Implant revision recognition by exchanging the revision data during transmission

1. Method for establishing communication among a control device having a first memory device for storing multiple versions of application software for operation of the control device and an implantable medical device having a second memory device for storing single current version of the application software for operation of the implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:

generating an interrogation signal at the control device;

transmitting the generated interrogation signal from the control device to the implantable medical device with which it is in communication;

generating at the implantable medical device a response signal including identification information associated with the implantable medical device;

transmitting the generated response signal from the implantable medical device back to the control device with which it is in communication;

extracting the identification information from the response signal received by the control device, the identification information including both a unique identification number associated with the implantable medical device and a current version of application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device; and

based on the extracted identification information associated with the implantable medical device, correlating thereto a version of the application software from among the multiple versions of application software associated with the control device that is compatible with the recognized version of the application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the correlating step utilizes a look-up-table.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the correlating step utilizes an algorithm.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the identification information is added onto the response signal thereby increasing its overall length.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the identification information is mixed with the response signal using an encoding scheme without increasing its overall length.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the identification information further includes information concerning the type of implant.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first memory device stores all possible versions of the application software for the control device.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the compatible application software for the control device is utilized without having to transmit application software between the two devices.

9. A communication system comprising:

a control device comprising:

a first memory device for storing multiple versions of application software for operation of the control device;

a first processor for generating an interrogation signal;

an implantable medical device in communication with the control device, the implantable medical device comprising:

a second memory device for storing a single current version of the application software for operation of the implantable medical device;

a second processor for generating at the implantable medical device a response signal including identification information associated with the implantable medical device in response to the interrogation signal generated by the first processor;

wherein the first processor extracts the identification information from the response signal received by the control device, the identification information including both a unique identification number associated with the implantable medical device and a current version of application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device; and based on the extracted identification information associated with the implantable medical device, the first processor correlates thereto a version of the application software from among the multiple versions of application software associated with the control device that is compatible with the recognized version of the application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first processor further comprises a look-up-table for correlating the version of the application software from among the multiple versions of application software associated with the control device that is compatible with the recognized version of the application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device.

11. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first processor uses an algorithm for correlating the version of the application software from among the multiple versions of application software associated with the control device that is compatible with the recognized version of the application software currently being utilized by the implantable medical device.

12. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the identification information is added onto the response signal thereby increasing its overall length.

13. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the identification information is mixed with the response signal using an encoding scheme without increasing its overall length.

14. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the identification information includes information concerning the type of implant.

15. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first memory device stores all possible versions of the application software for the control device.

16. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the compatible application software for the control device is utilized without having to transmit application software between the two devices.