Patent ID: 7460912

Claim:
A system for programming an implanted medical device comprising: a medical device configured to be implanted within in a body of a patient; the medical device including electrical circuitry to provide treatment to the patient, a first digital storage area for holding normal operation instructions and settings, a second digital storage area for holding temporary operating instructions and settings, a communications subsystem and a timing subsystem; a repeater external of the patient's body, the repeater including a communication subsystem configured to communicate with the communications subsystem of the medical device and with a programming device; the patient, the medical device and the repeater remotely located from the programming device; the medical device configured to provide therapy to the patient using the normal operation instructions and settings stored in the first digital storage area; the repeater configured to transmit temporary operation instructions and settings to the medical device for storage in the second digital storage area; the repeater configured to instruct the medical device to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient; wherein upon receiving from the repeater the instruction to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient, the medical device initiates a first predetermined period of time during which the medical device begins delivering therapy using the temporary operation instructions and settings, and wherein the medical device will revert to the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a first time interval during the first predetermined period of time; and wherein upon completion of the first predetermined period of time without reverting to normal operation, the medical device initiates a second predetermined period of time during which the medical device is configured to revert to the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a continuation signal from the repeater within a second time interval during the second predetermined period of time, wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.