System for communication with implantable medical devices using a bridge device

A communication bridge device for communicating with an implantable medical device and a consumer electronics device, comprising:

• a housing, wherein the housing is portable for a patient;
• first transceiver circuitry coupled to a first antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly receiving communications from the consumer electronics device in accordance with a first communications technique;
• second transceiver circuitry coupled to a second antenna in the housing configured for wirelessly communicating with the implantable medical device in accordance with a second communication technique;
• and
• a microcontroller in the housing coupled between the first transceiver circuitry and the second transceiver circuitry,
• wherein the microcontroller is programmed to relay the received communications to the implantable medical device via the second transceiver circuitry to allow the consumer electronics device to control the implantable medical device, and
• wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a firewall between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device, the firewall configured to perform one or more of the following:
• an examination of the communications in accordance with a connection state between the consumer electronics device and the communication bridge device,
• an examination of the communications to determine if commands in the communications would put the implantable medical device in an unsafe condition if executed by the implantable medical device.