Implantable medical device which may be controlled from central station

摘要

An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from a patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a medical expert (a human medical professional and/or a computerized expert system) at a remote location; an electronic medical treatment device for treating the patient in response to control signals applied thereto; and a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing sensor circuit output signal(s) representing medical data sensed from the patient. The IMD also includes logic device which analyzes the sensor circuit output signal(s) to detect a medical abnormality and, upon detecting an abnormality, either sends a notification signal representing a medical state of said patient to the medical expert at the remote location or sends a local treatment device control signal to the medical treatment device, or does both.

主权项

1. Apparatus comprising:
(A) electronic medical apparatus adapted to be implanted in a human patient, and implantable medical device (IMD), which may be alternatively, automatically self-controlled and remotely controlled by a medical expert, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting medical data sensed from said patient to, and for receiving control signals from, a remote location;(b) an electronic medical treatment device for treating said patient in response to control signals applied thereto;(c) a sensor circuit, having a sensor circuit output, for producing at least one sensor circuit output signal at said sensor circuit output in response to the medical data sensed from the patient; and(d) a logic device coupled to each of
(i) said sensor circuit output,(ii) said first T/R device, and(iii) said treatment device, for(i) analysis of said at least one sensor circuit output signal,(ii) generating remote station notification signal,(iii) generating at least one local treatment device control signal, and(iv) generating a least one remote treatment device control signal;wherein:
(1) said logic device analyzes said at least one sensor circuit output signal to detect a medical abnormality which requires notification of the medical expert at the remote location, and is operative to generate a notification signal, representing at least one medical state of said patient, for consideration by said medical expert when said analysis reveals said medical abnormality; (2) upon receipt of said notification signal, said first T/R device transmits said notification signal to the remote location; (3) said logic device analyzes said at least one sensor circuit output signal to detect a medical abnormality which requires treatment and is operative to generate at least one local treatment device control signal, if required; and (4) said logic device is operative to generate at least one remote treatment device control signal in response to at least one remote control signal received from the remote location by said first T/R device; and (5) said logic device determines whether to issue a notification signal, to issue a local treatment signal, to issue both a notification and a local treatment signal, or to issue neither a notification nor a local treatment signal, based said analysis;and
(B) a remote station at said remote location, for the receipt and analysis of said notification signal transmitted by the first T/R device of said IMD, comprising:
(a) a medical expert logic device, for:
(i) receipt and analysis of said notification signal; and(ii) generation of a medical expert logic device remote control signal, if required; and(b) a second T/R device, coupled to said medical expert logic device, for electronic communication with the first T/R device of said IMD; andwherein
(1) said medical expert logic device analyzes said notification signal; (2) based on said analysis, said medical expert logic device may generate at least one medical expert logic device remote control signal; (3) said at least one medical expert logic device remote control signal is transmitted via said second T/R device and said first T/R device, to the logic device of said IMD; and (4) said at least one medical expert logic device remote control signal caused said IMD logic device to control said treatment device of said IMD;whereby said IMD delivers therapy, if required, in response to one of said at least one local treatment device control signals and said at least one remote control signal.