Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is a patient alerting device (PAD) that can be positioned close enough for effective near-field communication with an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator. The PAD is designed to warn the patient when a specific event is detected by the implanted device. The alarm mechanism could be a sound, a vibration and/or a visible display. A communications repeater can be used with the PAD to allow the implanted device to communicate via the PAD with remotely located external equipment through proprietary or standardized means. Means to initiate communication with the implanted device include a magnet within the PAD that triggers a magnetic switch inside the implanted device or by a button which can be depressed to inform the implanted device that the PAD is active and close enough to begin communication. The PAD could also include a button to shut off an alarm that is in the PAD. The PAD can also include means to provide battery status to the patient for both the battery in the implanted device and in the PAD. The significance of the basic alarm PAD is its ability to provide continuous patient alarm capabilities for already implanted devices as well as future implants which have only near-field communication.

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First Claim