US6424867B1 — Secure telemetry system and method for an implant…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 133 words

An implantable cardiac stimulation device which establishes communication with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance with first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second communication protocols being different, the implantable device comprising: a pulse generator configured to generate stimulation pulses; a telemetry circuit arranged to establish communication with the first and second external devices in accordance with the first and second communication protocols, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the telemetry circuit and the pulse generator and further arranged to detect the first and second external devices, based on the communication protocol used by the telemetry circuit in establishing communication, and to provide a first response when the first external device is detected and a second response when the second external device is detected.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 133 words

An implantable cardiac stimulation device which establishes communication with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance with first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second communication protocols being different, the implantable device comprising: a pulse generator configured to generate stimulation pulses; a telemetry circuit arranged to establish communication with the first and second external devices in accordance with the first and second communication protocols, respectively; and a control circuit coupled to the telemetry circuit and the pulse generator and further arranged to detect the first and second external devices, based on the communication protocol used by the telemetry circuit in establishing communication, and to provide a first response when the first external device is detected and a second response when the second external device is detected.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second responses are different.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols are first and second encoding schemes, respectively.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols are first and second data transmission rates, respectively.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols include first and second access codes, respectively, the first and second access codes being different.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 5 , further including an access code verifier operatively coupled to the telemetry circuit that verifies, during the established communication, the access code used to establish the communication.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device of claim 5 , wherein the telemetry circuit is arranged to remain active during an established communication and wherein the device further includes a deactivation circuit that deactivates the telemetry circuit after completion of an established communication.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 7 , wherein the deactivation circuit is arranged to deactivate the telemetry circuit a predetermined time after completion of the established communication.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The device of claim 5 , further including an access code generator operatively coupled to the telemetry circuit that changes an access code in accordance with at least one of the first and second protocols.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

The device of claim 5 , wherein an established communication includes a plurality of transmissions from a respective external device to the implantable device and wherein the implantable device includes an access code generator that changes an access code according to at least one of the protocols during an established communication.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 10 , wherein the access code generator is arranged to change the access code between transmissions by the respective external device.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 63 words

The device of claim 1 further including a memory coupled to the control circuit that stores programmable parameters defining operation of the pulse generator and wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to at least some of the stored programmable parameters and the other one of the first and second responses precludes access to any of the stored programmable parameters.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The device of claim 1 , further including a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory including portions readable by at least one of the external devices, and wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to the readable portions of the memory.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

The device of claim 1 , further including a memory coupled to the control circuit that stores programmable parameters defining operation of the pulse generator, wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to at least some of the stored programmable parameters, and wherein a corresponding one of the first and second protocols includes first and second serial access codes.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 14 , wherein the first an d second access codes are different.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 107 words

An implantable cardiac stimulation device which establishes communication with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance with first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second communication protocols being different, the implantable device comprising: pulse generating means for generating stimulation pulses; telemetry means for communicating with the first and second external devices in accordance with the first and second protocols; and control means responsive to the communication protocol of the telemetry means for detecting the first and second external devices and providing a first response upon detecting the first external device and a second response upon detecting the second external device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 107 words

An implantable cardiac stimulation device which establishes communication with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance with first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second communication protocols being different, the implantable device comprising: pulse generating means for generating stimulation pulses; telemetry means for communicating with the first and second external devices in accordance with the first and second protocols; and control means responsive to the communication protocol of the telemetry means for detecting the first and second external devices and providing a first response upon detecting the first external device and a second response upon detecting the second external device.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second responses are different.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 16 wherein the first and second protocols are first and second encoding schemes, respectively.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second protocols are first and second data transmission rates, respectively.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second protocols include first and second access codes, respectively, the first and second access codes being different.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 20 , further including verifying means for verifying the access code associated with at least one of the protocols during communication by the telemetry means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device of claim 20 , wherein the telemetry means remains active during communication with an external device and wherein the device further includes deactivating means for deactivating the telemetry means after completion of communication with an external device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 22 , wherein the deactivating means deactivates the telemetry means a predetermined time after completion of communication with an external device.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 20 , further including access code generating means for changing an access code in accordance with at least one of the first and second protocols.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 57 words

The device of claim 20 , wherein a communication of the telemetry means with an external device includes a plurality of transmissions between a respective external device and the telemetry means and wherein the implantable device includes access code generating means for changing an access code according to at least one of the protocols during a communication.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 25 , wherein the access code generating means changes the access code between transmissions by the respective external device.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 60 words

The device of claim 16 , further including memory means for storing programmable parameters defining operation of the pulse generating means and wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to at least some of the stored programmable parameters and the other one of the first and second responses precludes access to any of the stored programmable parameters.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 43 words

The device of claim 16 , further including memory means including data portions for storing data readable by at least one of the external devices, and wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to the data portions of the memory.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 59 words

The device of claim 16 , further including a memory means for storing programmable parameters defining operation of the pulse generating means, wherein one of the first and second responses includes access to at least some of the stored programmable parameters, and wherein a corresponding one of the first and second protocols includes first and second serial access codes.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 29 , wherein the first and second access codes are different.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 132 words

In an implantable cardiac stimulation device which provides therapy to a heart, a method of communicating with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second protocols being different, the method including the steps of: communicating with one of the first and second external devices with one of the first and second protocols corresponding to one of the first and second external devices; detecting the one of the first and second external devices based upon the protocol used to communicate with the one of the external devices; and selecting a response among first and second responses, the first response corresponding to detection of the first external device and the second response corresponding to detection of the second external device.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 132 words

In an implantable cardiac stimulation device which provides therapy to a heart, a method of communicating with at least first and second external devices configured to communicate in accordance first and second communication protocols, respectively, the first and second protocols being different, the method including the steps of: communicating with one of the first and second external devices with one of the first and second protocols corresponding to one of the first and second external devices; detecting the one of the first and second external devices based upon the protocol used to communicate with the one of the external devices; and selecting a response among first and second responses, the first response corresponding to detection of the first external device and the second response corresponding to detection of the second external device.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the first and second responses of the selecting step are different.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the first and second protocols of the communicating step are first and second encoding schemes, respectively.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the first and second protocols of the communication step are first and second data transmission rates, respectively.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the first and second protocols of the communicating step include first and second access codes, respectively, the first and second access codes being different.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 35 , further including the step of verifying the address code associated with at least one of the protocols during the communicating step.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 35 , wherein the communicating step includes maintaining a communication channel active during communication with the one of the first and second external devices and wherein the method further includes the step of the deactivating the communication channel after completion of the communicating step.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 37 , wherein the deactivating step is performed a predetermined time after completion of the communicating step.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 35 , further including the step of changing an access code in accordance with the one of the first and second protocols during the communicating step.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 35 , wherein the communicating step includes a plurality of transmissions between the one of the first and second external devices and the implantable device and wherein the communicating step further includes the step of changing an access code according to the one of the protocols after selected transmissions.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 40 , wherein the access code changing step is performed between each transmission.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 31 , further including the step of storing programmable therapy defining parameters in a memory and wherein one of the first and second responses includes permitting access to at least some of the stored programmable parameters and the other one of the first and second responses includes precluding access to any of the stored programmable therapy defining parameters.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 31 , further including the step of storing data readable by at least one of the external devices in data portions of a memory, and wherein one of the first and second responses includes permitting access to the data portions of the memory.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method device of claim 31 , further including the step of storing programmable therapy defining parameters in a memory, wherein one of the first and second responses includes permitting access to at least some of the stored programmable therapy defining parameters, and wherein a corresponding one of the first and second protocols includes first and second serial access codes.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 44 , wherein the first and second access codes are different.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-07-22	2006-01-21	2006-07-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-07-22	2010-01-21	2010-07-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-07-22	2014-01-21	2014-07-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Secure telemetry system and method for an implantable cardiac stimulation device

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