Universal External Control Device for Use by Multiple Conditional Access Users With Varying Access to Functionality of an Implantable Medical Device

Abstract

A universal external control device for use by multiple conditional access users with varying access to functionality of an implantable medical device in wireless communication therewith. Circuitry associated with the external control device is used to uniquely identify each of the conditional access users via an access device such as a key or card. Access to functionality of the implantable medical device is restricted by the universal external control device based on the conditional access user identified by the access device.

1 . A universal external control device for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, comprising:
 circuitry for identifying each of the plural conditional access users, determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned and restricting access for each of the plural conditional access users to that functionality associated with the implantable medical device based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned;   each of the plural conditional access users is assigned by the circuitry a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework; wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned by the circuitry default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition in advance and is accessible by the plural conditional access users.   
     
     
         2 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry includes Hall sensors for uniquely identifying each of the plural conditional access users. 
     
     
         3 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         4 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein any one set of conditional access functions overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         5 . A method for using a universal external control device for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, comprising the steps of:
 assigning to each of the plural conditional access users functionality associated with the implantable medical device to which that user is permitted conditional access; the assigning step comprises assigning to each of the plural conditional access users a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework;   determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned; and   restricting access to the functionality associated with the implantable medical device for each of the plural conditional access users based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users is permitted conditional access, wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition in advance and is accessible by the plural conditional access users.   
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein any one set of conditional access functions overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the determining step comprises reading from an access device in communication with the universal external control device that functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned. 
     
     
         10 . A system for permitting wireless conditional access to functionality of an implantable medical device by a plurality of conditional access users, the system comprising:
 a plurality of access devices one for identifying each of the plural conditional access users; and   a universal external control device including circuitry for identifying the conditional access user based on the associated access device when placed in communication with the universal external control device, determining functionality associated with the implantable medical device which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned and restricting access for each of the plural conditional access users to that functionality associated with the implantable medical device based on the determined functionality to which each of the plural conditional access users has been assigned;   each of the plural conditional access users is assigned by the circuitry a particular set of conditional access functions from a non-hierarchical framework; wherein a non-conditional access user is assigned by the circuitry default non-conditional functional access to the implantable medical device which functionality does not require satisfaction of a condition in advance and is accessible by the plural conditional access users.   
     
     
         11 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the access device permits access to more than one function of the implantable medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein any one set of conditional access functions overlap in some part or be independent of any other set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes a first set of conditional access functions and a last set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         14 . The device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the non-hierarchical framework includes at least one intermediate set of conditional access functions. 
     
     
         15 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the functionality and access thereto is specifically tailored to each of the plural conditional access users without having to change access to functionality associated with any of the other plural conditional access users. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the functionality and access thereto is specifically tailored to each of the plural conditional access users without having to change access to functionality associated with any of the other plural conditional access users. 
     
     
         17 . The device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the functionality and access thereto is specifically tailored to each of the plural conditional access users without having to change access to functionality associated with any of the other plural conditional access users. 
     
     
         18 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conditional access users includes physicians, sales representatives and technicians; each physician having access to the same functionality, each sales representative having access to the same functionality and each technician having access to the same functionality. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the conditional access users includes physicians, sales representatives and technicians; each physician having access to the same functionality, each sales representative having access to the same functionality and each technician having access to the same functionality. 
     
     
         20 . The device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the conditional access users includes physicians, sales representatives and technicians; each physician having access to the same functionality, each sales representative having access to the same functionality and each technician having access to the same functionality. 
     
     
         21 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the conditional access functions and default non-conditional functional access functionality are set during manufacture. 
     
     
         22 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the default non-conditional functional access, whose access is not restricted or prohibited, is accessible by all users. 
     
     
         23 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the default non-conditional functional access of which no conditions are in place to preclude access to that functionality is accessible by all users. 
     
     
         24 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the default non-conditional functional access is available when no identification access is read.