Abstract: A system is described for allowing medical data obtained at a local site to be transferred to a data processing system located at a remote site. This medical data may include video data and/or data obtained from one or more medical devices such as a fluoroscopy device or an electrocardiograph (ECG) signal monitoring device. The data may be viewed on one or more display windows of the remote data processing system to allow a remotely-located expert to participate in an examination or medical procedure being conducted at the local site. In one embodiment, the remote data processing system also receives screen data from an implantable medical device programmer that is located at the local site. This screen data may include data associated with the configuration of the programmer, the configuration of an implantable medical device, and other information obtained from a patient such as physiological waveforms. Routing of all data may be performed by a communication hub operating as a stand alone device.

Abstract: A method and a system for conducting failure mode recovery of an implanted medical device. The embodiments described reduce the risk of leaving an IMD in an undesirable state when conditions during programming of the IMD unexpectedly change. In an example embodiment, failure mode recovery in an implanted device is facilitated when a communications link with a medical communications system having an application program is interrupted. The failure mode recovery method includes establishing a communications link between the medical communications system and an extender module configured to receive an application proxy from the application program. An application proxy is then loaded into the extender module via the application program. The application proxy is configured to transition the implanted device to a recovery state in response to a set of conditions. The implanted device then transitions to a completed state via the application program, while transitioning of the completed state is monitored.

Abstract: A communication system is provided which allows real-time communication between a deployed implantable medical device (IMD) and a computing resource capable of storing and distributing patient and device data. A deployed IMD may be polled by a network interface external to the host patient, and data may be received by wireless real-time communication in a manner which ensures secure and reliable information exchange. A bandwidth or baud rate monitor is used to verify the viability of the network-IMD connection for the intended use and then monitors the connection to ensure that bandwidth remains reliable. An alert feature notifies the user of any threatening bandwidth onset. This feature allows vibrant exchange of real-time information from the patient-IMD to a medical provider or system expert.

Abstract: A medical device implant, monitoring and adjustment are enhanced by the telepresence of a remote expert (31) having a screen display (30) that mirrors the display at the patient location. Pointers (51), whether they can activate subprograms at the patient location or not, are moved identically at both locations at the same time. Also, the ECG and any features thereof are updated in real time, while other communication operations occur.

Abstract: A system is described for allowing medical data obtained at a local site to be transferred to a data processing system located at a remote site. This medical data may include video data and/or data obtained from one or more medical devices such as a fluoroscopy device or an electrocardiograph (ECG) signal monitoring device. The data may be viewed on one or more display windows of the remote data processing system to allow a remotely-located expert to participate in an examination or medical procedure being conducted at the local site. In one embodiment, the remote data processing system also receives screen data from an implantable medical device programmer that is located at the local site. This screen data may include data associated with the configuration of the programmer, the configuration of an implantable medical device, and other information obtained from a patient such as physiological waveforms. Routing of all data may be performed by a communication hub operating as a stand alone device.

Abstract: A communication system is provided which allows real-time communication between a deployed implantable medical device (IMD) and a computing resource capable of storing and distributing patient and device data. A deployed IMD may be polled by a network interface external to the host patient, and data may be received by wireless real-time communication in a manner which ensures secure and reliable information exchange. A bandwidth or baud rate monitor is used to verify the viability of the network-IMD connection for the intended use and then monitors the connection to ensure that bandwidth remains reliable. An alert feature notifies the user of any threatening bandwidth onset. This feature allows vibrant exchange of real-time information from the patient-IMD to a medical provider or system expert.

Abstract: Packaging of electronic chips, such as light emitting diodes and the like, without the use of conventional flying leads and ultrasonic bonding is disclosed. The subject packaging and mounting of electronic chips is primarily intended for use with flat flexible cables and similar circuitry which is printed onto flexible insulator substrates. A portion of the circuitry on the insulator substrate is broken by a sharp instrument to form a break or slot in both the conductor and substrate. An electronic chip, such as a light emitting diode, is inserted edge wise into the slot with the opposing surfaces thereof in contact with the conductor of the circuit on either side of the slot. The mechanical friction between the chip and the edges of the slot are sufficient to hold the chip in place while maintaining satisfactory electrical contact.However, the chip can be bonded to the circuit by any known means including solder reflow, conductive epoxys and encapsulation with suitable material.