US 12,138,462 B2
Pairing of external communication devices with an implantable medical device via a patient remote controller
Chirag Shah, Valencia, CA (US); and Peter Yoo, Burbank, CA (US)
Assigned to Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Valencia, CA (US)
Filed by Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Valencia, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/497,687.
Application 18/497,687 is a continuation of application No. 18/068,971, filed on Dec. 20, 2022, granted, now 11,833,357.
Application 18/068,971 is a continuation of application No. 17/447,384, filed on Sep. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,559,693, issued on Jan. 24, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,872, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0149069 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 76/10 (2018.01); A61N 1/372 (2006.01); H04B 3/54 (2006.01); H04W 76/14 (2018.01)
CPC A61N 1/37223 (2013.01) [A61N 1/37247 (2013.01); H04W 76/14 (2018.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for pairing a second external device for communications with an implantable medical device (IMD) using a first external device, wherein the first external device is initially paired for communications with the IMD along a first communication link, the method comprising:
(a) receiving at the first external device a first input to pair the second external device for communications with the IMD;
(b) in response to the first input, determining in the first external device whether the IMD is able or not able to communicate directly with the second external device;
(c) if the IMD is able to communicate directly with the second external device, then
(c1) transmitting from the first external device to the IMD a first command along the first communication link, wherein the first command causes the IMD to enter a first pairing mode whereby the IMD broadcasts first pairing data to enable the second external device to pair for communications with the IMD along a second communication link; and
(d) if the IMD is not able to communicate directly with the second external device, then
(d1) entering a second pairing mode at the first external device whereby the first external device broadcasts second pairing data to enable the second external device to pair for communications with the first external device along a third communication link, and
(d2) entering a passthrough mode at the first external device, wherein in the passthrough mode communications received at the first external device from the second external device along the third communication link are passed to the IMD from the first external device along the first communication link, thereby pairing the second external device for communication with the IMD.