Implantable Device Communication Data Block Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In medical clinics with multiple patients having implanted devices, there is a risk of incorrect data messages being received by an implanted medical device intended for another patient, leading to potential dangerous inconsistencies in treatment protocols.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a data block communication system with defined size and structure, including flags, device IDs, command tokens, and checksums to ensure accurate message processing and rejection of unauthorized messages, allowing for two-way communication between implanted devices and external systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple patients with implanted devices are present in the same location, then the external system can communicate with multiple devices, but the risk of incorrect messages being received by the wrong device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to communicate with multiple devicesVSAvoidMessage delivery accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication protocol into distinct components including message type indicators, device identification fields, and structured data blocks. This segmentation allows the external system to address specific devices among multiple patients while maintaining reliable communication by clearly demarcating message boundaries and intended recipients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the implanted device confirms receipt and processing of messages. This feedback loop ensures that messages are delivered to the correct device and provides verification, thereby maintaining reliability even when multiple devices are present in the communication environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If data messages are transmitted without structured format, then transmission speed is faster, but message processing accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMessage transmission speedVSAvoidMessage processing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-structuring data into standardized blocks with defined formats, headers, and delimiters before transmission. This pre-organization enables the implanted device to quickly parse and process messages efficiently while maintaining high accuracy in identifying and processing the correct information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying message type indicators and structural parameters to convey different types of information within a standardized framework. This allows for efficient transmission of diverse message types while maintaining processing accuracy through consistent structural parameters that guide interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the implanted device processes all received messages, then no messages are lost, but incorrect messages may be executed leading to treatment errors

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMessage processing completenessVSAvoidTreatment protocol inconsistencies

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by having the implanted device selectively process only those messages that match its identification and are properly formatted. The device ignores or rejects messages not intended for it, thereby avoiding harmful execution of incorrect messages while still processing all valid messages intended for the correct device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary validation layer that checks message authenticity and intended recipient before execution. This intermediary mechanism filters out incorrect messages while allowing valid messages to pass through to processing, thus preventing treatment errors while maintaining completeness of legitimate message handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9154219B2Communication for implantable medical devices

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 CIRTEC MEDICAL CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for communication between an implantable medical device and an external device. Data blocks are generated and transmitted between the implantable device and the external device. The data blocks include a first flag indicating whether the data block is a first data block in a message and when the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a first data block in a message, the data block also contains a device ID, a command token, and message content. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message, the data block contains additional message content that is appended to message content from a previously received data block.