System and method for temporary programming for implanted medical devices

A method of providing therapy to a patient with a programmable implantable medical device, the method comprising:

• providing the programmable implantable medical device and an external repeater remotely located from a caregiver facility, the device delivering therapy to the patient based on normal operating instructions stored in a first memory of the device, the repeater to communicate with a programming device;
• the programming device at the caregiver facility communicating temporary operating instructions to the repeater;
• the repeater communicating the temporary operating instructions to the device, and the device storing the temporary operating instructions in a second memory;
• the repeater communicating with the device to begin delivering therapy to the patient based on the temporary operating instructions during a first predetermined period of time initiated by the device upon receiving from the repeater an instruction to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient;
• the device reverting to delivering therapy to the patient based on the normal operating instructions if the device does not receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a first time interval during the first predetermined period of time;
• the device initiating a second predetermined upon completion of the first predetermined period of time without reverting to normal operation;
• and
• the device reverting to delivery of therapy to the patient based on the normal operation instructions if the device fails to receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a second time interval during the second predetermined period of time following the first predetermined period of time, wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.

A system for programming an implanted medical device comprising:

• a medical device to be implanted within in a body of a patient, the medical device including electrical circuitry to provide treatment to the patient, a first digital storage area for holding normal operation instructions and settings, a second digital storage area for holding temporary operating instructions and settings, a communications subsystem and a timing subsystem;
• a repeater for use external of the patient's body, the repeater including a communication subsystem configured to communicate with the communications subsystem of the medical device and with a programming device;
• the implanted medical device configured to provide therapy to the patient using the normal operation instructions and settings stored in the first digital storage area;
• the repeater configured to transmit temporary operation instructions and settings to the medical device for storage in the second digital storage area;
• the repeater configured to instruct the medical device to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient;
• wherein upon receiving from the repeater the instruction to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient, the medical device initiates a first predetermined period of time during which the medical device begins delivering therapy using the temporary operation instructions and settings, and wherein the medical device is configured to revert to delivering therapy using the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a first time interval during the first predetermined period of time;
• and
• wherein after the first predetermined period of time completes without reverting to normal operation, the medical device initiates a second predetermined period of time during which the patient is ambulatory and the medical device is configured to revert back delivering therapy using the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a second time interval during the second predetermined period of time, wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.

A method of providing therapy to a patient wit a programmable implantable medical device, the method comprising:

• providing the programmable implantable medical device and an external repeater;
• delivering therapy with the device to the patient based on normal operating instructions stored in a first memory of the device;
• communicating temporary operating instructions to the repeater;
• communicating the temporary operating instructions to the device with the repeater;
• storing the temporary operating instructions in a second memory of the device;
• communicating to the device wit the repeater, instructing the device to begin delivering therapy to the patient based on the temporary operating instructions during a first predetermined period of time initiated by the device upon receiving from the repeater an instruction to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient;
• reverting the device to delivering therapy to the patient based on the normal operating instructions if the device does not receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a first time interval during the first predetermined period of time;
• while the patient is ambulatory, delivering therapy to the patient with the device based on the temporary operating instructions during a second predetermined period of time when the device receives a continuation signal from the repeater;
• while the patient is ambulatory during the second predetermined period of time, reverting the device to delivering therapy to the patient based on the normal operating instructions if the device does not receive the continuation signal from the repeater within a second time interval during the second predetermined period of time, wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.