US 7,280,872 B1 · Wireless communication with implantable medical device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods of minimizing current drain of an implantable medical device during wireless communication with the device, thereby reducing battery depletion of the device. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device comprises a wireless receiver configured to communicate wirelessly with an external transmitter of an external device via a plurality of communication channels each having a different frequency within a frequency band. The wireless receiver comprises a wideband receiver circuit configured to detect a signal from any of the plurality of communication channels at the different frequencies within the frequency band simultaneously. In another embodiment, the external device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the implantable medical device via a preset communication channel, and via an alternate communication channel selected according to an order of priority if the wireless receiver does not detect a suitable signal from the external transmitter using the preset communication channel.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for communication between an implantable medical device having a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter and an external device having an external transmitter and an external receiver, the implantable medical device and the external device being configured to communicate wirelessly with one another via a plurality of communication channels each having a different frequency within a frequency band, the method comprising:

attempting initiation of a present communication session between the implantable medical device and the external device using a preset communication channel selected from the plurality of communication channels;
and
switching to an alternate communication channel for the present communication session according to an order of priority if the wireless receiver of the implantable medical device does not detect a suitable signal from the external transmitter of the external device using the preset communication channel;
wherein attempting initiation of the present communication session comprises selecting as the preset communication channel a last communication channel used in a last communication session immediately preceding the present communication session;
and
wherein switching to the alternate communication channel comprises selecting as the alternate communication channel a second-to-last communication channel used in a second-to-last communication session immediately preceding the last communication session.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless communication with implantable medical device

Life of this patent

Wireless communication with implantable medical device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18