Patent ID: 8352040

Claim:
An external device for communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising: an antenna array for communicating with the implantable medical device, the antenna array including a first antenna segment and a second antenna segment, the second antenna segment separate from the first antenna segment; a microprocessor with associated memory for program and data storage; an RF transmitter interfaced to the microprocessor and connected to the first antenna segment through a first transmit/receive switch and connected to the second antenna segment through a second transmit/receive switch; a first receiver interfaced to the microprocessor and connected to the first antenna segment through a first transmit/receive switch; a second receiver interfaced to the microprocessor and connected to the second antenna segment through a second transmit/receive switch; wherein the microprocessor is programmed to: operate the first and second transmit/receive switches such that both receivers are connected to their respective antenna segments to simultaneously receive the same data communicated from the implantable medical device; and operate the first and second transmit/receive switches such that the RF transmitter is connected to both antenna segments to simultaneously transmit the same data to the implantable medical device.