, comprising:

• means for sensing actions performed by the one or more implanted devices and physiologic signals from the patient;
• means for compiling information defining the performed actions and physiological signals into a data report;
• means for storing the data report;
• means for analyzing the data report to determine whether the at least one implanted device operates properly and whether the patient needs medical treatment;
• means for notifying medical personnel if it is determined that the implanted device is not operating properly;
• and
• means for alerting medical personnel if it is determined that the patient needs medical treatment.

A system for notifying medical personnel of a patient's medical needs, wherein the patient has at least one device implanted in the patient's body, comprising:

• means for determining that the patient needs medical treatment;
• means for sending an alert message to a medical contact;
• and
• means for sending a subsequent alert message to a subsequent medical contact if a response message in response to a previously sent alert message is not received.

A method of monitoring and reprogramming at least one device implanted within a living being, the method comprising the steps of:

• sensing actions performed by the at least one implanted device and physiologic signals from the living being;
• evaluating the sensed actions and physiological signals to determine the operation integrity of the at least one implanted device;
• and
• remotely reprogramming the at least one implanted device if it is determined that the at least one implanted device is not operating properly.

A system for monitoring and reprogramming at least one device implanted within a living being, the system comprising:

• means for sensing actions performed by the at least one implanted device and physiologic signals from the living being;
• means for evaluating the sensed actions and physiological signals to determine the operation integrity of the at least one implanted device;
• and
• means for remotely reprogramming the at least one implanted device if it is determined that the at least one implanted device is not operating properly.