Far field telemetry operations between an external device and an implantable medical device during recharge of the implantable medical device via a proximity coupling

An implantable medical device, comprising:

• a medical circuit that performs a medical task;
• a battery that provides power to the medical circuit;
• a recharge circuit that provides power to the battery;
• a far field telemetry communication circuit;
• and
• a processor that controls the recharge circuit and the far field telemetry communication circuit, the processor directing the recharge circuit to receive transferred power from a proximity coupling to a recharge head of an external device, the processor directing the far field telemetry communication circuit to send recharge information via a far field telemetry communication session with the external device while the recharge circuit receives transferred power, the processor further directing the far field telemetry communication circuit to power down in response to receiving a command to close the communication session with the external device while the recharge circuit receives transferred power, and the processor periodically directing the far field telemetry communication circuit to power up while the recharge circuit receives transferred power.

A method of recharging an implantable medical device, comprising:

• establishing a far field telemetry communication session with the implantable medical device;
• transferring power over a proximity coupling to the implantable medical device during the far field telemetry communication session;
• receiving recharge information from the implantable medical device via the far field telemetry communication session while transferring power to the implantable medical device;
• and
• while transferring power, sending programming instructions to the implantable medical device via the far field telemetry communication session.