Patent ID: 8401659

Claim:
An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system, said medical device comprising: a sensor capable of measuring a body characteristic and generating a data signal describing the measurement; a processor configured to analyze the data signal and configured to identify one or more significant events that warrant attention for the well-being of a patient; a first battery, wherein the first battery is non-rechargeable and configured to power at least the sensor and the processor; and a first communications unit configured to be powered by the first battery comprising a wireless transmitter capable of establishing a first communications link with a host computer using an external local receiver, when said first wireless transmitter is within a short-range telemetry communication range of said local receiver, to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer using said first communications link; and a second battery wherein the second battery is rechargeable; and a second communications unit powered by the second battery comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver unit capable of establishing a second communications link with said host computer over a pervasive wireless communications network to deliver at least notification of the one or more significant events to said host computer over said second communications link.