Patent ID: 8649867

Claim:
A patient device ( 10 ) comprising: a first interface ( 20 ) within said patient device configured to wirelessly communicate with an implant; a second interface ( 22 ) within said patient device configured to remotely communicate with a central service center; a programming device interface ( 24 ) within said patient device, specifically configured to communicate with a programming device, wherein said programming device interface is different from the first and second interfaces wherein said programming device interface ( 24 ) is configured to connect said programming device to said patient device ( 10 ), and wherein said patient device ( 10 ) is configured to transparently or directly relay programming data received via said programming device interface ( 24 ) from said programming device to said first interface ( 20 ) and wherein said first interface ( 20 ) is configured to transmit said programming data wirelessly to and from said implant via said first interface; wherein said first interface is the only interface that communicates with said implant and wherein said second interface and said programming device interface both communicate with said implant via said first interface; and, wherein said patient device is configured to enable simultaneous communication over said programming device interface and said second interface.