Patent ID: 8395498

Claim:
A portable patient communicator (PPC) for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating communications with a remote server via a wireless network, the portable patient communicator comprising: a housing configured for portability by an ambulatory patient; an identity module provided in the housing and configured to store at least identity data that 1) uniquely identifies the patient or 2) uniquely identifies the PPC as being associated with the patient, wherein the identity data comprises physiologic data obtained from the patient; a processor coupled to memory and the identity module, the processor and the memory provided in the housing, the memory storing wireless radio firmware and medical firmware, the medical firmware executable by the processor to facilitate interaction between the PPC and the PIMD in accordance with predetermined medical device guidelines, the processor configured to prevent data exchange between the PPC and the PIMD unless the identity module of the PPC is designated only for use with the PPC; a first radio provided in the housing and configured to effect communications with the PIMD in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware executable by the processor; a second radio provided in the housing and configured to effect communications via a channel of the wireless network other than a voice channel in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware executable by the processor; and a power source provided in the housing and configured to supply power for components of the PPC; the processor configured to use at least the identity data stored in the identity module and execute program instructions for one or both of (a) facilitating authentication of the PPC by the remote server prior to permitting PPC access to the remote server, and (b) facilitating authentication of the remote server by the PPC prior to permitting access to the PPC or the PIMD by the remote server or other device communicatively coupled to the wireless network.