Systems and methods for remote programming of, and other follow-up capabilities with, leadless pacemakers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12564358-B2
Application number	US-202217587456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 5, 2021
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Described herein are methods, devices, and systems that enable a remote non-implantable device (RNID) to send commands to a leadless pacemaker (LP) implanted within a patient. The RNID provide commands to a local non-implantable device (LNID) over one or more communication networks, and the LNID sends the commands to a second implantable device (SID) by transmitting radio frequency (RF) communication signals, which include the commands, using an antenna of the LNID. After receiving the commands from the LNID, by receiving RF communication signals that include the commands using an antenna of the SID, the SID transmits conductive communication signals, which include the commands, using electrodes of the SID. The LP receives the commands from the SID by receiving the conductive communication signals, which include the commands, using electrodes of the LP, and the LP performs command responses based on the commands that originated from the RNID.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . For use with a leadless pacemaker (LP) configured to be implanted within a patient, a second implantable device (SID) that is also configured to be implanted within the patient, a local non-implantable device (LNID) that is configured to communicate with the SID when the LNID is in close proximity to the patient within which the SID is implanted, and a remote non-implantable device (RNID) that is configured to communicate with the LNID, a method for enabling the RNID to send one or more commands to the LP, the method comprising:
the RNID providing one or more commands to the LNID over one or more communication networks; the LNID sending the one or more commands to the SID by transmitting one or more radio frequency (RF) communication signals, which include the one or more commands, using an antenna of the LNID; the SID receiving the one or more commands from the LNID by receiving the one or more RF communication signals, which include the one or more commands, using an antenna of the SID; the SID sending the one or more commands to the LP by transmitting one or more conductive communication signals, which include the one or more commands, using electrodes of the SID; the LP receiving the one or more commands from the SID by receiving the one or more conductive communication signals, which included the one or more commands, using electrodes of the LP; and the LP performing one or more command responses based on the one or more commands that originated from the RNID; wherein the one or more commands provided by the RNID may be translated and/or reformatted by at least one of the LNID or the SID before the one or more commands are received by the LP.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the SID acts as a communication gateway that converts RF communication signals to conductive communication signals and converts one or more data packets including the one or more commands from a first communication protocol that is used by the LNID to a second communication protocol that is used by the LP.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
the LNID changing a format of and/or performing a translation of the one or more commands that are received by the LNID from the RNID before the LNID sends the one or more commands to the SID; or the SID changing the format of and/or performing a translation of the one or more commands that are received by the SID from the LNID before the SID sends the one or more commands to the LP.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more communication signals sent from the RNID to the LNID are encrypted; the one or more RF communication signals sent from the LNID to the SID are encrypted; and the one or more conductive communication signals sent from the SID to the LP are not encrypted.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing a secure communication session between the RNID and the LNID, prior to the RNID sending the one or more commands to the LNID; wherein the RNID sending the one or more commands to the LNID occurs during the secure communication session established between the RNID and the LNID.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a communication session between the RNID and the LP during which the LP sends one or more acknowledgment messages to the RNID in response to the LP successfully receiving the one or more commands that originated from the RNID, wherein the LP sending the one or more acknowledgement messages comprises:
the LP sending the one or more acknowledgment messages to the SID by transmitting one or more further conductive communication signals, which include the one or more acknowledgement messages, using the electrodes of the LP; the SID receiving the one or more acknowledgment messages from the LP by receiving the one or more further conductive communication signals, which include the one or more acknowledgement messages, using the electrodes of the SID; the SID sending the one or more acknowledgment messages to the LNID by transmitting one or more further RF communication signals, which include the one or more acknowledgement messages, using the antenna of the SID; the LNID receiving the one or more acknowledgement messages from the SID by receiving the one or more further RF communication signals, which include the acknowledgement messages, using the antenna of the LNID; and the LNID providing the one or more acknowledgment messages to the RNID over one or more communication networks.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the SID comprises one of an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) or a non-vascular implantable cardiac defibrillator (NV-ICD).

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the LNID comprises one of a smart phone, a smart watch, a smart home hub, a tablet computer, a laptop computer or a bedside monitor; the antenna of the LNID enables the LNID to transmit RF communication signals to, and receive RF communication signals from, the SID; and at least one of an antenna of the LNID or a network interface of the LNID enables the LNID to communicate with the RNID over one or more communication networks.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the LP providing diagnostic information to the RNID, wherein the diagnostic information relates to at least one of the LP or the patient within which the LP is implanted, and wherein the LP providing diagnostic information to the RNID comprises:
the LP sending the diagnostic information to the SID by transmitting one or more further conductive communication signals, which include the diagnostic information, using the electrodes of the LP; the SID receiving the diagnostic information from the LP by receiving the one or more further conductive communication signals, which include the diagnostic information, using the electrodes of the SID; the SID sending the diagnostic information to the LNID by transmitting one or more further RF communication signals, which include the diagnostic information, using the antenna of the SID; the LNID receiving the diagnostic information from the SID by receiving the one or more further RF communication signals, which include the diagnostic information, using the antenna of the LNID; and the LNID sending the diagnostic information to the RNID by transmitting one or more messages, which include the diagnostic information, over one or more communication networks.

Assignees

• Pacesetter Inc

Inventors

• Shahandeh Reza
• Mouchawar Gabriel
• Sadeghi Mostafa
• Fishler Matthew G
• Gurunathan Suresh
• Persson Benjamin T

Classifications

• A61B5/6898

  Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers · CPC title

• A61B5/283

  Invasive · CPC title

• A61B5/0022

  Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet · CPC title

• A61B5/0006

  ECG or EEG signals · CPC title

• H04B13/005

  Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body · CPC title