Implantable medical device, implant communication system and method for transferring data
The invention relates to an implantable medical device, in particular a diagnostic monitoring device, a pacemaker, a defibrillator and/or a neuro-stimulator, configured to exchange data with an external communication device, comprising a near-field telemetry interface), a first wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band reserved for medical implants, and a second wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band and/or using a communication protocol supported by consumer mobile communications devices, in particular smartphones and/or tablet computing devices. The invention further relates to an implant communication system and a method for transferring data between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. In addition, the invention relates to a computer program.
1 . Implantable medical device, configured to exchange data with an external communication device, comprising:
a near-field telemetry interface;
a first wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band reserved for medical implants; and
a second wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band and/or using a communication protocol supported by consumer mobile communications devices.
2 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein a communication range of the near-field telemetry is 2 to 50 cm, wherein a communication range of the first wireless communication interface is 50 cm to 10 m, and wherein a communication range of the second wireless communication interface is 50 cm to 100 m.
3 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the near-field telemetry interface is an inductive communication interface.
4 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication interface operates in the MICS band.
5 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless communication interface is a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and/or Bluetooth Mesh radio.
6 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the implantable medical device is configured to allow access to a patient critical firmware function only via the near-field telemetry interface and/or the first wireless communication interface.
7 . Implantable medical device of claim 6 , wherein the implantable medical device is configured to allow access to the patient critical firmware function upon authentication of the first wireless communication interface through a key exchange via near-field telemetry.
8 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless communication interface uses an authentication and/or data encryption method supported by consumer mobile communications devices.
9 . Implantable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless communication interface is configured to be switched off and/or de-energized by a control unit of the implantable medical device.
10 . Implant communication system, comprising:
the implantable medical device of claim 1 ;
a programmer configured to communicate with the implantable medical device using inductive communication or medical RF communication; and
a consumer mobile communication device configured to communicate with the implantable medical device in a frequency band and/or using a communication protocol supported by the consumer mobile communication device.
11 . Implant communication system of claim 10 , wherein the programmer and/or the consumer mobile communication device is further configured to communicate with a cloud-based information management system.
12 . Implant communication system of claim 10 , comprising a further medical RF communication device configured to communicate with the implantable medical device using MICS-band communication, wherein the further medical RF communication device is configured to communicate with a cloud-based information management system.
13 . Computer implemented method for transferring data comprising the steps of:
exchanging data between an implantable medical device and an external communication device while both the implantable medical device and the external communication are operating within a communication network environment including a near-field telemetry interface, a first wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band reserved for medical implants, and a second wireless communication interface operating in a frequency band and/or using a communication protocol supported by consumer mobile communications devices.
14 . Computer implemented method of claim 13 , wherein data is transferred from the implantable medical device to a cloud-based information management system via at least one of:
a programmer communicating with the implantable medical device using inductive communication or medical RF communication; and
a consumer mobile communication device communicating with the implantable medical device in a frequency band and/or using a communication protocol supported by the consumer mobile communication device.
15 . Computer program with program code to perform the method of claim 13 when the computer program is executed on a computer.