Power efficient wireless RF communication between a base station and a medical device

摘要

Specific embodiments of the present invention are for use by a base station (BS) that enables power efficient wireless radio frequency (RF) communication between the BS and a medical device (MD), which may or may not be an implantable medical device (IMD). In an embodiment, once a communication session is established between the BS and the MD, the BS selectively turns a drop link mode on and off. The drop link mode is a communication mode that while turned on (i.e., enabled) reduces and preferably minimizes the length of time that an RF link is maintained between the BS and the MD. In accordance with an embodiment, at any given time during a communication session the drop link mode is either turned on (i.e., enabled) or turned off (i.e., disabled).

主权项

1. A method for use by a base station (BS) that enables power efficient wireless radio frequency (RF) communication between the BS and a medical device (MD), the method comprising:
(a) establishing a communication session between the BS and the MD, wherein the communication session comprises a time period over which there is a desire to transfer data between the BS and the MD, and wherein step (a) includes turning off a drop link mode and establishing an RF link between the BS and the MD; (b) selectively turning the drop link mode on and off during the communication session between the BS and the MD, wherein step (b) includes turning the drop link mode on when the BS will not send another command to the MD until the BS receives an input from a user via a user interface of the BS; (c) while the drop link mode is turned off during the communication session between the BS and the MD, maintaining an already established RF link between the BS and the MD; (d) while the drop link mode is turned on during the communication session between the BS and the MD, establishing a new RF link between the BS and the MD only when the BS is to send a command to the MD, and terminating the new RF link between the BS and the MD when the BS receives a command response from the MD; and (e) terminating the communication session between the BS and the MD; wherein each said RF link comprises a wireless communication path established between the BS and the MD that enables data to be wirelessly transmitted therebetween.