Medical data transport over wireless life critical network employing dynamic communication link mapping

{
  "publication_number": "US9848058B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Medical data transport over wireless life critical network employing dynamic communication link mapping",
  "abstract": "A portable source medical device determines communication links of a network presently available to effect communications with a target component when the source medical device is at each of a multiplicity of geographical locations. A profile is generated comprising information about each available communication link and attributes associated with each available communication link for each geographical location. When the source medical device is at a particular geographical location, a profile associated with the particular geographical location is accessed and a network connection is established between the source medical device and the target component using a communication link associated with the particular profile. Medical information is transferred between the source medical device and the target component via the communication link associated with the particular profile.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of transporting medical information across a network configured to service a plurality of geographical locations, comprising: querying the network by a processor of a portable source medical device movable relative to the plurality of geographical locations; determining, by the processor, communication links of the network presently available to effect communications between the source medical device and a target component when the source medical device is at each of the geographical locations; generating, by the processor, each of a plurality of profiles, wherein each profile comprises information about each of the available communication links and attributes associated with each of the available communication links for each of the geographical locations; prioritizing, by the processor, the communication links; storing all of the plurality of profiles in the source medical device; accessing, by the processor, when the source medical device is at a particular geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations, a particular profile from the plurality of profiles stored in the source medical device that is associated with the particular geographical location; selecting, by the processor, a communication link associated with the particular profile based on the prioritization of the communication links; establishing a network connection between the source medical device and the target component using the selected communication link associated with the particular profile; receiving medical information, by the processor, from one or more medical devices; and transferring medical information between the source medical device and the target component via the selected communication link associated with the particular profile.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization of the communication links is based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising bandwidth, integrity, and security.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization of the communication links is based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising quality of service and level of guaranteed delivery.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization of the communication links is based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising cost, profile of a user of the source medical device, and particulars of a service agreement that defines financial and usage terms as between the user of the source medical device and a central authority of the network.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization of the communication links is based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising priority or urgency of the medical information.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization of the communication links is based at least in part on type of source medical device, the type of source medical device comprising at least an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, a physiologic sensor, and a patient sensor.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, comprising selectively enabling and disabling capabilities of one or both of the communication link and target component services based on one of both of a profile of a user of the source medical device and particulars of a service agreement that defines financial and usage terms as between the user of the source medical device and a central authority of the network.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target component comprises a central authority of the network, and the central authority is configured to establish a communication path via nodes of the network having attributes indicated by the particular profile.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is generated by the source medical device.",
    "10. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the geographical location of the source medical device at least in part using a network implemented locating mechanism.",
    "11. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the geographical location of the source medical device using a mechanism other than a network implemented locating mechanism.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, wherein the target component comprises a remote patient monitoring system.",
    "13. A system for transporting medical information across a network configured to service a plurality of geographical locations, comprising: a source medical device configured for portability relative to the plurality of geographical locations, the source medical device comprising or coupled to a mapping agent and a profile library, the mapping agent comprising: a processor configured to execute program instructions for querying the network and determining communication links of the network presently available to effect communications between the source medical device and a target component when the source medical device is at each of the geographical locations; the processor configured to execute program instructions for designating one or more of the geographic locations as a regular destination; the processor configured to execute program instructions for generating a profile comprising information about each of the available communication links and attributes associated with each of the available communication links for each regular destination, to store each of the profiles in the profile library, and to prioritize the communication links; the processor configured to execute program instructions for accessing, when the source medical device is at a particular regular destination of the plurality of geographical locations, a particular profile stored in the source medical device that is associated with the particular regular destination, select a communication link associated with the particular profile based on the prioritization of the communication links, establish a network connection between the source medical device and the target component using the selected communication link associated with the particular profile, and transfer medical information between the source medical device and the target component via the selected communication link associated with the particular profile.",
    "14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the communication links based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising bandwidth, integrity, and security.",
    "15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the communication links based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising quality of service and level of guaranteed delivery.",
    "16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the communication links based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising cost, profile of a user of the source medical device, and particulars of a service agreement that defines financial and usage terms as between the user of the source medical device and a central authority of the network.",
    "17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the communication links based at least in part on one or more factors concerning the communication link, the one or more factors comprising priority or urgency of the medical information.",
    "18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to prioritize the communication links based at least in part on type of source medical device, the type of source medical device comprising at least an implantable cardiac rhythm management device, a physiologic sensor, and a patient sensor.",
    "19. The system of claim 13, wherein a central authority of the network is configured to selectively enable and disable capabilities of one or both of the communication link and target component services based on one of both of a profile of a user of the source medical device and particulars of a service agreement that defines financial and usage terms as between the user of the source medical device and a central authority of the network.",
    "20. The system of claim 13, wherein the target component comprises a central authority of the network, and the central authority is configured to establish a communication path via nodes of the network having attributes indicated by the particular profile.",
    "21. The system of claim 13, wherein the profile is generated by the source medical device.",
    "22. The system of claim 13, wherein a locating mechanism of the network is configured to determine the geographical location of the source medical device.",
    "23. The system of claim 13, wherein a location sensor integral or coupled to the source medical device is configured to determine the geographical location of the source medical device.",
    "24. The system of claim 13, wherein the target component comprises a remote patient monitoring system.",
    "25. A system for transporting medical information across a network configured to service a plurality of geographical locations, comprising: a portable source medical device configured to receive medical information from one or more medical devices of a patient, wherein the portable source medical device is movable relative to the plurality of geographical locations and configured to query the network; means for determining communication links of the network presently available to effect communications between the source medical device and a target component when the source medical device is at each of the geographical locations; means for generating a profile comprising information about each of the available communication links and attributes associated with each of the available communication links for each of the geographical locations; means for prioritizing the communication links; memory configured to store all of the profiles in the source medical device; means for accessing, when the source medical device is at a particular geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations, a particular profile stored in the source medical device that is associated with the particular geographical location; means for selecting a communication link associated with the particular profile based on the prioritization of the communication links; means for establishing a network connection between the source medical device and the target component using the selected communication link associated with the particular profile; and means for transferring medical information between the source medical device and the target component via the selected communication link associated with the particular profile."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for transporting medical information over a wireless network.\n\nImplantable pulse generators (IPGs) are medical devices commonly used to treat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. Cardiac pacemakers, for example, are designed to manage bradycardia, an abnormally slow or irregular heartbeat. Left untreated, bradycardia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. Cardiac resynchronizers are a particular class of pacemaker that provide cardiac resynchronization therapy, such a bi-ventricular pacing, for patients suffering from heart failure. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), by way of further example, are designed to treat tachycardia, heart rhythms that are abnormally fast and life threatening. Some forms of tachycardia can result in sudden cardiac death, if left untreated.\n\nPacemakers and ICDs are increasingly being equipped with an on-board, volatile memory in which telemetered signals can be stored for later retrieval and analysis. The telemetered signals provide various types of patient device information, such as atrial electrical activity, ventricular electrical activity, time of day, activity level, cardiac output, oxygen level, cardiovascular pressure measures, pulmonary measures, and any interventions made on a per heartbeat or binned average basis. In addition, a growing class of cardiac medical devices, including implantable heart failure monitors, implantable event monitors, cardiovascular monitors, and therapy devices, are being used to provide similar stored device information.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 67/30",
    "A61B 2560/045",
    "A61B 5/0022",
    "A61B 5/02055",
    "A61B 5/022",
    "A61B 5/024",
    "A61B 5/0402",
    "A61B 5/0836",
    "A61B 5/11",
    "A61B 5/145",
    "A61B 5/318",
    "A61B 5/411",
    "A61B 5/7232",
    "A61N 1/37282",
    "G06F 19/327",
    "G06F 19/3412",
    "G06F 19/3418",
    "G06Q 40/08",
    "G06Q 50/22",
    "G16H 10/60",
    "G16H 40/20",
    "G16H 40/40",
    "G16H 40/67",
    "H04L 45/00",
    "H04L 45/308",
    "H04L 67/12",
    "H04L 67/18",
    "H04L 67/322",
    "H04L 67/52",
    "H04L 67/61",
    "H04W 4/001",
    "H04W 4/02",
    "H04W 4/029",
    "H04W 4/20",
    "H04W 4/50",
    "H04W 48/18"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06Q 50/00",
    "G16H 10/60",
    "G16H 40/67",
    "H04L 45/00",
    "H04W 4/02",
    "H04W 4/029",
    "H04W 4/20",
    "A61B 5/00",
    "A61N 1/372",
    "H04W 48/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Cardiac Pacemakers Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "David C. Johnson",
    "Jim Sievert",
    "Kenneth Hoyme",
    "John LaLonde",
    "William Mass",
    "David V. Duccini"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-08-18",
  "publication_date": "2017-12-19",
  "grant_date": "2017-12-19",
  "priority_date": "2007-08-31",
  "application_number": "US-22891508-A",
  "family_id": "40097143",
  "cited_by_count": 284,
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