Implanted Medical Device Proximity Test Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) and external devices (EXDs) often experience communication failures due to being out of range or electromagnetic interference, leading to ineffective data transmission and alerting systems for patients with cardiac or neural disorders.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an IMD with a transceiver, random access memory, and a processor that wirelessly transmits proximity test signals to determine if the EXD is within range, maintaining a proximity test log and sending notification signals if failures occur, allowing patients to take remedial action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the external device is placed far from the implanted device to improve patient convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to out-of-range errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs proximity tests before actual data transmission to verify communication capability. The processor sends test signals and evaluates responses to determine whether the external device is within acceptable range, preventing failed transmissions from occurring in the first place
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors communication status through proximity tests and provides feedback to both devices. When the external device is detected as being out of range or experiencing communication issues, the system generates notifications and alerts to inform the patient and healthcare provider of the communication status
2Reliability
If proximity tests are performed frequently to improve communication reliability, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs proximity tests at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The processor is programmed to conduct tests at predetermined times, balancing the need for communication reliability verification with energy conservation by keeping the transceiver in low-power states between tests
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs proximity tests and evaluates communication status without requiring patient intervention. The processor autonomously sends test signals, receives responses, and determines communication capability, reducing the need for manual testing while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If the system monitors communication status continuously to improve reliability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity test mechanism serves multiple functions: it verifies communication range, detects external device presence, assesses signal strength, and provides a basis for generating notifications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate monitoring systems and simplifies the overall architecture
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 enhances communication reliability between IMDs and EXDs, reducing out-of-range errors and ensuring timely alerts for patients, thereby improving patient safety and medical intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The processor is configured to wirelessly transmit a plurality of proximity test signals as part of a proximity test
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system having an implanted component and external component which are configured to provide a test of wireless communication in order to assess the success or failure of such communication and to store attributes related to such test in a memory log. To provide the communication test the implantable and external components can attempt wireless communication according to communication test parameters which relate to number of times to retry communication, duration of sending communication test signals, durations of waiting for communication test signals and the schedule of the communication tests. The schedule of tests may be period or may change over time in order to become more or less frequency according to a programmable schedule that may also decrease if the communication tests are successful and indicate patient compliance in keeping the external components close by. The communication tests can assist in determining if the patient is maintaining external components within a suggested proximity (e.g. 6 feet) of the patient and may assist to determine if transmission or reception difficulties are the source of communication failure. A physician programmer can provide for programming, conducting, summarizing and assessing the results of communication tests.