Recognition of implantable medical device

Abstract

Controlling the interaction between an external device and an implanted device, including a method of controlling interaction between an external device and an implanted device, the method including at least the steps of: establishing communications between the implanted device and the external device; the external device determining an identification of the implant and comparing the identification with identifications in a stored list; if the device matches one of said identifications, then using a corresponding set of operating parameters to interact with said implant; and otherwise, not interacting with said device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling operation of an external device with an implanted internal device, comprising:
 establishing communications between the external device and the internal device;   determining, by the external device, at least one identifier of the internal device;   comparing, by the external device, the identifier of the internal device to a list of known identifiers to confirm that the internal device is known; and   selecting and utilizing, by the external device, a set of operating parameters stored on the external device, the operating parameters corresponding to the internal device, and enabling the external device to operate with the internal device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal device is a stimulator/receiver unit of a cochlear implant and the external device is a cochlear implant speech processor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, which electrodes to stimulate, type of speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a transmitted identification signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is determined from a set of measured parameters related to one or more of either the internal device and physiological properties of an ear of a recipient of the implanted internal device. 
     
     
         6 . The method according  claim 1 , wherein the identifier is an identification tag or device operating independently of the normal communication path between the implanted internal device and the external device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the external device displaying a message on a display, said message indicating at least that the external device is not operating with the internal device.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the external device allowing a recipient to manually select a set of operating parameters corresponding to the internal device.   
     
     
         9 . An external device adapted to interact with an implanted internal device, the internal device having at least one identifier, and the external device having a stored set of operating parameters; the external device configured to detect the identifier from the internal device, determine if the identifier corresponds to one of a plurality of identifiers, and if the identifier does correspond, select and utilize a stored set of operating parameters corresponding to said corresponding identifier to allow the external device to operate with the internal device. 
     
     
         10 . The external device of  claim 9 , wherein the internal device is a cochlear implant and the external device is a speech processor. 
     
     
         11 . The external device of  claim 9 , wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group including one or more of an electrode map including stimulation levels, selection of electrodes to stimulate, speech processing strategy or algorithm, parameters of the speech processing strategy, or when to switch between different speech processing strategies. 
     
     
         12 . The external device of  claim 9 , wherein the identifier is selected from a set of measured parameters related to one of either the internal device and physiological properties of an ear of a recipient of the implanted internal device. 
     
     
         13 . The external device of  claim 9 , wherein the external device is configured to allow a recipient to manually select a set of operating parameters to be utilized by the external device.