Portable Patient Communicator Wireless Data Transport Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for collecting and analyzing data from implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers and ICDs, lack remote communication capabilities and are impractical for timely and comprehensive data interpretation, especially in managing trends over time or across peer groups.
Innovation Solution
A portable patient communicator (PPC) that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server, selecting appropriate data transport mechanisms based on data priority and criticality, enabling real-time data transfer and analysis, and providing a robust network for secure and timely delivery of medical information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If data is transmitted using conventional systems during clinic visits, then data retrieval is possible, but timely and comprehensive data interpretation is impractical due to significant physician time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated data analysis system that acts as an intermediary between the implantable medical device and the physician. This system automatically retrieves, processes, and analyzes telemetered signals from the device, generating structured reports that highlight clinically significant findings. By placing this intermediary layer in place, the system performs the time-consuming analysis work that would otherwise fall entirely on the physician, thereby reducing physician time requirements while improving data analysis efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by implementing automated data retrieval and analysis capabilities that operate without requiring physician intervention for each data review. The automated system continuously monitors device data, performs preliminary analysis, and flags only significant events for physician review. This self-service approach allows the system to handle routine data processing independently, dramatically reducing the time physicians need to spend on data interpretation while maintaining high productivity
2Ease of operation
If proprietary interrogators are used for data retrieval, then device data can be accessed, but remote communication capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication architecture that enables the system to perform multiple functions through a unified platform. The automated analysis system can retrieve data from various implantable devices, store data in centralized databases, perform multiple types of analysis (arrhythmia detection, trend analysis, device performance monitoring), and communicate through various channels (web portals, mobile devices, direct server connections). This multi-functional design provides comprehensive remote communication capability while managing system complexity through standardized interfaces and protocols
3Loss of information
If single device interrogation is performed, then data from that device can be analyzed, but trends spanning multiple episodes over time cannot be recognized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple device interrogations and time points into a unified analysis framework. The system consolidates telemetered signals across multiple episodes, combines data from multiple devices if applicable, and integrates historical trends with current readings. By merging these disparate data sources into a single comprehensive view, the system enables recognition of trends spanning multiple episodes over time while managing complexity through centralized data management and standardized data structures
4Measurement precision
If detailed subspecialty knowledge is required for data interpretation, then accurate analysis can be achieved, but practical limitations on physician availability make such analyses impracticable
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an automated analysis intermediary that possesses encoded expert knowledge for data interpretation. This intermediary applies algorithms and rules based on subspecialty knowledge to automatically interpret device data, maintaining high accuracy while enabling high throughput. The intermediary translates complex medical expertise into automated decision-making rules, allowing accurate analysis to be performed rapidly without requiring physician involvement for every data set, thereby resolving the contradiction between interpretation accuracy and analysis throughput
Data Source
AI summary
A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.