Devices, systems and methods for improving conductive communication between external devices and implantable medical devices

US12427322B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PACESETTER, INC. · US

Inventors

• Frank Lee · Las Vegas, US
• Thanh Tieu · Simi Valley, US
• Robert J. Williams · Painesville, US
• Suyashree Bhonsle · Menlo Park, US
• Jinto Zacharias · Los Angeles, US
• Matthew G. Fishler · Huntington, US
• Suresh Gurunathan · Santa Clara, US
• Benjamin T. Persson · Saratoga, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 22, 2022
• Grant date: Sep 30, 2025
• Expiry date: Feb 9, 2044

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/3956
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Described herein are external devices, and methods for use therewith, that are configured to communicate with one or more implantable medical devices (IMDs) implanted within a patient using conductive communication, wherein the external device includes or is communicatively coupled to at least three external electrodes that are in contact with the patient. Certain such methods involve the external device identifying, for each IMD, of the plurality of IMDs, which one of the plurality of communication vectors is a preferred communication vector for communicating with the IMD, based on respective indicators of conductive communication quality that are determined for the plurality of communication vectors. Certain embodiments involve determining when there should be a reassessment of which one of the plurality of communication vectors is the preferred communication vector for communicating with an IMD, and in response thereto, identifying an updated preferred communication vector for communicating with the IMD.