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Abstract

A distributed system of network programmers is described for use with implantable medical devices. The system includes a set of network programmers each having a processor for performing functions directed to programming an implantable medical device and having a transceiver for communicating with the implantable medical device in response to those functions. The system also includes a remotely located network server. The network server has a processor for performing additional functions directed to analyzing information received from the network programmers and to transmitting the results of analyses to selected network programmers. By providing network programmers configured to perform only limited functions in conjunction with a network server, the individual network programmers can be considerably less costly to manufacture and maintain. Yet each of the network programmers can exploit a far greater amount of processing power and access a much larger database of information than a conventional stand-alone programmer. Stored information pertaining to numerous patients is shared among many programmers permitting easy access by the physician. Software updates to the network programmers are easily performed by transmitting new software from the network server to the network programmers. A system of distributed network transtelephonic monitors is also described.

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First Claim