Abstract: A system and method for providing goal-oriented patient management based upon comparative population data analysis is presented. At least one therapy goal is defined to manage a disease state. A patient population is selected sharing at least one characteristic with an individual patient presenting with indications of the disease state. One or more treatment regimens associated with the patient population are identified as implementing actions under the at least one therapy goal. The implementing actions are followed through one or more quantifiable physiological indications monitored via data sources associated with the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for providing hierarchical medical device control for automated patient management is presented. A processor is operatively coupled to a plurality of medical devices on a substantially continual basis to receive sensor data. A control strategy is assigned to the processor to specify actions to be taken by the medical devices to affect the attainment of a therapy goal. State is maintained, selected from the group comprising a history of changes to the control strategy and past sensor data received from the medical devices. Feedback is periodically received. The feedback includes new sensor data from the medical devices. The feedback and the state are analyzed against the actions specified in the control strategy. Control is provided to one or more medical device in response to an actionable change from the actions specified in the control strategy.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a secure feature set distribution infrastructure for medical device management is presented. A unique association is mapped for data download between a medical device and a communications device transiently coupleable to the medical device. A configuration catalog is maintained, including operational characteristics of at least one of the medical device and the communications device. The operational characteristics as maintained in the configuration catalog are periodically checked against a database storing downloadable sets of features and one or more feature sets including changed operational characteristics are identified for distribution. The one or more feature sets are digitally signed and the one or more feature sets are provided to the communications device over a plurality of networks. The one or more feature sets are authenticated and their integrity is checked over a chain of trust originating with a trusted source and terminating at the communications device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio frequency identification and tagging of implantable medical devices and their components are disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes tagging a device and its components with manufacturing information relating to the device and it components and with information identifying a patient using the device. The information can be automatically transmitted or extracted from the device when the device or its components come into communication range of an external programmer or other device adapted to read or sense the RFID information. Some embodiments of a system disclosed herein can also be configured as a component of an Advanced Patient Management System that helps better monitor, predict and manage chronic diseases.

Abstract: A system and method for temporary programming of an implantable medical device. The system and method include a repeater uploading temporary programming and instructions to a temporary memory of the device and then instructing the device to operate according to the temporary instructions. If during a first time period, the device is not in continuous periodic communication with the repeater, the device automatically reverts to operation under the normal operating instructions. At the end of the first time period, the caregiver or the patient may decide to revert to the normal programming. During a second time period, the device operates according to the temporary programming unless the caregiver or the patient instructs the device to revert to the normal programming, or the device fails to receive a periodic continuation signal from the repeater. Adverse health affects to the patient may also trigger the device to revert to the normal programming during either the first or second time period.