Method for providing software to an implantable medical device system

A method for providing software to an implantable medical device system, comprising the steps of:

• providing an implantable medical device system having a plurality of system units each requiring software for the operation thereof, said system units including at least an implantable medical device and a presentation unit which are in communication with each other;
• storing a most current software version for operating each of said system units at a server remote from said implantable medical device system;
• upon said start-up of said presentation unit, determining whether an entry has been made into said presentation unit indicating an emergency and, if so, immediately establishing communication between said presentation unit and said implanted medical device to respond to said emergency and, if not, establishing a communication link exclusively between said server and said presentation unit;
• providing information to said server from said presentation unit via said communication link identifying software currently stored in at least one of said system units;
• and
• at said server, automatically determining whether said software stored in said at least one of said system units requires an update and, if so, downloading at least apportion of said software version stored at said server for receipt by said at least one of said system units.