Methods and apparatus for secure communication with implants and for the manipulation of implants.

Abstract

An implant is provided. The implant comprises an internal arithmetic unit configured to control the functions of the implant. The internal arithmetic unit comprises an internal memory, which is configured to store: i. a first control program for controlling the internal arithmetic unit; ii. a configurable or updatable second control program having predefined program steps for controlling the functions of the implant; iii. a set of predefined program steps for updating the second control program. Furthermore, the implant comprises an internal communication unit connected to the internal arithmetic unit and configured to communicate with an external device. The internal arithmetic unit is configured to receive updates to the second control program via the internal communication unit and to receive a verification function connected to or transmitted to the internal arithmetic unit. The verification function is configured to verify that the received update to the second control program includes program steps included in the set of predefined program steps. Furthermore, the implant further comprises an implantable device for treating urinary retention in mammalian patients. The device comprises an implantable power member adapted to apply external force to a selected portion of the bladder to drain urine from the bladder, and a control device for controlling the operation of the power member.

Claims

1. It is an implant, This is an internal computing unit configured to control the function of the implant, i. A first control program for controlling the internal processing unit, ii. A second control program having predetermined program steps for controlling the function of the implant, and which is configurable or updatable, iii. A set of predetermined program steps for updating the second control program, An internal processing unit including internal memory configured to store, An internal communication unit connected to the internal processing unit and configured to communicate with an external device, the internal communication unit configured to receive updates to the second control program via the internal communication unit, Verification function of the internal arithmetic unit, or connected to the internal arithmetic unit, or transmitted to the internal arithmetic unit, configured to verify that the received update to the second control program includes a program step included in the predetermined set of program steps, An implantable device for treating urinary retention in mammalian patients, The implantable device is, An implantable drive member configured to apply force from the outside to a predetermined part of the bladder in order to expel urine from the bladder, The system includes a control device for controlling the operation of the drive member, Dental implants.

2. An implant according to claim 1 or 2, The predetermined program step includes setting variables related to pressure, time, minimum or maximum temperature, current, voltage, intensity, frequency, amplitude of electrical stimulation, feedback, postoperative mode or normal mode, catheter mode, fibrous tissue mode, post-voiding release time, and post-voiding release time before bedtime. Dental implants.

3. An implant according to claim 1 or 2, The verification function is configured to reject the update if it includes a program step that is not included in the predetermined set of program steps. Dental implants.

4. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The verification function is configured to permit the update only if the update includes only program steps that are included in the predetermined set of program steps. Dental implants.

5. The implant according to claim 1, The internal communication unit is configured to communicate with the external device via a first wireless connection for receiving updates to the second control program and a second connection for performing authentication of communication with the external device. Dental implants.

6. The implant according to claim 5, The second connection described above is a short-range wireless connection. Dental implants.

7. An implant according to claim 5 or 7, The aforementioned second connection for authentication is an electrical connection that uses the patient's body as a conductor. Dental implants.

8. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The aforementioned internal processing unit is further configured to install the update after verification. Dental implants.

9. An implant according to any of the above claims, The internal processing unit has a sleep mode and an active mode, and the implant further includes a sensor configured to detect an awakening signal, and is configured to set the internal processing unit to active mode in response to the detected awakening signal. Dental implants.

10. The implant according to claim 9, The sensor is configured to detect an acoustic signal as an arousal signal, or to detect a magnetic signal as an arousal signal. Dental implants.

11. An implant according to claim 9 or 10, The aforementioned sensor is configured to detect the received signal strength, The implant is configured to set the internal processing unit to active mode when the sensor detects a signal exceeding a threshold signal intensity. Dental implants.

12. An implant according to any one of claims 9 to 11, It further includes a second internal processing unit, The implant is configured to set the internal arithmetic unit to active mode via the second internal arithmetic unit. Dental implants.

13. An implant according to any one of claims 9 to 12, In sleep mode, the internal processing unit is substantially powerless. Setting the internal arithmetic unit to active mode includes supplying power to the internal arithmetic unit. Dental implants.

14. The implant according to claim 13, The implant includes an energy controller for controlling the power supplied to the internal computing unit. Dental implants.

15. The implant according to claim 14, The sensor is configured to supply a second awakening signal to the energy controller when it detects an awakening signal. The energy controller is configured to set the computing unit to active mode in response to the second awakening signal. Dental implants.

16. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 15, The aforementioned sensor is configured to detect the received signal strength, The internal control unit is configured to set the internal processing unit to active mode when the sensor detects a signal exceeding a threshold signal intensity. Dental implants.

17. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 16, The aforementioned arousal signal includes a predetermined signal pattern, The implant is configured to set the calculation unit to active mode when the sensor detects the predetermined signal pattern. Dental implants.

18. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 17, The sensor is a Hall effect sensor, a fluxgate sensor, an ultra-high sensitivity magnetic field sensor, or a magnetoresistive sensor. Dental implants.

19. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 18, The sensor includes a third coil having an iron core. Dental implants.

20. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 19, The sensor is included in the internal communication unit. Dental implants.

21. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 20, The system further includes a frequency detector for detecting the frequency of data communication between an external device and the internal communication unit. The frequency detector is connected to the internal processing unit in a communicative manner, It is configured to detect the frequency in response to an external device configured to transmit a frequency indication signal. Dental implants.

22. The implant according to claim 21, The frequency detector includes an antenna. Dental implants.

23. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 22, The internal communication unit includes a coil or a high-sensitivity magnetic field detector for communicating with an external device. Dental implants.

24. An implant according to any one of claims 1 to 23, The device further includes a sensory generator configured to generate sensations detectable by the patient's senses, The sensory generator is connected to the internal control unit in a manner that allows it to communicate with the internal control unit. The implant is configured to generate the aforementioned sensation upon request while it is embedded in the patient's body. Dental implants.

25. The implant according to claim 24, The sensory generator is configured to receive the request from the internal control unit of the implant. Dental implants.

26. An implant according to claim 24 or 25, The aforementioned sensory generator is configured to generate sensation or sensory components by at least one of the following: Vibration of sensory generators; Sound generation; Supply of photon signals; Supply of optical signals; Supply of electrical signals; and Supply of thermal signals, Dental implants.

27. An implant according to any one of claims 24 to 26, The aforementioned sensory generator is configured to be implanted in the patient's body. Dental implants.

28. An implant according to any one of claims 24 to 27, The aforementioned sensory generator is configured to be worn in contact with the patient's skin. Dental implants.

29. An implant according to any one of claims 24 to 27, The sensory generator is configured to generate the sensation without physical contact with the patient. Dental implants.

30. A method for programming an implant using an external device, The implant includes an internal computing unit and internal memory configured to control the function of the implant. The aforementioned internal memory is configured to store the following: A first control program for controlling the internal processing unit, A second, updatable or configurable control program for controlling the functions of the implant, and A set of predetermined program steps for updating the second control program, The external device is configured to communicate with the implant via a first connection. The aforementioned method, (a) The internal arithmetic unit provides a set of predetermined program steps for updating the second control program, (b) The step of transmitting an update including a subset of the predetermined program steps via the first connection by the external device, (c) The process of receiving the update with the internal processing unit, (d) The internal processing unit verifies that the update includes a subset of the predetermined program steps, (e) a step of performing the update on the implant after the verification, method.

31. The method according to claim 30, The predetermined program step includes setting variables related to pressure, time, minimum or maximum temperature, current, voltage, intensity, frequency, amplitude of electrical stimulation, feedback, postoperative mode or normal mode, catheter mode, fibrous tissue mode, post-voiding release time, and post-voiding release time before bedtime. method.

32. A method according to claim 30 or 31, The verification includes rejecting the update if the update includes a program step that is not included in the predetermined set of program steps. method.

33. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 32, The verification includes allowing the update if the update includes only program steps that are included in the predetermined set of program steps. method.

34. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 33, The process further includes authenticating communication between the implant and the external device via a second connection. method.

35. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 34, The second connection described above is a short-range wireless connection. method.

36. The method according to claim 34 or 35, The second connection described above is an electrical connection that uses the patient's body as a conductor. method.

37. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 36, The process further includes installing the update after the verification described above, method.

38. A method according to any one of claims 30 to 36, A process of monitoring signals using sensors connected to an internal processing unit, A process of supplying an awakening signal from a signal supply unit included in an external control unit, The process further includes the step of setting a mode of a part of the internal control unit from sleep mode to active mode in response to a detected awakening signal. method.

39. The method according to claim 38, The part of the internal control unit is a first control program or a second control program. method.

40. The method according to claim 38 or 39, The process further includes using a frequency detector to detect the frequency for a first communication channel between a first communication unit and a second communication unit. The first communication unit is associated with the internal control unit, and the second communication unit is associated with an external device. The frequency detector is connected to the internal processing unit in a manner that allows it to communicate with it. method.

41. The method according to claim 40, The process further includes determining the frequency of the first communication channel using the frequency detector. method.

42. The method according to claim 40, The process further includes generating a sensation detectable by the patient's senses using a sensation generator that is communicatively connected to the internal control unit, during verification, execution, or installation of the update on the implant. method.

43. The method according to claim 42, The aforementioned sensory generation is performed by at least one of the following: The application of vibration to the sensory generator; Sound generation; Supply of photon signals; Supply of optical signals; Supply of electrical signals; and Supply of thermal signals, method.

44. A computer program product, A computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions adapted to perform the operation in the implant according to any one of claims 30 to 43 and / or claims 1 to 29 when executed by a processing unit in an external device having processing capabilities, Computer program products.

45. A computer program product, A computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions adapted to perform the operation in the implant according to any one of claims 30 to 43 and / or the operation in the implant according to any one of claims 1 to 29, when executed by a processing unit within the implant having processing capabilities, Computer program products.

46. An implant relating to any one or a combination thereof: The implant according to any one of claims 1 to 29, An implant having the capability to perform the method described in any one of claims 30 to 43, and An implant having the capability to use the program product described in claim 44 or 45, The implant includes an internal control unit adapted to perform at least a portion of the operations described in any one of claims 1 to 45. Dental implants.

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