IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING A COMMUNICATION COMPONENT

Abstract

An implantable medical device, comprises a primary communication component for establishing a communication connection with an external communication arrangement outside of a patient. The external communication arrangement is a mesh network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, wherein the primary communication component is configured to act as an additional node in the mesh network for exchanging data with at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network, and wherein at least one of the nodes of the mesh network is formed by a lighting device, which regularly are present within an environment, in which the patient regularly stays.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising: a primary communication component for establishing a communication connection with an external communication arrangement outside of a patient; wherein the external communication arrangement is a mesh network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, wherein the primary communication component is configured to act as an additional node in the mesh network for exchanging data with at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network, and wherein at least one of the nodes of the mesh network is formed by a lighting device, which regularly are present within an environment, in which the patient regularly stays.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the primary communication component is configured to establish a bi-directional communication connection to said at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the mesh network is a Bluetooth mesh network, wherein the primary communication component is configured to establish a Bluetooth communication connection with the at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the primary communication component is configured to act as a Bluetooth low-power node.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein a secondary communication component configured to establish a communication connection to an external communication device different than the mesh network.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the secondary communication component is configured to receive control data via said communication connection to the external communication device for controlling the primary communication component.

7. A system, comprising an implantable medical device of claim 1 and an external communication arrangement forming a mesh network comprising a multiplicity of nodes.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network is a friend node configured to store messages destined for the primary communication component of the implantable medical device and to forward said messages to the primary communication component of the implantable medical device upon receiving a request notification from the primary communication component of the implantable medical device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the nodes of the mesh network is formed by a non-medical device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the mesh network comprises a mesh gateway which connects the mesh network to a public communication network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a data center connected to the mesh network via the public communication network, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transmit data towards the data center or receive data from the data center via the mesh network.

12. The system of one of claim 7, wherein the implantable medical device configured to receive at least one of firmware data and configuration data from said at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transmit at least one of measurement information relating to a measurement performed by the implantable medical device, communication status information relating to a communication status for communicating with the mesh network, and system status information relating to an operational status of the implantable medical device for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic function to said at least one of the multiplicity of nodes of the mesh network.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to carry out a localization function for localizing the implantable medical device using the mesh network, or at least one of said multiplicity of nodes configured to carry out a localization function for localizing the implantable medical device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The objects underlying the present invention shall subsequently be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Herein:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a medical device in the shape of a monitoring device in an implanted state in a patient;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of an implantable medical device in the shape of a monitoring device;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a connectivity of an implantable medical device for communicating with an outside data center, according to a prior approach;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a connectivity of an implantable medical device for communicating with an outside data center, making use of a mesh network;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a schematic drawing of a medical device in communication connection with a mesh network; and

[0043] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an implantable medical device in communication with a mesh network and in addition with another external communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an implantable medical device 1 in an implanted state within a patient P. The implantable medical device 1 functions, for example, as a therapeutic or diagnostic device, for example, a monitoring device, and is implanted within or close to the heart H of the patient P or at another location within the patient's body, the implantable medical device 1 being enabled to communicate with an external communication arrangement 2 to transfer and/or receive data to respectively from the external communication arrangement 2.

[0045] The implantable medical device 1, for example, may have the shape of a diagnostic device, such as a sensor device or a recording device, for example, a loop recorder configured to record data. Alternatively, the implantable medical device 1 may be a therapeutic implant, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, or a pumping device, such as an implantable medication pump.

[0046] A medical device 1 in the shape of, e.g., a monitoring device shall remain within a patient P over a prolonged period of time, for example, several months or even years. For this, the medical device 1 shall operate in an energy-efficient manner, in that, for example, a data communication is not enabled continuously, but in dedicated periods of time in order to transmit and receive data throughout such dedicated periods of time, for example, at multiple times an hour, a day or a week. At the same time, a communication of the medical device 1 with an external communication arrangement 2 shall be easy to establish and shall not, for example, be limited by connectivity restrictions in between the medical device 1 and a dedicated communication equipment.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 2, an implantable medical device 1 in one embodiment comprises a processor device 11 cooperating with a sensor device 12 for sensing a sensing signal relating to activity of a patient's heart H. The sensor device 12 may, for example, comprise an electrode for electrically sensing electrical signals originating from the heart H and, in particular, corresponding to ventricular contractions of the heart H, such that by means of the medical device 1 a signal in the shape of an electrocardiogram may be recorded.

[0048] The implantable medical device 1 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 in addition comprises a memory device 13 serving to store recorded data, an energy storage 14 in the shape of a battery and a primary communication component 15 in the shape of electronic circuitry for establishing a communication connection to an external communication arrangement 2 for transferring data to the external communication arrangement 2 and for receiving, e.g., control commands or programming data, for example, relating to certain settings of the medical device 1, from the external communication arrangement 2.

[0049] The medical device 1 comprises a housing 10 which encapsulates the components received within in a fluid-tight manner.

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 3, in a conventional scenario an implantable medical device 1 is configured to communicate with an external communication arrangement 2 in the shape of an external communication device which is a specifically configured and dedicated for communication with the medical device 1, using, for example, the MICS communication protocol designed for allowing a communication with diagnostic and therapeutic medical implants and body-worn devices. The external communication device in this scenario may, for example, be a portable or non-portable device, such as a smart phone, having installed a software and communication circuitry allowing for a communication using the MICS protocol, wherein the external communication device is, for example, wirelessly connected to a base station 3 of a wireless communication network, and via the wireless communication network to a public communication network 4. In this way, data may be transferred to and received from the medical device 1, wherein a data communication may be established between the medical device 1 and a data center 5 connected to the public communication network 4, the data center 5 being enabled to collect data from the medical device 1 and to transfer, for example, control data towards the medical device 1 for controlling operation of the medical device 1.

[0051] The data center 5 may be accessible by a user U, such that a user, for example, a physician, may access data provided by the medical device 1, for example, measurement data or diagnostic or therapeutic status information, via the data center 5, or may enter or modify control data for transmission to the medical device 1 for controlling operation of the medical device 1.

[0052] Instead of having the medical device 1 communicating with a dedicated, specifically configured external communication device as in the scenario of FIG. 3, in a proposed approach a communication connection to the medical device 1, in an implanted state within a patient, is established using a mesh network, in particular a Bluetooth mesh network. Referring now to FIG. 4, in this approach a medical device 1 is in communication connection with an external communication arrangement 2 in the shape of a mesh network, wherein the mesh network is connected to a public communication network 4, to which also a data center 5 is connected (as in the scenario of FIG. 3), the data center 5 being user-accessible to transfer data to and receive data from the medical device 1.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 5, an external communication arrangement 2 in the shape of a mesh network comprises a multiplicity of nodes 20, which are interconnected for communication in a meshing fashion. Herein, multiple nodes 20 may communicate with multiple other nodes 20, a transmission of messages taking place by a so-called flooding in that one message is relayed from one node 20 to another node 20 and from the other node 20 on to a further node 20, such that the message propagates through the mesh network 2 until it reaches a desired destination.

[0054] In the scenario of FIGS. 4 and 5, the medical device 1, in an implanted state within a patient P, forms a node of the external communication arrangement 2 in the shape of the mesh network and hence is enabled to communicate with one or multiple other nodes 20 of the mesh network.

[0055] If the mesh network is a Bluetooth mesh network, the medical device 1, with its primary communication component 15, may form a Bluetooth low-power node, the communication component 15 of the medical device 1 cooperating with one or multiple other nodes 20 in the shape of so-called friend nodes, which do not have restricted energy requirements as the Bluetooth low-power node, but enable an energy-efficient operation of the Bluetooth low-power node. For example, a node 20 in the shape of a friend node may be enabled to buffer messages destined for the medical device 1 acting as a Bluetooth low-power node, wherein the messages are forwarded to the medical device 1 only once the communication component 15 sends a request notification to the friend node to forward the buffered messages.

[0056] The mesh network, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, comprises a mesh gateway, also denoted as mesh router or relay node, which provides for a connection to a public communication network 4, to which also the data center 5 is (directly or indirectly) connected. Hence, via the mesh network and the public communication network 4 the medical device 1 is operatively connected to the data center 5, such that data may be transferred from the medical device 1 to the data center 5 or, the other way around, from the data center 5 to the medical device 1.

[0057] For example, the medical device 1 may be configured to receive firmware data from the data center 5, for providing, for example, a firmware update of the medical device 1.

[0058] Alternatively or in addition, the medical device 1 may be configured to receive control data, for example, for modifying a configuration of the medical device 1 or for programming an operation of the medical device 1, for example, a diagnostic or therapeutic function.

[0059] Alternatively or in addition, the medical device 1 may be configured to transfer data towards the data center 5, such data relating to diagnostic or therapeutic information, for example, measurement data relating to a measurement or operational data relating to an ongoing therapeutic function, for example, a stimulation function or the like.

[0060] The mesh network may also enable a localization function. For example, according to a general setup of a mesh network, in particular a Bluetooth mesh network, nodes 20 within the mesh network may be localized, for example, by a message exchange in between the various nodes 20. For example, a message sent from one node 20 to another node 20 may contain a transmit power information, wherein the receiving node 20 may measure a receive power and from the receive power may derive information about a distance from the sending node 20. By using a triangulation, then, a location information can be derived for that node 20.

[0061] In this way a medical device 1 can be localized, wherein the medical device 1 may, according to a localization information, adapt its settings, or a medical device 1 and hence a patient P may be tracked.

[0062] The mesh network may, for example, be formed in a home environment 6 at the home of a patient P, wherein nodes 20 of the mesh network other than the medical device 1, for example, are formed by non-medical devices, for example, lighting devices (such as light bulbs or lamps), home appliances or entertainment equipment being enabled to establish and communicate within, e.g., a Bluetooth mesh network.

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 6, in one embodiment the medical device 1, in addition to the primary communication component 15, comprises a secondary communication component 16, which is configured to communicate with an external communication device 7 different and separate from the communication arrangement 2 in the shape of the mesh network. The communication device 7 is external to the patient and is, for example, a portable or non-portable device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer or a PC.

[0064] Via the communication device 7, for example, control data may be sent to the medical device 1, such control data allowing for a control of the primary communication component 15, for example, to switch on or off a communication connection with the communication arrangement 2 in the shape of the mesh network. Hence, via the communication device 7 a communication using the mesh network may be controlled or modified, wherein in addition a data transfer, for example, relating to measurement data or status information, from the medical device 1 to the communication device 7 may be possible.

[0065] The idea underlying the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented in an entirely different fashion.

[0066] By means of the approach described herein a connectivity to a medical device implanted in a patient may be improved, wherein a data communication with a medical device may be established in a cheap, reliable way allowing for limited restrictions in everyday life for a patient, a patient potentially not being even aware of a medical device being in communication connection with an external network for establishing a data communication.

[0067] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0068] 1 Implantable medical device

[0069] 10 Housing

[0070] 11 Processor device

[0071] 12 Sensor device

[0072] 13 Memory device

[0073] 14 Energy storage

[0074] 15 Primary communication component

[0075] 16 Secondary communication component

[0076] 2 External communication arrangement (mesh network)

[0077] 20 Network nodes

[0078] 21 Mesh gateway

[0079] 3 Base station

[0080] 4 Public communication network

[0081] 5 Data center

[0082] 6 Home environment

[0083] 7 Communication device

[0084] U User