Ambulatory medical apparatus and method using a robust communication protocol

US6811533B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC. · US

Inventors

• Ronald J. Lebel · West Hollywood, US
• Varaz Shahmirian · San Fernando, US
• Sam W. Bowman · Valencia, US
• Timothy J. Starkweather · Simi Valley, US
• Philip T. Weiss · Pasadena, US
• Robert C. Dennard · Lancaster, US
• John T. Armstrong · Pasadena, US
• John D. Richert · La Habra, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 22, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2004
• Expiry date: May 19, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An implanted medical device (e.g. infusion pump) and external device communicate with one another via telemetry wherein messages are transmitted under a robust communication protocol. The communication protocol gives enhanced assurance concerning the integrity of messages that impact medical operations of the implantable device. Messages are transmitted using a multipart format that includes a preamble, a frame sync, a telemetry ID, data, and a validation code. The data portion of the message includes an op-code that dictates various other elements that form part of the message. The data portion may also include additional elements such as sequence numbers, bolus numbers, and duplicate data elements. A telemetry ID for the transmitting device may be implicitly embedded in the message as part of the validation code that is sent with the message and that must be pre-known by the receiver to confirm the integrity of the received message.