Dynamic telemetry link selection for an implantable device

Abstract

Communications with an implantable device are conducted using a physical telemetry link dynamically selected from multiple physical telemetry links based on selected criteria including, for example, bandwidth, security, data throughput, channel availability and reliability.

1 . A system comprising:
 an implantable device comprising:   a first telemetry circuit configured to establish a near field wireless link with an external device and a second telemetry circuit configured to establish a far field wireless link with the external device; and   an external device comprising:   a communication circuit configured to communicate with the implantable device using the near field and far field wireless links; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to dynamically switch a priority link between the near field link and the far field link for communication with the implantable device, wherein a communication session is first attempted using the priority link.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor selects the priority link according to a type of data to be communicated from the implantable device. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor selects the near field link as the priority link when the type of data to be communicated requires a higher level of security. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor selects the far field link as the priority link when the type data to be communicated requires increased bandwidth. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a measure of data throughput between the implantable device and the external device, and   select the priority link according to the measure of data throughput.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a number of errors in a wireless link; and   select the priority link according to the determined number of errors.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable device includes a battery to provide energy to the device, and wherein the processor of the external device is configured to select the priority link based on a capacity of the battery. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to select the priority link according to the most recently used wireless link. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine an availability of the near field link and the far field link; and   select the priority link according to a detected availability of the near field and far field telemetry link.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cease attempts to switch the priority link when a number of attempts to switch links exceeds an attempt limit number. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to dynamically switch the priority link in order to complete a current communication session. 
   
   
       12 . A method comprising:
 establishing a near field wireless link and a far field wireless link between an implantable device and an external device; and   dynamically switching between the near field link and the far field link as a priority link for communication between the implantable device and the external device, wherein a communication session is first attempted using the priority link.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein dynamically switching between the near field link and the far field link includes selecting the priority link according to a type of data to be communicated from the implantable device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting the priority link according to a type of data includes selecting the far field link as the priority link when a volume of data to be communicated exceeds a threshold data amount. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting the priority link according to a type of data includes selecting the near field link as the priority link according to a level of security required for the data. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , including:
 determining a measure of data throughput between the implantable device and the external device, and   wherein dynamically switching between the near field link and the far field link includes selecting the priority link according to the measure of data throughput.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , including:
 determining a number of errors in a wireless link, and   wherein dynamically switching between the near field link and the far field link includes selecting the priority link according to the determined number of errors.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein dynamically switching between the near field link and the far field link includes selecting the priority link based on a remaining battery capacity of the implantable device. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , including ceasing attempts to switch the priority link when a number of attempts to switch links exceeds an attempt limit number. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , including dynamically switching the priority link in order to complete a current communication session.