Medical Data Interface Device for Compliant Remote Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for collecting and analyzing data from patient implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, lack remote communication capabilities and are not designed to recognize trends in data over time or relative to disease-specific peer groups, making it impractical for physicians to interpret and analyze the large volumes of data effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for transmitting medical data from a patient implantable medical device to a remote server using a generic network access device, facilitated by an interface device that conditions the data to comply with regulatory standards and supports various communication protocols, allowing data transfer across public networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is collected and stored in PIMD for later retrieval, then the volume of medical data increases, but the complexity of data interpretation and analysis increases significantly requiring significant physician time and detailed subspecialty knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data analysis system that acts as a mediator between the PIMD and the physician. This intermediary automatically retrieves, analyzes, and interprets the large volumes of telemetered data using automated algorithms and decision support tools, thereby reducing the complexity burden on physicians while preserving access to comprehensive medical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of physician data interpretation with automated computational analysis. Computer-based systems perform data retrieval, processing, and interpretation tasks that would otherwise require significant physician time and expertise, substituting human cognitive labor with automated mechanical/computational processes.
2Ease of operation
If conventional systems are used for data collection and analysis, then data can be retrieved during clinic visits, but remote communication capabilities are lacking and patient mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the data collection and analysis system universal by enabling it to function in multiple settings - both traditional clinic environments and remote locations. The system is designed to work with various communication infrastructures and can serve diverse patient populations regardless of location, thereby achieving multi-functionality that bridges clinical and home-based monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces communication intermediaries (such as remote transmission devices and network interfaces) that enable data to be transmitted from the PIMD to healthcare providers outside the clinic setting. These intermediaries facilitate remote communication without requiring the patient to be physically present at the clinic, thereby enabling mobility while maintaining data retrieval capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If proprietary interrogators are used for data retrieval, then device-specific data can be accessed, but the systems lack capability to recognize trends spanning multiple episodes over time or relative to disease-specific peer groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple isolated data retrieval systems into a unified comprehensive analysis platform. By combining device-specific proprietary interrogator capabilities with centralized data aggregation and analytical tools, the system can access precise device-specific data while simultaneously analyzing trends across multiple patients, time periods, and disease groups, thereby achieving both precision and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where data from multiple sources (individual device data, population norms, disease-specific benchmarks) are continuously compared and analyzed. This feedback loop enables the system to recognize trends by comparing individual patient episodes against aggregated data from peer groups, providing contextualized insights that go beyond simple device-specific measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface device for facilitating transfer of medical information between a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and a remote network server via public network infrastructure is disclosed, the interface device using any of a plurality of generic network access devices having disparate communication protocols. First communication circuitry is configured to receive medical information from a patient implantable medical device (PIMD), and second communication circuitry configured to effect communication with the first communication circuitry and a generic network access device. A processor is coupled the first communication circuitry and the second communication circuitry. The processor is configured to control transmission of the medical information to the generic network access device and condition the medical device data in compliance with a predetermined medical information regulatory standard governing the PIMD. A method is also disclosed.