Remote monitoring and control of implantable devices

Abstract

A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bi-directional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A treatment system comprising:
 a regulator adapted to be implanted within a patient, the regulator configured to apply a treatment to the patient, the regulator having a memory configured to store treatment events;   a computing device remote from the regulator, the computing device comprising a receiver module for receiving treatment events from each patient; a storage module comprising at least one database associated with each patient in which the regulator is implanted for storing treatment events from each patient; and an evaluate module for evaluating patient databases stored on the computing device;   a data transfer device comprising memory and a transmission unit configured to communicate with a controller and configured to communicate with the computing device over a network to transfer the treatment events from the memory of the controller to the computing device for storage in the patient database and configured to transmit voice and other data over a network between the patient and a health care provider;   a controller configured to control operation of the regulator and adapted for placement on the patient, the controller comprising a memory and a transmission unit, the memory of the controller being configured to store treatment events, the transmission unit of the controller being configured to communicate with the regulator and with the data transfer device; wherein the data transfer device communicates with the regulator through the controller;   a programmer configured to be operated by a clinician at a location remote from the patient, wherein the programmer is configured to determine whether the programmer has a current treatment history of the patient; and wherein the programmer is configured to communicatively couple to the remote computing device to obtain the current treatment history of the patient if the programmer determines the programmer does not have the current treatment history, and configured to generate and display at least one report wherein the at least one report comprises a patient use report indicating whether the patient operated the regulator correctly over a period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the data transfer device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the data transfer device comprises a start module configured to perform a connect operation between the data transfer device and a device of the health care provider. 
     
     
         4 . The treatment system of  claim 3 , wherein the device of the health care provider is the programmer, the computing device or a remote mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the data transfer device comprises a transmission module configured to transmit and receive data. 
     
     
         6 . The treatment system of  claim 5 , wherein the data is voice data, text data, or graphical data. 
     
     
         7 . The treatment system of  claim 6 , wherein the voice data transmission is a two way voice transmission. 
     
     
         8 . A method of transferring data between a patient and a health care provider comprising:
 using a system of  claim 1  to:   communicatively couple a data transfer device of the system to the programmer, remote computing device or a remote mobile device;   transmit the data to the programmer, remote computing device, or the remote mobile device; and   receive and transmit communication between the programmer, remote computing device, or remote mobile device in response to the data transmitted.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data transfer device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data transfer device is communicatively coupled to a remote mobile phone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data transmitted is voice, text, or graphical data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , where the voice data is a two way transmission. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving and transmitting communication comprises receiving voice data at the data transfer device from a clinician, the voice data including instructions from the clinician to the patient; and playing the voice data at the data transfer device for the patient to hear. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving voice data at the data transfer device comprises receiving voice data at a cellular phone, and wherein playing the voice data comprises rendering the voice data and emitting the voice data from the cellular phone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving and transmitting communication comprises: receiving at the data transfer device voice data from the patient, the voice data including feedback pertaining to the effects of the treatment regimen; and transmitting the voice data to the clinician.