Multi-mode coordinator for medical device function

Abstract

The invention is directed to an externally applied coordinator for communication and/or control of 2 or more implantable medical devices that may utilize different telemetry communication techniques. The coordinator receives telemetry signals from 2 or more implantable medical devices and provides functional direction to each of the devices to provide coordinated therapy and/or diagnostic function. The coordinator automatically configures itself for communication with a given medical device based either on the telemetry signal it receives or programmed by the physician. Specifically the coordinator is implemented as a software based, power efficient receiver/transmitter based upon an inexpensive, simple motor-controller DSP.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a first implanted medial device;    a second implanted medial device; and    a coordinator that receives data via a first communication signal from the first medial device, produces a function command, generates a second communication signal and sends the function command via the second communication signal to the second medical device.    
   
   
       2 . The first implantable medical device of  claim 1  selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter/defibrillator, a drug pump, a neuro stimulator, an ILR and a remote sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The second implantable medical device of  claim 1  selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardioverter/defibrillator, a drug pump, a neuro stimulator, an ILR and a remote sensor.  
   
   
       4 . The function command of  claim 1  coordinates therapy between the first and second implantable medical devices.  
   
   
       5 . The therapy of  claim 4  selected from the group consisting of pacing, cardioversion/defibrillation, neuro stimulation and drug delivery.  
   
   
       6 . The function command of  claim 1  coordinating sensing and monitoring between the first and second implantable medical devices.  
   
   
       7 . The function command of  claim 1  providing pain suppression to the patient from a first implantable medical device prior to or during therapy from the second implantable medical device.  
   
   
       8 . The function command of  claim 1  providing reduced defibrillation or pacing threshold of the patient from a first implantable medical device prior to or during therapy from the second implantable medical device.  
   
   
       9 . The function command of  claim 1  providing remote sensor data from the first implantable medical device to the second medical device.  
   
   
       10 . The function command of  claim 1  providing device protection to the first implantable medical device during therapy delivery from the second implantable medical device.  
   
   
       11 . The remote sensor data of  claim 9  selected from the group consisting of acceleration, pressure, O 2 sat, pH, flow, dP/dt, acoustic (sound), Doppler ultrasound, impedance plethsymmography and piezo-electric.  
   
   
       12 . The coordinator of  claim 1  mounted externally to the patient.  
   
   
       13 . The coordinator of  claim 12  selected from the group consisting of a wrist watch, a belt, a necklace, a piece of jewelry, an adhesive patch, a pager, a key fob, an identification card, a laptop computer, an interrogator and a hand-held computer.  
   
   
       14 . The first and second communication signals from the coordinator of  claim 1  consisting of a trancutaneous telemetry transmission.  
   
   
       15 . The first and second communication signals of  claim 14  selected from the group consisting of RF, electromagnetic, ionic and acoustic.  
   
   
       16 . The coordinator of  claim 1  communicating between 2 IMDs selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker and ICD, a pacemaker and drug pump, an ICD and drug pump, a pacemaker and neuro stimulator, an ILR and pacemaker, an ILR and ICD, an ILR and neuro stimulator, an ILR and drug pump and an ICD and neuro stimulator.  
   
   
       17 . The neuro stimulator of  claim 16  providing therapy to the patient's vagus nerve or brain.  
   
   
       18 . The pacing therapy of  claim 5  selected from the group consisting of ATP pacing, overdrive pacing and bradycardia pacing.  
   
   
       19 . The reduced ICD pain delivery of  claim 7  selected from the group consisting of a neuro stimulator and drug pump.  
   
   
       20 . The reduced defibrillation shock threshold of  claim 8  reduced by therapy delivered from an IMD selected from the group consisting of a neuro stimulator, a drug pump and a pacemaker.  
   
   
       21 . The coordinated sensing of physiologic data of  claim 6  selected from the group consisting of cardiac signals, respiration signals and EEG signals.  
   
   
       22 . The neuro stimulator or drug pump of  claim 5  providing therapy for a disease selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's and epilepsy.  
   
   
       23 . The communication system of  claim 1  with telemetry setup selected from the group consisting of automatic setup, physician programmed and implant detect and automatic setup.  
   
   
       24 . The coordinator of  claim 1  including a digital signal processor (DSP) circuit comprising: 
 means for receiving a data signal from a first IMD;    means for generating a control command; and    means for modulating a second signal with said function command and transmitting said second signal to a second IMD.    
   
   
       25 . The coordinator of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 an antenna system;    a receiver in operable communications with the antenna for receiving and amplifying of said data signal; and    a transmitter for transmitting a function command to said one of IMDs.    
   
   
       26 . The coordinator of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 a patient activated push button for providing manual input by the patient selected from the group consisting of arrhythmia onset, the feeling of light-headedness, the beginning of a meal, chest pains, to manually activate diagnostic data recording and initiate therapy delivery.    
   
   
       27 . The monitoring therapy of  claim 6  selected from the group consisting of EEG, cardiac, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central apnea and neurogenic pulmonary edema.  
   
   
       28 . A method of coordinating the function of 2 IMDs implanted in a patient, comprising: 
 receiving a communication signal from a first IMD;    decoding the data from said communication signal;    utilizing said decoded data to generate a function command for said second IMD;    modulating a second communication signal with said data;    transmitting said second communication signal to said second IMD;    receiving said second communication signal by said second IMD; and    causing the second IMD to operate in a specific function/method.