Relay interface for connecting an implanted medical device to an external electronics device

Abstract

An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server.

1 . A system for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
 an implant interface device comprising:
 a housing adapted for external mounting proximate to an implanted medical device; 
 a cable extending from the housing and terminating in a connector adapted for connection with a mating port; 
 a wireless transceiver for transcutaneously transmitting at least one of power or data received via the connector to an implanted medical device and transcutaneously receiving communications from the implanted medical device; and 
 a consumer electronics device including:
 a power source; 
 a processor; 
 a communications port, wherein the connector of the implant interface device is selectively connectable with the communications port; and 
 a wireless interface for interconnecting the consumer electronics device to a communications network, wherein the consumer electronics device is operative for at least one of transmitting data originating from the implantable medical device to the communications network and transmitting data originating from the communications network to the implantable medical device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the consumer electronics device comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mobile phone interconnects to a data network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer electronic device further comprises:
 a communications protocol stored in an electronic memory device of the portable consumer electronics device, wherein the communications protocol enables the consumer electronic device to receive and output data via the communications port.   
     
     
         5 . The system ref  claim 1 , wherein the consumer electronics device further comprises:
 a microphone or speaker for generating an audio output signal, wherein the audio output signal is provided to the implant interface device, wherein the implant interface device provides the audio signal to an implanted hearing instrument.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the implant interface device further comprises an electronic memory device, the memory device including:
 an implant communication protocol;   at least one consumer electronics device communication protocol; and   a controller, wherein the controller utilizes the implant communication protocol and the consumer electronics device communication protocol to exchange data between the implantable medical device and the consumer electronics device.   
     
     
         7 . A method for use with an implantable medical device, comprising:
 positioning an external interface device proximate to an implanted medical device, wherein the external interface device includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transcutaneously transmit power to a receiver of the implanted medical device;   interconnecting a cable of the external interface device with a port of a consumer electronics device, wherein the cable interconnects to a power source within the consumer electronics device;   utilizing the external interface device, adapting power received from the consumer electronics for transcutaneous transmission; and   transcutaneously transmitting power to the implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device is at least partially powered by the consumer electronic device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein interconnecting the cable comprises interconnecting the cable with a mobile phone. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 utilizing the external interface device, transmitting data between the implanted medical device and the consumer electronics device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the implanted medical device is neural stimulation device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for use with an implantable hearing instrument, comprising:
 positioning an external interface device proximate to an implanted hearing instrument, wherein the external interface device includes a wireless transmitter adapted to transcutaneously, communicate with a wireless transmitter of the implanted hearing instrument;   establishing data communication between the external interface device and a consumer electronics device having a network interface connectable to data network;   utilizing the consumer electronics device, transmitting data parameters via the network interface to a platform in the data network, wherein the data parameters are transcutaneously obtained from the implantable hearing instrument by the external interface device;   receiving fitting parameters via the network interface of the consumer electronics device, wherein the fitting parameters are generated in response to the data parameters; and   transcutaneously transmitting the fitting parameters to the implantable hearing instrument using the external interface device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the implantable medical device comprises an implantable hearing instrument; and   the method further comprises:
 receiving an audio stimulation signal via the network interface; and 
 providing the audio stimulation signal to the implanted hearing instrument, wherein the data parameters are generated in response to the audio stimulation signal. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the audio stimulation signal comprises:
 generating an ambient audio signal in response to the audio stimulation signal, wherein the implantable hearing instrument receives the audio stimulation signal via a microphone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the audio stimulation signal comprises:
 utilizing the external interface device to transcutaneously transmit the audio stimulation signal to a signal processor of the implantable hearing instrument.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 operating a controller in the interface device to utilize an implant communication protocol and a consumer electronics device communication protocol to translate signals received from one of the implantable hearing instrument and the consumer electronics device in to a form receivable by the other of the implantable hearing instrument and the consumer electronics device.