Patent ID: 8073542

Claim:
A programmable personal device ( 10 ), in particular an implantable medical device such as a cardiac pacemaker, cardioverter, defibrillator or the like, including: a. a first data communication interface ( 11 ) for a wireless data transmission, wherein the personal device is able to receive data containing programming instructions via the first data communication interface, b. a second data communication interface ( 13 ) for a wireless data transmission, wherein the personal device is also able to receive data containing programming instructions via the second data communication interface ( 13 ), and wherein the second data communication interface ( 13 ) differs from the first data communication interface ( 11 ) with regard to one or more of: (1) the data format required for the data transfer, and (2) the data transfer technique for the data transfer, c. a memory ( 17 ), d. a programmable controller ( 15 ) connected to the memory ( 17 ), wherein the programmable controller ( 15 ): (1) is at least indirectly connected to the first and second data communication interfaces ( 11 , 13 ) (2) controls functions of the personal device on the basis of control parameters, (3) stores, in combination with the memory ( 17 ): (a) at least one instantaneous control parameter value, and (b) one categorical characterization for each control parameter, wherein the categorical characterization indicates: i. that a particular control parameter belongs to one of at least a first category and a second category, and ii. how the programmable controller ( 15 ) performs after receipt of a programming instruction via the second data communication interface ( 13 ), (4) has functionality defined such that after execution of a programming instruction which contains only control parameter values for control parameters of: (a) a first category, these control parameters are stored permanently as instantaneous control parameter values in the memory ( 17 ), so that the function of the programmable controller is determined by these control parameter values until receipt of another programming instruction; (b) a second category, these control parameter values are stored for a predetermined limited period of time as instantaneous control parameter values in the memory ( 17 ), so that the function of the programmable controller ( 15 ) is determined by these control parameters until the end of the predetermined period of time and then again by the control parameter values set previously.