Implantable Medical Device Data Relay via Magnetic Coupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for initiating data transfer from implantable medical devices are patient-triggered, lacking clinician control and potentially leading to cybersecurity risks and battery drain, with limited ability for real-time status data access and timely review by clinicians.
Innovation Solution
A method and system allowing remote devices to generate a relay data request that initiates a communication link between a patient device and an implantable medical device, enabling clinician-controlled data interrogation and transfer without patient interaction, using secure communication protocols and priority settings to manage energy usage and ensure data authenticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a general wake-up functionality is implemented to allow patient devices to initiate data transfer, then data accessibility is improved, but cybersecurity risks increase due to potential unauthorized access by third-party devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magnetic switch as an intermediary physical coupling mechanism between the programming device and implantable medical device. This magnetic switch acts as a mediator that establishes a secure communication channel, allowing data transfer initiation only when the programming device is physically coupled to the implantable device through the magnetic field detection mechanism.
2Loss of time
If the implantable medical device is awakened frequently for data communication, then real-time data access is improved, but battery consumption increases which may affect therapy functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic wake-up mechanism where the implantable medical device is activated at predetermined intervals or under specific conditions rather than continuously. The device remains in a low-power state between activations, waking up periodically to check for pending data requests or to initiate scheduled data transfers, thereby balancing real-time data access needs with battery conservation.
3Productivity
If remote data interrogation is enabled without patient involvement, then workflow efficiency is improved, but control and verification mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the implantable medical device to autonomously initiate data transfers and respond to interrogation requests without requiring patient action. The device self-manages the data communication process by automatically waking up, establishing communication channels, and transferring data when prompted by authorized external devices, thereby streamlining workflow while maintaining security through automated verification protocols.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides secure, energy-efficient, and timely data transfer from implantable medical devices to clinicians, improving workflow efficiency and reducing patient travel, while ensuring secure communication and clinician control over data capture and review.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic switch has a permanent magnet whose magnetic field is detected by the implantable medical device and puts it into a coupling state
Implementation Method 2
The patient device for example emits a wake-up signal in a radio frequency (RF) range, which is received by the implantable medical device
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for initiating a data transfer from an implantable medical device a relay data request is generated at a remote device, the relay data request containing an implant interrogation request representing a request for the implantable medical device to create an interrogation data set. The relay data request is transferred to a patient device, and a communication link between the patient device and the implantable medical device is established to transmit said implant interrogation request to the implantable medical device. An implant interrogation response is transferred from the implantable medical device to the patient device, the implant interrogation response representing a response from the implantable medical device containing said interrogation data set. The implant interrogation response is transferred from the patient device to the remote device.